In the following, the author lists some prominent modern Iranian mathematicians:
Moshir al-Dauleh (? - 1862): Mirza Seyed Ja'far Hosseini میرزا سید جعفر حسینی (entitled to Mohandes Bashi مهندس باشی, later entitled to Moshir al-Dauleh مشیرالدوله) was a Persian scholar, diplomat, and politician. He was dispatched to Europe by Abbas Mirza to learn modern science and bring it back to Persia. Upon his return, he began teaching at a modern school in Tabriz called Mohandeskhaneh مهندس‌خانه and authored several books on modern mathematics.
Molla Ali-Mohammad Esfahani (1800-1876): Molla Ali Mohammad Esfahani ملا علی‌محمد اصفهانی (also known as the Second Ghiyath al-Din Jamshid غیاث‌الدین جمشید ثانی) was a Persian mathematician from Isfahan. He was invited by Aliqoli Mirza, the president of Dar al-Fonun, to Tehran to teach mathematics there. Esfahani wrote a supplement to Mohammad Baqir Yazdi's famous treatise Oyun al-Hesab.
Najm al-Dauleh (1843 or 1844 - 1908 or 1909): Mirza Abd al-Ghaffar Esfahani میرزا عبدالغفار اصفهانی (entitled to Najm al-Molk نجم‌الملک, later entitled to Najm al-Dauleh نجم‌الدوله), the son of Molla Ali-Mohammad Esfahani, was an influential astronomer, engineer, and mathematician who combined his knowledge in mathematics obtained from the first European teachers of Dar ul-Fonun, with the ancient Persian mathematics to author some books on mathematics in Persian. He was one of the first Persian mathematicians of the Qajar period to introduce modern mathematics to students at Dar al-Fonun.
Mohandes al-Mamalek (1844 or 1845 - 1914 or 1915): Mirza Nizam al-Din Ghaffari میرزا نظام‌الدین غفاری (entitled to Mohandes al-Mamalek مهندس‌الممالک) was a distinguished French-educated mathematician and the minister of public works who accompanied Mozaffar ad-Din Shah of Qajar on his European trips. Mirza Nizam wrote three papers on mathematics (analytic geometry, linear algebra, and Euclidean geometry), which are considered the first modern mathematics publications by Persian scholars in international journals. He also authored several important books on modern mathematics, playing a crucial role in introducing modern mathematics to Iran and developing Persian terminology for modern mathematical concepts. Abdollah Anwar refers to him as the "Prince of Mathematics" in Iran.
Mirza Mahmoud Khan Qomi (c. 1834 - 1919): Mirza Mahmoud Khan Qomi میرزا محمود خان قمی (also known as Moshaver al-Molk مشاور الملک), was a prominent Persian astronomer, geographer, and mathematician. Born in Kashan, he began his elementary studies there. After the death of his father, he moved to Mashhad to study traditional astronomy. Later, he relocated to Tehran to study geometry at Dar al-Fonun for two years. Along with 39 other distinguished Persian students, under the leadership of Abdolrasoul Khan عبدالرسول خان, he departed for Europe to continue his studies. He entered the Polytechnic School in France and also attended some courses at the Sorbonne University to learn modern mathematics, physics, and astronomy. He was probably the first Persian student to learn modern academic astronomy [G2].
He conducted research and observations in France to search for and discover asteroids. In 1860, he was a member of a team led by Hermann Goldschmidt that succeeded in discovering an asteroid called "61 Danaë", which became known in Persia as the "Mahmoudi Star". His descendants later adopted the surname "Mahmoudi محمودی". After completing his studies in France, he went to Belgium and attained the rank of Masonic Master. After seven years, he returned to Persia in 1865. Despite his efforts to persuade Naser al-Din Shah to allocate a budget and order the construction of a royal observatory, the Shah merely assigned him the position of head of the telegraph office. Mirza Mahmoud Khan Qomi composed several books on modern astronomy, significantly advancing the status of this subject in Iran. He also wrote a book on general geography.
Hasan Shahrokhi (1862-1940): Hasan Khan Shahrokhi حسن خان شاهرخی was a renowned Persian carpet designer and painter from Kerman. He is celebrated for revolutionizing carpet design in the Kerman region, blending traditional motifs with innovative patterns. In addition to his contributions to carpet design, Hasan Khan was also a skilled painter of pen boxes and illumination. His designs often depicted pre-Islamic Persian kings and rulers. Beyond his artistic talents, Hasan Khan worked on astronomy and mathematics. His works in these fields further highlight his diverse skills and intellectual pursuits. Hasan Khan's legacy in Persian art and science remains influential, and his works are still celebrated for their beauty and craftsmanship.
Gholamhossein Rahnama (1883-1946): Gholamhossein Rahnama غلامحسین رهنما was a distinguished and influential Iranian mathematician, astronomer, and politician. Born in Shiraz, he completed his early education there before moving to Tehran to study mathematics at Dar ul-Funun. Under the mentorship of Najm al-Dauleh, he furthered his knowledge in mathematics. Throughout his career, Rahnama held various academic and governmental positions. He was a professor at the University of Tehran, where he also served as the dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Additionally, he was a member of the Iranian Academy of Sciences and held the position of Minister of Education in several cabinets. Rahnama was also known for his efforts in promoting the Persian language and literature. He composed more than 50 books on various topics, including astronomy, mathematics, and physics. He trained many notable students, including Mohsen Hachtroudi (mathematician), Saeed Nafisi (author), Abbas Eqbal Ashtiani (author), Hossein Gol-e-Golab (polymath and musician), Ahmad Birashk (mathematician), Assadollah Alebouyeh (mathematician), and Mohammad Mosaddegh (lawyer and politician).
Abolghassem Ghaffari (1907-2013): Abolghassem Ghaffari ابوالقاسم غفاری was a renowned Iranian-American mathematician and physicist. Ghaffari completed his Ph.D. at the University of Paris in 1936 under the renowned French mathematician René Maurice Fréchet's supervision. He had an illustrious career that included working with Albert Einstein at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Ghaffari made significant contributions to the fields of gas dynamics, differential equations, and the mathematical study of Brownian motion. He also played a crucial role in the U.S. space program, working at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center on the mathematical aspects of space trajectories and satellite orbits.
Abbas Riazi Kermani (1907-1989): Abbas Riazi Kermani عباس ریاضی کرمانی was a distinguished Iranian mathematician and professor of astronomy at the University of Tehran. He pursued his higher education in Tehran and later moved to France to complete his D.Sc. at the Université de Montpellier in 1938 under the supervision of Pierre Humbert.
Mohsen Hachtroudi (1908-1976): A student of Élie Joseph Cartan (1869-1951), Mohsen Hachtroudi محسن هشترودی contributed to differential geometry and was the inventor of the Hachtroudi curvature. By extensively generalizing Cartan's work to hypersurfaces in n-dimensional real spaces, he developed a projective connection, known as the Hachtroudi Connection, which is used to study systems of differential equations. He gave many lectures to popularize modern mathematics in Iran. He was a "Distinguished Professor" of mathematics at the University of Tehran.
Mohammad Ali Modjtahedi (1908-1997): Mohammad Ali Modjtahedi محمدعلی مجتهدی was a prominent Iranian academic and educator, renowned for his significant contributions to the field of education in Iran. He pursued his higher education in France, where he completed his doctorate at the Université de Paris in 1938 under the supervision of the esteemed mathematician Henri Villat. Upon returning to Iran, Modjtahedi dedicated his life to advancing education. He served as the lifetime principal of the prestigious Alborz High School in Tehran, where he influenced generations of students with his dedication and vision. His commitment to education extended beyond secondary education; he was instrumental in founding Sharif University of Technology, one of Iran's leading institutions for engineering and technology. Additionally, he served as the dean of the Amirkabir University of Technology, further cementing his legacy in higher education.
Gholam Hossein Mossaheb (1910-1979): Gholam Hossein Mossaheb غلامحسین مصاحب was a prominent Iranian mathematician and logician. He pursued his studies in Iran, France, and England, ultimately earning his PhD from Cambridge University under the supervision of Abram Besicovitch, a renowned Russian mathematician. In 1966, Mossaheb founded the Institute of Mathematical Research, which became a pivotal center for mathematical studies in Iran. He played a crucial role in promoting modern mathematics in Iran and is considered one of the most influential mathematicians in the country's history. For more information, refer to [N1].
Ali Afzalipour: Ali Afzalipour علی افضلی‌پور was an Iranian mathematician who completed his dissertation in 1936 under the supervision of Georges Darmois. Afzalipour was also a professor of mathematics at the University of Tehran, where he played a significant role in advancing mathematical education and research. His brother, Alireza Afzalipour (1909-1993), a chemist, and Alireza's wife, Fakhereh Saba (1920-2007), who was a celebrated opera singer and encyclopedist, established Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in Iran.
Abolghassem Ahmad-Vaziri: Abolghassem Ahmad-Vaziri ابوالقاسم احمدوزیری was an Iranian mathematician who earned his Ph.D. from the Université de Montpellier in 1938. His dissertation was supervised by Émile Turrièr. He also served as a professor of mathematics at the University of Tehran in Iran.
Ahmad Birashk (1907-2002): Ahmad Birashk احمد بیرشک was a prominent Iranian author, translator, mathematician, calendarist, and researcher of the history of science. Born in Bajgiran, he received his primary education from his father, who also taught him the French language. He continued his education at the Alliance School in Tehran, which was a French medium school. Ahmad Birashk pursued higher education at the Higher Teachers' College in Tehran, where he studied mathematics. He later served in various educational roles, including teaching mathematics, physics, and natural sciences, and held administrative positions in the Ministry of Education and at the University of Tehran. Birashk made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and was known for his work on the Iranian calendar. He was also involved in educational initiatives, including the founding of the "Hadaf هدف" Educational Group, which aimed to provide high-quality education in Iran. He authored and translated many books on different topics including mathematics, physics, calendar systems, and the history of science.
Assadollah Alebouyeh (1908-2002): Assadollah Alebouyeh اسدالله آلِ‌بویه was an Iranian mathematician who completed his dissertation under the supervision of the renowned mathematician Élie Joseph Cartan in 1936. Alebouyeh was a professor of mathematics at the University of Tehran.
Mohammad Hassan Mahdavi Ardebili (1909-1997): Mohammad Hassan Mahdavi Ardebili محمد حسن مهدوی اردبیلی was an Iranian mathematician who completed his dissertation under the supervision of Georges de Rham in 1940.
Manoutcher Vassal (1913-2012): Manoutcher Vassal منوچهر وصال earned his Doctorat ès Sciences from the Université de Genève in 1940, with a dissertation on integral geometry in Hermitian spaces, under the supervision of Georges de Rham. Teaching at both the University of Tehran and the University of Shiraz, he played a pivotal role in advancing mathematical analysis in Iran.
Abbasgholi Khajenouri (1915-1993): Abbasgholi Khajenouri عباسقلی خواجه‌نوری is known for founding the Institute for Higher Education in Statistics and Informatics in Iran.
Fazlollah Reza (1915-2019): Fazlollah Reza فضل‌الله رضا was a distinguished Iranian electrical engineer, mathematician, and diplomat. He graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tehran in 1938. He later earned his master's degree from Columbia University in 1946 and his Ph.D. from the Polytechnic University of New York in 1950. Reza made significant contributions to network and information theory, earning him fellowships with the IEEE and AAAS. He held various academic positions, including teaching at MIT, McGill University, Concordia University, and the University of Tehran. He also served as the chancellor of Tehran University and Sharif University of Technology. In addition to his academic achievements, Reza was Iran's ambassador to Canada and UNESCO. He was an honorary member of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature and wrote extensively on classical Persian poetry.
Ali Reza Amir-Moez (1919-2007): Ali Reza Amir-Moez علیرضا امیرمعز was a distinguished mathematician known for his extensive contributions to linear algebra and functional analysis. Born in Tehran, Iran, he later moved to the United States, where he earned his MA and PhD from UCLA. Throughout his career, he held academic positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Idaho, Queens College, Purdue University, the University of Florida, Clarkson College, and Texas Tech University. Amir-Moez authored numerous books and over 150 papers, covering topics such as linear transformations and unitary space geometry. He was also a dedicated educator and established scholarships at Texas Tech University and UCLA. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Pro Mundi Beneficio medal from the Academia Brasileira De Ciencias Humanas in 1975.
Mohammad Hadi Shafieiha (1920-2007): Mohammad Hadi Shafieiha محمدهادی شفیعیها was a prominent Iranian mathematician, editor, and translator. After completing his primary and secondary education in Qazvin, he moved to Tehran to study mathematics at "Daneshsara-ye Ali". Upon graduation, he taught high school mathematics in Ahvaz, Qom, and Tehran. Later, he was invited to teach higher mathematics at the Department of Engineering at the University of Tehran. In 1960, he was dispatched to Cambridge University to continue his mathematical studies. After returning to Tehran, he taught at several universities, including Sharif University of Technology, the University of Tehran, Amirkabir University of Technology, and Shahid Beheshti University. Fluent in English, French, Russian, and some German, he translated various literary texts and composed, translated, and edited about 50 mathematical university textbooks.
Mohammad Ali Gheyni (1921-1995): Mohammad Ali Gheyni محمدعلی قینی earned his doctorate in sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles in 1959, under the supervision of Frans van den Dungen. He later became a professor at the University of Tehran.
Houshang Montaseri (1923-2015): Houshang Montaseri هوشنگ منتصری was a distinguished Iranian mathematician and translator. He began his early education in Lahijan, where he completed his primary studies. Montaseri then moved to Tehran to continue his education at St. Louis School and Dar al-Fonun. After obtaining his bachelor's degree from the University of Tehran, he moved to France to study econometrics. After obtaining his doctoral degree, he returned to Tehran. Montaseri served as the Vice President of Sharif University of Technology for a period and was the President of the University of Tabriz during 1967-1968. A few years later, he was appointed as the Governor of Kerman. After retiring, he returned to France and lived there for 20 years. Upon returning to Iran, Montaseri resumed teaching at the university. Prominent Iranian physicist Reza Radmanesh (1905-1984) was his maternal uncle.
Parviz Shahriari (1926-2012): Parviz Shahriari پرویز شهریاری was a prominent mathematics educator, political activist, writer, and translator. He authored and translated numerous books and articles, particularly focusing on secondary school and college-level mathematics to popularize the subject in Iran. Shahriari founded and served as the editor-in-chief of the Persian mathematics journal "Reconciliation with Mathematics" which remains one of the most esteemed journals for mathematics in Persian. He is widely regarded as Iran's father of "mathematics education".
Mohammed Taghi Sadr (1933-2018): Mohammed Taghi Sadr محمد تقی صدر was an Iranian mathematician. After completing his studies at Dar al-Fonun, he pursued a degree in mathematics at the University of Tehran. He then moved to France to write his doctoral thesis under the supervision of the renowned mathematician Charles Ehresmann. Sadr had an illustrious teaching career, holding positions at the University of Tehran, the University of North Dakota, and the University of Southampton.
Heydar Radjavi (1935-): Heydar Radjavi حیدر رجوی is an Iranian mathematician renowned for his contributions to operator theory and linear algebra. Born and raised in Tabriz, Iran, Radjavi did not leave his hometown until he was admitted to the University of Tehran in 1953. Initially passionate about modern Persian literature, he dreamed of becoming a writer but switched to mathematics towards the end of high school. Radjavi pursued his doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota, where he earned his Ph.D. in 1962 under the supervision of Gerhard Karl Kalisch. Following his graduation, he embarked on an academic career, teaching at various universities in Iran, the United States, and Canada. In 1972, he moved permanently to Canada. His work primarily focuses on the structure of matrix algebras and the properties of operator algebras.
Alinaghie Zand (1935-2014): Alinaghie Zand علینقی زند was a remarkable Iranian mathematician. Born in Khoy, he completed his early education there and moved to Tehran for his final year of high school at Marvi High School. He then attended the University of Tehran, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1958. Immediately after graduation, he began working as an assistant to Asadollah Alebouyeh, a professor at the same faculty. In 1962, Zand went to France to pursue further studies under the supervision of Professor Charles Ehresmann. Although Ehresmann was renowned for his work in differential geometry, he had shifted his focus to category theory at that time. Zand wrote his dissertation on "Pre-Additive Categories" and defended it in 1966. Upon returning to Iran in 1967, Zand resumed his work at the University of Tehran. He was instrumental in modernizing the undergraduate mathematics curriculum to align with international standards. He also translated several mathematical texts by Jacques Dixmier. In 1977, he spent a sabbatical at the University of Edinburgh in the UK, conducting research on algebra. Zand had a broad knowledge of mathematics, enabling him to teach a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Tehran, including abstract algebra, linear algebra, Galois theory, mathematical analysis, and topology. He was a key figure in introducing modern algebra to the university.
Mehdi Behzad (1936 - ): Mehdi Behzad مهدی بهزاد is a notable Iranian mathematician, best known for introducing the concept of total coloring in graph theory. His conjecture in graph theory is called Behzad's conjecture which is still an open problem in graph theory. He completed his Ph.D. at Michigan State University in 1965 and has made substantial contributions to mathematics education in Iran.
Mansour Nikkhah-Bahrami (1939-): Mansour Nikkhah-Bahrami منصور نیکخواه بهرامی is a notable Iranian engineer and mathematician. Born in Tarom, he completed his high school education at Hadaf High School in Tehran. Following this, he moved to the USA to further his studies and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in "engineering mechanics" (not to be confused with mechanical engineering). In 1969, at the invitation of Fazlollah Reza, he began teaching in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Tehran. His research interests include multibody dynamics, computational mechanics, numerical methods in engineering, solid-fluid interaction, and mechanical vibration.
Seyed Kazem Lellahi (1941-): Seyed Kazem Lellahi سید کاظم للهی is a prominent Iranian mathematician and computer scientist. He completed his primary and secondary education in Qaen before moving to Birjand for further studies at the Teacher Training College. Lellahi then moved to Mashhad, where he graduated with a high school diploma in mathematics in 1959. He continued his education in France, writing his thesis under the supervision of Charles Ehresmann. In 1970, Lellahi joined the University of Tehran as a faculty member in the mathematics department. He later returned to France to specialize in computer science, integrating his mathematical research into this field and publishing several papers on the subject. He became a faculty member at universities in Paris and earned a postdoctoral degree in computer science. Lellahi was one of the founding members of the Iranian Mathematical Society.
Siavash Mirshams Shahshahani (1942-): Siavash Mirshams Shahshahani سیاوش میرشمس شهشهانی is a distinguished Iranian mathematician. He completed his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, under the supervision of Stephen Smale in 1969. He has held various academic positions, including being a professor and head of the Mathematical Sciences Department at Sharif University of Technology. Shahshahani is also an experienced teacher of mathematics, having educated and mentored numerous students throughout his career. Shahshahani has authored some influential books, including "An Introductory Course on Differentiable Manifolds" in English and "Differential and Integral Calculus" in Persian. Additionally, he played a significant role in the development of the Internet in Iran, serving as the head of the IRNIC registry for the .ir ccTLD until his retirement in 2008.
Alireza Zokayi (1944-2018): Alireza Zokayi علیرضا ذکایی (also known as علیرضا زکایی) was a distinguished Iranian mathematician renowned for his contributions to the field of group theory, particularly in the characterization of finite simple groups. Born in Nahavand, Iran, Zokayi received his Bachelor's Degree in mathematics from the University of Surrey in Guildford, England, in 1970. He then pursued his Master's Thesis in mathematics at the University of Wales in 1972, under the supervision of Alun Owen Morris. Mentored by the renowned mathematician Zvonimir Janko, Zokayi developed a deep understanding of group theory and completed his doctoral dissertation in 1977. He was a full professor of mathematics at the K. N. Toosi University of Technology in Tehran.
Freydoon Shahidi (1947- ): Freydoon Shahidi فریدون شهیدی is a distinguished Iranian-American mathematician known for his significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in automorphic forms and number theory. He is a Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Purdue University. Shahidi is renowned for developing the Langlands-Shahidi method, which is a technique used in the study of automorphic L-functions. He earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University in 1975, under the supervision of Joseph Shalika. Throughout his career, he has held various prestigious positions and received numerous accolades, including being a Guggenheim Fellow and an Invited Speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians.
Dara Moazzami (1949-): Coming from a celebrated family of scholars and politicians in Golpayegan, Dara Moazzami دارا معظمی is an Iranian engineering scientist and mathematician known for his contributions to applied mathematics, particularly in graph theory. He earned his BSc and MSc from the University of Quebec-Montreal and his Ph.D. from Northeastern University in Boston. Moazzami introduced the concept of graph tenacity and served as a professor of mathematics in the Engineering Department at the University of Tehran, where he founded the major "engineering sciences" in Iran. He also served as the president of Golpayegan University of Technology.
Yahya Tabesh: Yahya Tabesh یحیی تابش is a distinguished academic and educator specializing in mathematics and computer science. He served as a faculty member at Sharif University of Technology (SUT) in Iran from 1988 until his retirement. Throughout his career, Tabesh has held several leadership roles, including Director of the Computing Center and Chairman of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at SUT. He co-founded the Isfahan Math House and directed the Algorithms and Problem Solving Lab at SUT. He has authored numerous articles and books on mathematics education and computational thinking. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Erdös Award in 2010. In 2012, he moved to the USA to become a visiting scholar at Stanford University, where he remains active. Currently, his research interests include AI-based cognitive learning.
Parviz Moin (1952-): Parviz Moin پرویز معین is a prominent Iranian-American figure in the field of numerical analysis and computational fluid dynamics. He is the Franklin P. and Caroline M. Johnson Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University and the founder of the Center for Turbulence Research and the Stanford Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering. Moin is well-known for pioneering the use of high-fidelity numerical simulations and massively parallel computers to study turbulence physics. He has authored the book "Fundamentals of Engineering Numerical Analysis" which is widely used as a textbook for graduate students in engineering and physical sciences.
Zahra Gooya (1954-): Zahra Gooya زهرا گویا is an Iranian mathematician and educator. Born in Kermanshah, she completed her high school education there and later earned her bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Boston, USA, in 1977. She went on to receive her master's degree in Mathematics Education in 1988 and her Ph.D. in Mathematics Education (Curriculum Planning) in 1992 from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Gooya is a professor at the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran. Her research interests include mathematics education, curriculum development, and teacher professional development.
Shahriar Shahriari (1956-): Shahriar Shahriari شهریار شهریاری is an Iranian-American mathematician renowned for his contributions to combinatorics and mathematics education. He holds the William Polk Russell Professorship of Mathematics at Pomona College. Shahriari has authored two notable books: "Approximately Calculus" (2006) and "Algebra in Action: A Course in Groups, Rings, and Fields" (2017). His excellence in teaching has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Carl B. Allendoerfer Award and the Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Award for Distinguished Teaching in Mathematics. He is also the son of the celebrated Iranian mathematics teacher and the father of mathematics education in Iran, Parviz Shahriari (1926-2012).
Cumrun Vafa (1960-): Cumrun Vafa کامران وفا earned his Ph.D. in physics from Princeton University in 1985, under the supervision of Edward Witten. Cumrun Vafa is a prominent Iranian-American theoretical physicist, renowned for his groundbreaking work in string theory. He is the Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Harvard University. Vafa is best known for his contributions to string theory, including the development of F-theory, the Vafa-Witten theorem, and the Gopakumar-Vafa invariant. His work has significantly advanced our understanding of the relationship between geometry and quantum field theories, and he has received numerous prestigious awards, such as the Dirac Medal, the Eisenbud Prize, and the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
Farideh Firoozbakht (1962-2019): Farideh Firoozbakht فریده فیروزبخت was an Iranian mathematician. She initially studied pharmacology but later switched to mathematics at the University of Isfahan. Firoozbakht taught at various Iranian universities, including the University of Isfahan. She is best known for formulating Firoozbakht's conjecture in 1982, which concerns the distribution of prime numbers.
Amin Shokrollahi (1964-): Amin Shokrollahi امین شکراللهی is a German-Iranian mathematician renowned for his work in coding theory and algebraic complexity theory. Shokrollahi has received numerous awards, including the IEEE Information Theory Paper Award, the IEEE Eric E. Sumner Award, and the IEEE Richard W. Hamming Medal. He is currently a professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).
Vahid Tarokh (1967-): Vahid Tarokh وحید تارخ is an influential Iranian-American electrical engineer, mathematician, and computer scientist. He has made significant contributions to the fields of communications and signal processing. Tarokh is renowned for his work on space-time codes, which are used in most cellular phones today. He has also developed foundational approaches to cognitive radios and distributed communication techniques. His current research interests include representation, computer modeling, inference, and prediction from data. Tarokh's pioneering work continues to influence the fields of electrical engineering and computer science, making him a prominent figure in these areas.
Javad Mashreghi (1968-): Javad Mashreghi جواد مشرقی is a notable Iranian mathematician specializing in function space theory, functional analysis, and complex analysis. Born in Kashan, Iran, he completed his undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Tehran before moving to Canada, where he earned his Ph.D. from McGill University in 2001. Currently, he is a professor at Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, and has held significant positions such as the 35th President of the Canadian Mathematical Society (2020–2022). His contributions to mathematics have been recognized with numerous awards, including the IEEE Prize Paper Award in 2021 and being named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2024. Javad Mashreghi was awarded the 2024 Béla Szőkefalvi-Nagy Medal by the Bolyai Institute of the University of Szeged. This prestigious award recognizes his significant contributions to the fields of function spaces and operator theory.
Ali Taheri: Ali Taheri علی طاهری a professor of mathematics at the University of Sussex. His main research interests include geometric analysis, calculus of variations, and partial differential equations (PDEs). He has also worked extensively in harmonic analysis, spectral theory, operator theory, function spaces, Lie groups, and symmetric spaces.
Rama Cont (1972-): Rama Cont is a distinguished mathematician renowned for his work in probability theory, stochastic analysis, and mathematical finance. He currently serves as the Statutory Professor of Mathematical Finance at the University of Oxford, where he leads the Mathematical and Computational Finance Group. Originally from Tehran, Iran, Cont has held prestigious academic positions at Columbia University, Imperial College London, and Sorbonne University. His research primarily focuses on systemic risk modeling, functional Itô calculus, and pathwise methods in stochastic analysis. Among his numerous accolades are the Louis Bachelier Prize from the French Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society Award for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research.
Arash Rastegar (1973-): Arash Rastegar آرش رستگار is a mathematician known for his work in modular forms, Diophantine geometry, and self-similarity in arithmetic geometry. Rastegar has also contributed to the philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of science, anthropology, and education. He completed his PhD at Princeton University under the supervision of Andrew Wiles, a renowned mathematician famous for proving Fermat's Last Theorem.
Elham Kashefi: Elham Kashefi الهام کاشفی is a distinguished computer scientist specializing in quantum computing. She holds a Personal Chair in Quantum Computing at the University of Edinburgh and is also a researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) at Sorbonne University. Her work spans quantum cryptography, verification of quantum computing, and quantum cloud computing. She has pioneered several key concepts in quantum computing, including Universal Blind Quantum Computing, which allows for privacy protection during quantum computations.
Ramin Takloo-Bighash (1974-): Ramin Takloo-Bighash رامین تکلو بیغش is a mathematician specializing in number theory, automorphic forms, and Diophantine geometry. He is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), where he also serves as the Director of Mathematics Educatiion. He has co-authored several influential books, including "An Invitation to Modern Number Theory" and "A Pythagorean Introduction to Number Theory".
Delaram Kahrobaei (1975-): Delaram Kahrobaei دلارام کهربایی is an Iranian-American mathematician and computer scientist. She is a full professor at Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY), with appointments in the Departments of Computer Science and Mathematics. Her research focuses on post-quantum cryptography and applied algebra.
Saeed Salehi (1976-): Saeed Salehi سعید صالحی is a distinguished Iranian mathematician renowned for his expertise in mathematical logic and theoretical computer science. He has made substantial contributions to the fields of completeness, decidability, and axiomatizability. Salehi holds two PhDs: one in Theoretical Computer Science from the University of Turku, Finland, and another in Mathematical Logic from the Polish Academy of Sciences. His research interests encompass the theory of computability, complexity theory, and the philosophy of mathematics.
Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017): Maryam Mirzakhani مریم میرزاخانی was an Iranian mathematician. Mirzakhani's research topics included Teichmüller theory, hyperbolic geometry, ergodic theory, and symplectic geometry. On 13 August 2014, Mirzakhani was honored with the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics. She became the first woman and the first Iranian to be honored with the award.
Roya Beheshti Zavareh (1977-): Roya Beheshti Zavareh رویا بهشتی زواره is a prominent mathematician specializing in algebraic geometry. She is a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. Beheshti completed her PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), focusing on linear subvarieties of smooth hypersurfaces. Her research interests include algebraic geometry and its applications.
Caucher Birkar (1978-): Caucher Birkar کۆچەر بیرکار (born Fereydoun Derakhshani فریدون درخشانی in July 1978) is an Iranian mathematician. He earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Tehran. Shortly after, he moved to the UK to pursue his PhD at the University of Nottingham, where he graduated in 2004. Birkar has made significant contributions to algebraic geometry. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Leverhulme Prize in 2010 and the Fields Medal in 2018 for his work on the boundedness of Fano varieties and contributions to the minimal model program.
Nasser Heydari: Nasser Heydari ناصر حیدری is an Iranian mathematician specializing in real symplectic geometry. He received his Ph.D. from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2008. Together with Kazuo Muroi, Heydari has shed light on the unknown history of mathematics in Elamite, exploring topics such as the application of the Pythagorean theorem and systems of equations in the Susa Mathematical Texts.
Sara Zahedi (1981-): Sara Zahedi سارا زاهدی is an Iranian-Swedish mathematician known for her work in computational fluid dynamics. She holds an associate professorship in numerical analysis at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden. Her research focuses on developing numerical algorithms for partial differential equations, particularly those involving dynamically changing geometries. In 2016, Zahedi was awarded the European Mathematical Society Prize for her outstanding contributions to numerical analysis. Her work has significant applications in simulating fluid dynamics problems, such as those involving immiscible liquids.
Artan Sheshmani: Artan Sheshmani آرتان ششمانی is a distinguished mathematician specializing in algebraic geometry, enumerative and derived geometry, and the mathematics of string theory. He is a full professor at the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications (BIMSA). His research focuses on Gromov-Witten theory, Donaldson-Thomas theory, Calabi-Yau geometries, and the mathematical aspects of string theory.
Hamid Naderi Yeganeh (1990-): Hamid Naderi Yeganeh حمید نادری یگانه is an Iranian mathematical artist and digital artist. He is renowned for using mathematical formulas to create intricate and symmetrical illustrations, animations, fractals, and tessellations. His work often involves mathematical concepts such as trigonometric functions, exponential functions, and the Fibonacci sequence. Yeganeh's artwork has been featured in various prestigious publications and exhibitions. For instance, his piece "9,000 Ellipses" was used as the background cover image of The American Mathematical Monthly in November 2017.
References.
[G1] F Ghassemlou, Rahyafti be Tarikh-e Riaziat dar Iran-e Mo'aser (Tehran, 2017).
[G2] C P González. On the Transfer of Technology and Knowledge in Iran During the Naseri Period (1848-1896). In: Orchiston, W., Sule, A., Vahia, M. (eds) The Growth and Development of Astronomy and Astrophysics in India and the Asia-Pacific Region. Astrophysics and Space Science Proceedings, vol 54. Springer, Singapore, 2019.
[N1] P Nasehpour, The life of Professor Gholam Hossein Mossaheb (1910-1979) and his contributions in mathematics and the Persian language, 2019.
See also History of Persian Mathematics and Persian Mathematicians.
Note. The picture on the top of the current page, taken from Wikipedia, is a picture of Maryam Mirzakhani.