The publication of the 2001 volume Graphs on Surfaces, co-authored with Carsten Thomassen, established a technical standard for research in topological graph theory. Born in Novo Mesto in 1956, Bojan Mohar maintains a dual career as a professor in Slovenia and a Canada Research Chair holder, bridging academic institutions across international borders through his specialization in graph structures.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Mohar completed his doctoral studies at the University of Ljubljana in 1986 under the supervision of Tomo Pisanski. His early academic trajectory included a period as a Fulbright visiting scholar at Ohio State University in 1988. In 1990, he received the Boris Kidrič prize from the Socialist Republic of Slovenia, marking his initial formal recognition in the field. He has remained affiliated with the University of Ljubljana throughout his career.
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His primary mathematical contributions focus on graph theory, specifically within the sub-disciplines of algebraic graph theory, topological graph theory, graph minors, and graph coloring. These areas involve the study of graph embedding algorithms and crossing numbers. His scholarly output addresses both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical applications of these complex networks, which influence fields such as computing and physics.
International Appointments and Honors
In 2005, Mohar joined Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he currently serves as a Canada Research Chair. His contributions have earned several professional accolades, including the Euler Medal in 2010 and the John L. Synge Award in 2018. The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics named him a Fellow in 2018, followed by his election as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2020. In 2024, he was granted the Decoration of Merit.
Professional Affiliations
Mohar is a member of the American Mathematical Society and the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Beyond these organizations, he has held membership in the Slovenian Academy of Engineering since 1999. He communicates his research in both English and Slovene, maintaining professional ties within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia legacy institutions and his current Canadian research environment.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Novo Mesto
- Doctorate: 1986, University of Ljubljana
- Current Employers: Simon Fraser University, University of Ljubljana
- Key Publication: Graphs on Surfaces (2001)
- Euler Medal: 2010
- John L. Synge Award: 2018
- SIAM Fellow: 2018
- AMS Fellow: 2020
Questions readers ask
What is the primary focus of Bojan Mohar's mathematical research?
His research centers on graph theory, specifically topological and algebraic graph theory, graph minors, and graph coloring.
Where does Bojan Mohar hold academic positions?
He is a professor at the University of Ljubljana and a Canada Research Chair at Simon Fraser University.
Achievements
- Euler Medal — 2010
- Held posts at Simon Fraser University and University of Ljubljana
- Fields: graph theory
