Dror Bar-Natan, a mathematician specializing in topology, knot theory, and Khovanov homology, was born in Israel in 1966. Over a career spanning several decades, he has transitioned from his early education in Tel Aviv to faculty positions at institutions in the United States and Canada, while contributing to the theoretical foundations of geometric invariants.
Academic Formation
Bar-Natan began his formal education at Tel Aviv University, completing a BSc in mathematics in 1984. Following a period of mandatory military service as a teacher, he enrolled at Princeton University in 1987. Under the supervision of the physicist Edward Witten, he completed his PhD in 1991.
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Upon receiving his doctorate, Bar-Natan served as a Benjamin Peirce Assistant Professor at Harvard University, a position he held from 1991 until 1995. He subsequently returned to Israel to take on an associate professorship at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 2002, he moved to the University of Toronto, where he attained the rank of full professor in 2006.
Mathematical Research and External Projects
Bar-Natan's research primary focuses on knot theory and finite type invariants. One of his noted publications, 'On the Vassiliev knot invariants,' appeared in the journal Topology in 1995. Beyond his core academic output, he contributed to the editorial board of Compositio Mathematica for a decade ending in 2010. In 1999, he conducted research outside his standard field to address claims made by Michael Drosnin regarding The Bible Code, mathematically demonstrating that the purported hidden messages could be found in arbitrary texts.
Citizenship and Personal Standing
Bar-Natan holds citizenship in Israel, the United States, and Canada. During his Canadian naturalization process, he expressed objection to the required oath of allegiance to the monarchy. On November 30, 2015, he completed the ceremony but immediately renounced the oath before the presiding judge. He is the father of two sons, Assaf and Itai, from his former marriage to Yael Karshon.
Fast facts
- Born: 1966, Israel
- Education: Tel Aviv University, Princeton University
- Fields: Topology, knot theory, Khovanov homology
- Citizenship: Canada, United States, Israel
- PhD Advisor: Edward Witten
- Former Employer: Harvard University
- Current Employer: University of Toronto
Questions readers ask
What is Dror Bar-Natan's primary research focus?
He specializes in topology, specifically knot theory, finite type invariants, and the formalization of Khovanov homology.
Did Dror Bar-Natan participate in the debunking of The Bible Code?
Yes, in 1999 he collaborated on a paper that demonstrated that the patterns claimed to be hidden codes within the Bible could be extracted from almost any text, effectively refuting the methodology.
Achievements
- Held posts at Harvard University and University of Toronto
- Fields: topology
