The 2005 Morgan Prize recognized Jacob Fox for a series of research publications in combinatorics during his undergraduate years. Born in 1984, the American mathematician has established a career centered on discrete mathematics, contributing to the development of Ramsey theory, extremal graph theory, and probabilistic methods. His professional progression spans major academic institutions within the United States.
Early Education and Research
Raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Fox attended Hall High School. During his senior year, he secured second place overall in the Intel Science Talent Search, while placing first within his specific category. This recognition followed his research titled "Rainbow Ramsey Theory: Rainbow Arithmetic Progressions and Anti-Ramsey Results," a project originating from his participation in the Research Science Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also gained early experience through a mathematics program at Ohio State University.
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Fox enrolled as an undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After completing his degree, he transitioned to Princeton University for doctoral studies. Under the supervision of Benny Sudakov, he finished his PhD in 2010. His dissertation focused on the specific mathematical problem of Ramsey Numbers.
Professional Appointments and Contributions
Following his doctoral graduation, Fox joined the faculty of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he served from 2010 until 2014. During this period, he instructed courses on combinatorics and mentored students within the Research Science Institute. In 2015, he moved to Stanford University to continue his academic research and teaching duties.
Awards and Professional Distinctions
Throughout his career, Fox has received several honors for his contributions to discrete mathematics. Alongside the 2005 Morgan Prize, he was awarded the Dénes Kőnig Prize in 2010 by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. His later accolades include the Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering in 2013 and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2014. In 2016, he received the Oberwolfach Prize. Additionally, he served as an invited speaker at the 2014 International Congress of Mathematicians.
Fast facts
- Born: 1984
- Nationality: United States
- Doctoral Institution: Princeton University
- Undergraduate Institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Current Faculty Position: Stanford University
- Primary Field: Combinatorics
- Morgan Prize Winner: 2005
- Oberwolfach Prize Winner: 2016
Questions readers ask
Where did Jacob Fox complete his PhD?
He earned his doctorate from Princeton University in 2010.
What subjects does Jacob Fox research?
His work focuses on combinatorics, including Ramsey theory, extremal graph theory, combinatorial number theory, and probabilistic methods.
Achievements
- Oberwolfach Prize — 2016
- Morgan Prize — 2005
- Held posts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University
- Fields: mathematics
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