Kiran Sridhara Kedlaya, born in Washington, D.C. in 1974, established his mathematical trajectory early through a series of elite competitive achievements. A three-time Putnam Fellow while an undergraduate, he remains an active contributor to the fields of logic and foundations, balancing his scholarly output with an academic career spanning several prominent American research institutions.
Early Mathematical Recognition
Before completing his formal university studies, Kedlaya emerged as a standout talent in international competition. At age 16, he earned his first gold medal at the International Mathematics Olympiad. He later secured a silver medal followed by a second gold medal in subsequent years. While studying at Harvard University, his performance in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition led to him being named a Putnam Fellow in 1993, 1994, and 1995. In 1996, The Harvard Crimson identified him as the top college-age mathematics student in the United States.
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Kedlaya holds the Stefan E. Warschawski chair in mathematics at the University of California, San Diego. His career includes teaching roles at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, San Diego. His research output focuses on p-adic geometry and differential equations, subjects he addressed in his 2010 book published by Cambridge University Press. He also contributed to the 2008 text on p-adic geometry from the Arizona Winter School and collaborated on a comprehensive guide to Putnam competition problems spanning 1985 to 2000.
Professional Honors and Engagement
The mathematical community has recognized Kedlaya through several awards and affiliations. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2006. In 2012, he became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society, where he maintains active membership. In 2010, he delivered an invited talk on number theory at the International Congress of Mathematicians. Beyond his academic work, he appeared as a contestant on the television game show Jeopardy! in 2011, winning one episode.
Fast facts
- Born: 1974, Washington, D.C.
- Citizenship: United States
- Education: Harvard University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Current Position: Professor, University of California, San Diego
- Notable Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship, Presidential Early Career Award (2006)
- AMS Fellow: 2013
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Kiran Kedlaya's research?
His work primarily centers on p-adic differential equations and p-adic geometry.
Where did Kiran Kedlaya complete his university studies?
He attended Harvard University, Princeton University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Achievements
- Held posts at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of California, San Diego
- Fields: mathematics
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