Over 290 research articles characterize the career of Mourad Ismail, an Egyptian-American mathematician who specializes in the rigorous study of orthogonal polynomials and special functions. His academic trajectory spans multiple continents, reflecting a global contribution to the development of approximation theory, continued fractions, and the complex analysis of mathematical systems designed to describe physical phenomena.
Academic Foundation
Born in Cairo in 1944, Ismail began his formal mathematical education at Cairo University. He subsequently moved to Canada to pursue advanced studies, earning both his Master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Alberta. This period provided the framework for his later work on q-series and Rogers-Ramanujan identities, which remain central to his research output.
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Ismail has held positions at several international institutions. His teaching and research career includes tenures at Cairo University, the University of Central Florida, where he held a research professorship, and King Saud University, where he served as a Distinguished Scientist Fellow. He has also engaged in academic work at the University of Louisiana.
Contributions to Special Functions
The research conducted by Ismail focuses on the asymptotic theory of orthogonal polynomials and moment problems. He is responsible for identifying the orthogonality measure for numerous polynomials, including the q-ultraspherical polynomials, often referred to as Askey-Ismail or Rogers-Askey-Ismail polynomials. His work further encompasses Al-Salam-Ismail and Chihara-Ismail polynomials, contributing to both the combinatorial and theoretical understanding of these functions.
Editorial and Professional Recognition
Ismail serves the mathematical community through his editorial work for journals such as Constructive Approximation, the Journal of Approximation Theory, Journal of Physics A, and The Ramanujan Journal. Recognized for his influence in the field, he was elected a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2015. He is also a member of the Institute of Physics and is frequently cited in ISI rankings.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Cairo, Egypt
- Citizenship: United States; Egypt
- Education: Cairo University; University of Alberta
- Fellowship: American Mathematical Society (2015)
- Book: Classical and Quantum Orthogonal Polynomials in One Variable (2005)
- Academic Focus: Orthogonal polynomials; special functions
Questions readers ask
What is Mourad Ismail's primary area of research?
He specializes in orthogonal polynomials, special functions, approximation theory, and continued fractions.
Which major academic institutions has he been affiliated with?
He has worked at Cairo University, the University of Alberta, the University of Central Florida, King Saud University, and the University of Louisiana.
Achievements
- Held posts at Cairo University, University of Central Florida and King Saud University
- Fields: mathematics
