Nassif Ghoussoub, a mathematician of Canadian citizenship born in Mali in 1953, has dedicated his career to the rigorous study of non-linear analysis and partial differential equations. Throughout his tenure at the University of British Columbia, he has bridged the gap between complex theoretical research and the institutional development of mathematical collaboration on an international scale.
Academic Foundation
Ghoussoub completed his academic training at Pierre and Marie Curie University, earning his doctorat 3ème cycle in 1975 followed by a Doctorat d'Etat in 1979. His doctoral research was conducted under the supervision of advisors Gustave Choquet and Antoine Brunel. This period provided the technical grounding for his future work in functional analysis and the application of variational principles to mathematical systems.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Institutional Leadership
At the University of British Columbia, Ghoussoub ascended to the role of Professor of Mathematics and Distinguished University Scholar. Beyond his research duties, he served as a vice-president of the Canadian Mathematical Society from 1994 to 1996 and co-edited the Canadian Journal of Mathematics from 1993 to 2002. His administrative footprint includes founding the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences and serving as the scientific director of the Banff International Research Station from 2001 to 2020.
Awards and Recognition
The mathematical community has recognized his contributions through numerous honors. He received the Coxeter–James Prize in 1990 and the Jeffery–Williams Prize in 2007. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1994 and a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2013. In 2015, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, acknowledging his impact on education and research. He also holds honorary doctorates from Paris Dauphine University and the University of Victoria.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Mali
- Citizenship: Canada
- Field: Mathematical analysis
- Employer: University of British Columbia
- Officer of the Order of Canada: 2015
- Fellow of the American Mathematical Society: 2013
- Founding director of PIMS: 1996-2003
Questions readers ask
What are the primary research interests of Nassif Ghoussoub?
He specializes in mathematical analysis, functional analysis, and partial differential equations.
Did he hold any significant administrative roles in mathematics?
Yes, he founded the Banff International Research Station and served as the founding director of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.
Achievements
- Coxeter–James Prize — 1990
- Jeffery–Williams Prize — 2007
- Officer of the Order of Canada
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
- Held posts at University of British Columbia
- Fields: mathematical analysis, functional analysis and partial differential equation
.jpg)
