Olivier Debarre received a Ph.D. from the University of Paris XI in 1987, completing a two-part thesis that included work on Variétés de Prym under the guidance of Arnaud Beauville. This achievement marked the beginning of his professional focus on complex algebraic geometry, a field in which he has maintained an active research and teaching career for several decades.
Academic Formation and Early Research
Debarre attended the École Normale Supérieure from 1977 until 1981. His training continued at Harvard University under Phillip Griffiths during the 1981–1982 academic year. Following his doctoral studies, he served as a scientific researcher for the Centre national de la recherche scientifique between 1982 and 1987. His early academic contributions were formally recognized through his dual thesis, which also addressed the analytic conjugation of circle diffeomorphisms under the supervision of Michael Robert Herman.
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The trajectory of his career involved multiple international transitions and domestic appointments. After his time with the CNRS, he moved to the United States to serve as an associate professor at the University of Iowa from 1991 to 1994. Upon returning to France in 1995, he held a professorship at the University of Strasbourg until 2008. Since 2008, he has taught at both the University of Paris VII and the École Normale Supérieure. During the 2009–2010 term, he served as chair of the faculty at the latter institution.
Professional Service and Editorial Contributions
Beyond his teaching and research, Debarre has contributed extensively to academic publishing within mathematics. He served as an editor for Mathematische Zeitschrift from 2005 to 2020, acting as managing editor for the majority of that tenure. His editorial experience also includes positions with the series Astérisque from 1999 to 2009 and the Annales Scientifiques de l'École Normale Supérieure during 2010–2011. Additionally, he was a junior member of the Institut Universitaire de France from 1999 to 2004.
Research Specializations
His primary research interests center on complex algebraic geometry, specifically investigating Fano varieties, Prym varieties, the Schottky problem, and problems of Torelli type. These themes are reflected in his published monographs, including Higher dimensional algebraic geometry, released in 2001, and Complex Tori and Abelian Varieties, published in 2005. His work has appeared in various international journals, such as the 1989 paper Le théorème de Torelli pour les intersections de trois quadriques.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, Paris
- Citizenship: France
- Specialization: Complex algebraic geometry
- Ph.D.: University of Paris XI, 1987
- Member of: Institut Universitaire de France
- Languages: French
Questions readers ask
Where did Olivier Debarre complete his doctoral studies?
He received his Ph.D. from the University of Paris XI in 1987.
What subjects are included in his research areas?
His research focuses on Fano varieties, Prym varieties, the Schottky problem, and problems of Torelli type.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Paris
