The concept of essential dimension in algebra was introduced by Zinovy Reichstein and Joe P. Buhler, fundamentally shaping the study of algebraic groups. Born in 1961, his research focuses on algebraic geometry and group structures. He serves as a professor at the University of British Columbia and maintains Canadian citizenship while contributing extensively to the global mathematics community.
Early Education and Migration
During his high school years in Russia, Reichstein demonstrated mathematical aptitude by achieving the third-highest score in the 1977 national mathematics olympiad, followed by the second-highest score in 1978. Despite his success on entrance examinations, he was denied admission to Moscow University due to systemic antisemitism. He briefly attended the Russian University of Transport before his family emigrated to Vienna in August 1979, eventually settling in New York in 1980. After working as a delivery person, he enrolled at the California Institute of Technology for his undergraduate studies.
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Reichstein earned his PhD from Harvard University in 1988 under the supervision of Michael Artin. His thesis, titled The Behavior of Stability under Equivariant Maps, established the foundation for his later work. His career took him through several institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania and the University of California, Berkeley, where he arrived in 1992. He spent a year at Oregon State University before accepting his current faculty position at the University of British Columbia in 2001.
Contributions to Mathematics
His primary research interests involve algebraic groups and geometry, specifically the notion of essential dimension. His collaborative work, such as the 1997 paper in Compositio Mathematica and the 2010 article in the Annals of Mathematics, has provided critical insights into G-varieties and spinor groups. He served on the editorial board of the journal Transformation Groups starting in 2011 and has participated as an invited speaker at international conferences, including the 2010 International Congress of Mathematicians in Hyderabad.
Awards and Recognition
The Canadian Mathematical Society awarded Reichstein the Jeffery–Williams Prize in 2013 for his significant contributions to the field. He was elected a fellow of the American Mathematical Society in 2013. Earlier in his academic life, he achieved honorable mentions in the Putnam competition in 1980 and 1981, followed by a third-place finish with his team in 1982. In 2021, the academic community commemorated his 60th birthday with a conference dedicated to algebraic groups and algebraic geometry.
Fast facts
- Born: 1961
- Citizenship: Canada
- PhD: Harvard University, 1988
- Primary Field: Algebra
- Fellow: American Mathematical Society, 2013
- Jeffery–Williams Prize: 2013
- Doctoral Advisor: Michael Artin
Questions readers ask
What is the primary mathematical contribution of Zinovy Reichstein?
He is recognized for introducing the concept of essential dimension in collaboration with Joe P. Buhler.
Where does Zinovy Reichstein currently teach?
He is a professor at the University of British Columbia.
Achievements
- Jeffery–Williams Prize — 2013
- Held posts at University of British Columbia
- Fields: algebra