Benson Stanley Farb (born October 25, 1967) is an American mathematician at the University of Chicago. His research fields include geometric group theory and low-dimensional topology.

Benson Farb
Farb at Oberwolfach, 2016
Born (1967-10-25) October 25, 1967 (age 56)
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater
Spouse
(m. 1996)
Scientific career
FieldsMathematics
InstitutionsUniversity of Chicago
Doctoral advisorWilliam Thurston
Doctoral students

Early life edit

A native of Norristown, Pennsylvania, Farb earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University.[citation needed] In 1994, he obtained his doctorate from Princeton University, under supervision of William Thurston.[1]

Career edit

Farb has advised over 40 students, including Pallavi Dani, Kathryn Mann, Dan Margalit, Karin Melnick and Andrew Putman.[1]

In 2012 Farb became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society.[2] In 2014 he was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in Seoul, speaking in the section on Topology.[3] He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2021.[4] In 2024 he was awarded the Leroy P. Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition.[5]

Books edit

  • Benson Farb; Dan Margalit (2012). A Primer on Mapping Class Groups. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-14794-9. MR 2850125.[6]
  • Farb, Benson; Dennis, R. Keith (1993). Noncommutative Algebra. Springer-Verlag. ISBN 978-1-4612-0889-1. MR 1233388.

Personal life edit

Farb married Amie Wilkinson, professor of mathematics at the University of Chicago, on December 28, 1996. They are professors in the same department.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Benson Farb at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
  2. ^ "List of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society". Retrieved December 2, 2012.
  3. ^ "ICM Plenary and Invited Speakers". International Mathematical Union. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  4. ^ "New Members Elected in 2021". American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  5. ^ Leroy P. Steele Prize 2024
  6. ^ Reviews of A Primer on Mapping Class Groups
  7. ^ "Amie Wilkinson, Benson S. Farb". New York Times. December 29, 1996. Retrieved December 14, 2021.

External links edit