The MacArthur Award, also known as the “Genius Award,” is worth $800,000 and is awarded over five years, with no strings attached. It honors individuals with outstanding creativity and the potential to make significant contributions in a variety of fields.

According to The Harvard Crimson , Professor Williams is recognized for his work on algebraic combinatorics - a branch of mathematics that uses algebra to solve problems about discrete structures.

Specifically, she focuses on “Grassmann positive” – a geometric space that encodes planes of equal size, which helps to expand understanding of the connection between mathematics and physics.

She also researched the amplituhedron, a geometric structure that helps physicists model interactions between elementary particles, and topics such as Macdonald polynomials and cluster algebras, exploring the connection between algebra and geometry.

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Professor Williams leads a class in 2018. Photo: News.harvard.edu

Valuable support in difficult times

The award comes at a difficult time for researchers at Harvard. Earlier this year, the Trump administration suspended $2.2 billion in National Science Foundation (NSF) funding, putting hundreds of projects on hold.

Although federal courts later ordered the funds restored, many scientists—including Williams—are still waiting for the money to be released. Thanks to the MacArthur Fellowship, she can continue her independent research without relying on federal funding.

Impressive academic journey

Professor Lauren Williams' love of mathematics began in primary school, after she won a prize in a local math competition.

She graduated from Harvard University in 2000, then defended her PhD thesis at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2005, focusing on the combinatorial aspects of total positivity.

After many years teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, she returned to Harvard University in 2018 and became the second woman in history to be appointed to a permanent tenured position in the Department of Mathematics.

Throughout his career, Professor Williams taught, researched, and mentored students, helping to train the next generation of young mathematicians.

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The MacArthur Foundation recognizes Professor Williams' talent for bridging mathematical fields. Photo: MacArthur Foundation

Research with wide application

Although highly theoretical, Professor Williams' work opens up applications in many fields, from physics, representation theory to geometry.

By studying geometric structures like the positive Grassmannian or the amplituhedron, she helps scientists model and visualize complex systems in new ways.

The MacArthur Foundation praised Professor Williams' ability to illuminate unexpected connections between different areas of mathematics. Her interdisciplinary approach shows how abstract mathematics can contribute to solving practical problems in the natural sciences.

In addition to her research, Professor Williams is particularly interested in making abstract mathematical concepts more accessible. She has developed teaching methods that help students understand complex ideas from the most basic foundations.

Her career is seen as an inspiration for women in the field of mathematics, where the female representation remains modest.

With the MacArthur Award, Professor Williams will continue to both conduct research and mentor students, while affirming the importance of investing in basic research and the value of the spirit of pure scientific discovery in human progress.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nu-giao-su-toan-hoc-gianh-giai-thien-tai-macarthur-2025-2451660.html