David Kazhdan

About

Known for his work in a sub-field of abstract algebra known as representation theory, this Soviet-born mathematician was awarded the 2012 Israel Prize and was also a recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship.

Before Fame

After earning a degree from Moscow State University, he taught at Harvard for nearly three decades. In the early 2000s, he settled in Israel and joined the faculty of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Trivia

He became famous for three major mathematical concepts and theories: the Kazhdan–Lusztig polynomial, theKazhdan–Margulis theorem, and Kazhdan's property (T).

Family Life

Born Dmitri Aleksandrovich, he grew up in Moscow as the son of historian Alexander Kazhdan.

Associated With

Grigori Perelman is another prominent Russian-Jewish mathematician.