Our Faculty Have been recognized for their outstanding research by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the College of LAS, and Department of Mathematics

Learn more about these honors below or follow the links to learn more about external faculty honors and our student-oriented honors, awards, and fellowships.

Center for Advanced Study (CAS)

The Center for Advanced Study sheds light on interdisciplinary thought that starts conversation, inspires action, and transforms the world. From hard science and engineering to humanities and the arts, CAS works with every department on campus to provide high-achieving faculty the support, connections, and funding to make it happen. CAS Associates (tenured) and Fellows (untenured) are University of Illinois faculty members whose proposals are selected in an annual competition. These appointments grant one semester of teaching release time in order to pursue an individual scholarly or creative project. CAS Professors are permanent members of the Center, selected from the faculty on the basis of their outstanding scholarship. These appointments are among the highest forms of campus recognition. With the Associates and Fellows, they form the core of the Center for Advanced Study Community.

CAS Fellows, Associates, and Professors

  • Amanda Young, Fellow, 2026-27
  • József Balogh, Associate, 2024-25; 2016-17
  • Marius Junge, Associate, 2023-24; 2010-11
  • Vera Hur, Associate, 2019-20
  • Steve Bradlow*, Associate, 2019-20; 2001-02
  • Vesna Stojanoska, Fellow, 2018-19
  • Nathan Dunfield, Associate, 2017-18
  • Yuliy Baryshnikov, Associate, 2015-16
  • Kevin Ford, Associate, 2014
  • Vera Hur, Beckman Fellow, 2014-15
  • Alexandru Zaharescu, Associate, 2013-14; 2004-05
  • Bruce Reznick*, Associate, 2011-12
  • Alexander Yong, Beckman Fellow, 2011-12
  • Bruce Berndt*, CAS Professor, 2009
  • József Balogh, Fellow, 2009-10
  • Alexander Kostochka, Associate, 2009-10
  • Paul Schupp*, Associate, 2007
  • Douglas B. West*, Associate, 2006-07; 1994
  • John D'Angelo*, Associate, 2005-06
  • Bruce Berndt*, Associate, 2002-03; 1994-95; 1987-88
  • Matthew Ando*, Beckman Fellow, 2002-03
  • Zoltán Füredi*, Associate, 2000-01
  • Richard Laugesen, Fellow, 1999-00
  • Lou van den Dries*, CAS Professor, 1998
  • Sergei Ivanov, Beckman Fellow, 1995-96
  • Steve Bradlow*, Beckman Fellow, 1994-95; 1993-94
  • Derek J.S. Robinson*, Associate, 1992-93; 1981-82
  • Philippe Tondeur*, Associate, 1991-92
  • Zhong-Jin Ruan*, Fellow, 1990-91
  • Daniel Grayson*, Beckman Associate, 1987-88
  • Douglas B. West*, Beckman Fellow, 1985
  • Robert Fossum*, Associate, 1985-86
  • Bruce Reznick*, Beckman Fellow, 1984
  • Phillip Griffith*, Associate, 1981-82
  • Jang-Mei Wu*, Beckman Fellow, 1981-82
  • Julian Palmore*, Fellow, 1979
  • Philippe Tondeur*, Associate, 1977-78

Named Professorships & Chairs

  • Anand Pillay*, William J. Hank Family Chair, University of Notre Dame, 2013-Present
  • Rui Loja Fernandes, Lois M. Lackner Professor in Mathematics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2012-Present
  • Philippe Di Francesco*, Morris and Gertrude Fine Distinguished Professor of Mathematics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2012-Present
  • Anand Pillay*, Marie Curie Chair, European Union, 2005-2008
  • Anand Pillay*, Swanlund Chair, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1996-2006

Distinguished Scholars

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  • Scott Ahlgren, University Scholar, 2013
  • Sergei Ivanov, University Scholar, 2000
  • A.J. Hildebrand*, University Scholar, 1990
  • Lou van den Dries*, University Scholar, 1988
  • Robert Kaufman*, University Scholar, 1987
  • John P. D'Angelo*, University Scholar, 1986
  • Daniel Grayson*, University Scholar, 1985
  • Wolfgang Haken*, University Scholar, 1985

College of LAS

  • Jesse Thorner, Brad and Karen Smith Scholar, 2024-2027
  • Felix Leditzky, Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar, 2023
  • Vera Hur, Brad and Karen Smith Scholar, 2018-2020
  • József Balogh, J. Andrew and Susan Langan Professorial Scholar, 2016-2019
  • Pierre Albin, Helen Corley Petit Professorial Scholar, 2016-2017
  • Kay Kirkpatrick, Helen Corley Petit Professorial Scholar, 2016-2017
  • Alexander Yong, Helen Corley Petit Professorial Scholar, 2012-2013
  • Marius Junge, Richard and Margaret Romano Professorial Scholar, 2011-2014
  • Susan Tolman, Lynn M. Martin Professorial Scholar, 2008-2017
  • Jeremy Tyson, Helen Corley Petit Professorial Scholar, 2008-2009
  • John P. D'Angelo*, Kenneth D. Schmidt Professorial Scholar, 2005-2008
  • Scott Ahlgren, Helen Corley Petit Professorial Scholar, 2004-2005

Department of Mathematics

  • Felix Leditzky, David Blackwell Scholar in Mathematics, 2022
  • Sheldon Katz, Arthur Coble Scholar, 2021
  • Xiaochun Li, Jean Bourgain Scholar in Mathematics, 2019-2021
  • József Balogh, Paul Halmos Scholar in Mathematics, 2018-2020
  • Vera Hur, Philippe Tondeur Scholar in Mathematics, 2016-2020
  • Kevin Ford, Heini Halberstam Scholar in Mathematics, 2016-2017
  • Kay Kirkpatrick, Blackwell Scholar in Mathematics, 2016-2017
  • Rinat Kedem*, Lois M. Lackner Faculty Scholar, 2014-2016
  • Charles Rezk, Kuo-Tsai Chen Faculty Scholar, 2014-2016
  • Marius Junge, J. L. Doob Scholar, 2011-2012
  • Alexandr Kostochka, Wolfgang Haken Scholar, 2011-2012

Departmental Prizes & Awards

Arnold O. Beckman Research Award

The Arnold O. Beckman Research Awards are part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Research Support Awards program.

  • Jesse Thorner, 2024-2025
  • Alexander Yong, 2018
  • Bruce Berndt*, 2014; 2008; 2004
  • József Balogh, 2013
  • Aimo Hinkkanen, 2011-2012; 1997
  • Jeremy Tyson, 2008-2009
  • Zhong-Jin Ruan*, 1999-2000; 1995-1997
  • Sergei Ivanov, 1996
  • Derek J.S. Robinson*, 1994

Department of Mathematics Michael V. Colla Prize for Mathematics Related to Medicine

  • llinois Risk Lab, "Pandemic Risk Management: Resource Contingency Planning and Allocation”ASRM, 2022
  • Zoi Rapti, 2021 (for research and work on mathematical models of disease transmission, including epidemics, in both amphibian and mammalian populations, especially the work completed since March 2020 related to the COVID-19 pandemic)
  • Richard Sowers and Manuel Hernandez's IGL Research Group "Virtual Reality, Visual Cliffs, and Movement Disorders”, 2019

Department Recognition

  • Stephanie Alexander*, K.-T. Chen Distinguished Mathematical Research Award, 2004-2006
  • Paul Schupp*, F. Albrecht Distinguished Mathematical Research Award, 2004-2006
  • Derek J.S. Robinson*, W.W. Boone Distinguished Mathematical Research Award, 2003-2005
  • Bruce Berndt*, M. Suzuki Distinguished Mathematical Research Award, 2001-2003
  • Robert Kaufman*, L. Rubel Distinguished Mathematical Research Award, 2001-2003