Karen Uhlenbeck

Karen Uhlenbeck, born on August 24, 1942, is a distinguished American mathematician renowned for her foundational contributions to modern geometric analysis. As a professor emerita of mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin, she held the prestigious Sid W. Richardson Foundation Regents Chair, shaping the minds of future mathematicians.

Currently, Uhlenbeck serves as a distinguished visiting professor at the Institute for Advanced Study and a visiting senior research scholar at Princeton University. Her academic journey has been marked by significant achievements, including her election to the American Philosophical Society in 2007.

In 2019, Uhlenbeck was awarded the Abel Prize, a testament to her pioneering work in geometric partial differential equations, gauge theory, and integrable systems. This honor recognized the profound impact of her research on analysis, geometry, and mathematical physics, making her the first woman to receive this prestigious award since its inception in 2003.

Uhlenbeck's commitment to fostering diversity in mathematics is evident in her philanthropic efforts, as she generously donated half of her prize money to organizations dedicated to increasing the participation of women and other minorities in research mathematics.