Sorin T. Popa

Sorin Popa is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a leading functional analyst working in mathematics related to quantum physics. He solved a number of long-standing problems on Von Neumann algebras, including problems raised by Von Neumann, Kadison, Sakai and Connes. His work led to surprising applications in orbit equivalence ergodic theory, group theory, and descriptive set theory. He developed new areas, especially deformation/rigidity theory, which led to new insights on group actions on probability spaces. Popa has been named Simons Fellow in Mathematics, and has been awarded a Chaire Blaise Pascal (2009), the E.H. Moore Prize for outstanding research article (2010), the international Ostrowski Prize for mathematical research (2009). He was a plenary speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians.