Igor Balla

Igor Balla is a Strauch Postdoctoral Fellow at the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) in Berkeley, where he participates in a research program on extremal combinatorics. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from ETH Zürich, advised by Benny Sudakov, and earned prior degrees from New York University (Master’s) and Carnegie Mellon University (Bachelor’s). He has held postdoctoral positions at Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Masaryk University.

• PhD: Mathematics, ETH Zürich
• Master’s: New York University
• Bachelor’s: Carnegie Mellon University

His research lies at the intersection of combinatorics and linear algebra, focusing on extremal problems with connections to geometry, theoretical computer science, probability, and quantum physics. Key themes include equiangular lines, orthonormal representations, spectral graph theory, and extremal set systems such as union-closed families. His work often combines algebraic methods with combinatorial reasoning to solve long-standing open problems.

The recent articles highlight a strong trend in equiangular lines, spectral extremal combinatorics, and the application of linear algebra to graph theory and coding. His work on extension complexity and the MaxCut problem bridges discrete mathematics and optimization. The recurring use of eigenvalues, matrix projections, and vector representations underscores a unified methodological framework across his publications.

• Strauch Postdoctoral Fellow

Igor Balla has taught as a lecturer in Graph Theory and Advanced Combinatorics at Masaryk University and served as a teaching assistant at ETH Zürich and Carnegie Mellon University across courses in graph theory, algebra, and number theory. He has not been mentioned in connection with any specific grants, but his postdoctoral fellowship indicates competitive research support. His frequent invited talks at institutions like Princeton, MIT, Harvard, and ICERM reflect active engagement in the global combinatorics community.

He is affiliated with the research program in extremal combinatorics at SLMath, a leading institute in mathematical sciences. His collaborations span institutions including ETH Zürich, Tel Aviv University, and the Hebrew University, indicating a strong, collaborative research network. His recent work with prominent mathematicians like Benny Sudakov, Po-Shen Loh, and Noga Alon further emphasizes his integration into elite research circles.