Igor Kortchemski

Igor Kortchemski is a CNRS researcher at the Department of Mathematics and Applications (DMA) at École Normale Supérieure, Paris, and a lecturer in the Department of Applied Mathematics at École Polytechnique. His primary research focuses on the continuous limits of random discrete models, particularly examining how discrete combinatorial structures converge to continuous objects under appropriate scaling.

His educational background includes a PhD in Mathematics (2012) under Jean-François Le Gall at École Normale Supérieure and a Habilitation à diriger des recherches (HDR) in Mathematics (2016). Kortchemski's research spans several interconnected areas:

• Random trees and Galton-Watson processes with heavy-tailed distributions
• Random planar maps and their geometric properties
• Growth-fragmentation processes and their connections to Lévy processes
• Scaling limits of combinatorial structures and their continuous counterparts

His publication record shows a consistent focus on the geometric properties of random discrete structures, with recent work (2023-2025) exploring uniform attachment processes with freezing, critical tree phenomena, and the mesoscopic geometry of sparse random maps. His research often involves sophisticated probabilistic analysis combined with combinatorial insights.

Scientific recognition includes:

• prix de thèse solennel Perrissin-Pirasset / Schneider de la chancellerie des Universités de Paris (2012)

Kortchemski actively contributes to academic service:

• Examiner for the minor math exam at École Polytechnique (FUF) since 2023
• Member of the mathematics jury for ENS International Selection (2023)
• Member of the jury for the external mathematics competitive examination (Agrégation) since 2021
• Member of the jury for the Arts and Economic and Social Sciences Bank (B/L) mathematics exams (2015-2018)

He mentors the next generation of researchers as co-director of Antoine Aurillard's and Vanessa Dan's theses (both since 2023), and previously directed Etienne Bellin's (2020-2023) and Paul Thevenin's (2017-2020) theses.