Richard Kenyon

Richard Kenyon is the Erastus L. DeForest Professor of Mathematics at Yale University, serving as Director of Undergraduate Studies. His research focuses on statistical mechanics, probability, and discrete geometry, with notable contributions to dimer models, random tilings, and integrable systems. He has explored topics such as limit shapes, phase transitions, and combinatorial configurations. His work intersects algebraic geometry, combinatorics, and mathematical physics, often involving the analysis of lattice models and their applications.

His research includes open problems such as tiling optimization, geometric spanning surfaces, number theory questions, and rigidity of tilings. Kenyon's gallery showcases visualizations of mathematical concepts, including random triangulations, Vinnikov curves, and conformal mappings. His academic contributions span over three decades, with recent articles addressing dimers, webs, and eigenvalue properties. He actively collaborates on projects like the six-vertex model, multiwebs, and renormalizable dynamical systems.

Kenyon’s academic service includes directing undergraduate studies at Yale and contributing to initiatives in discrete differential geometry. His work highlights the interplay between pure mathematics and applied probability, with applications in physics and combinatorial optimization.