Ken Ono

Ken Ono is the STEM Advisor to the Provost and the Marvin Rosenblum Professor of Mathematics at the University of Virginia. He also holds courtesy appointments as Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Professor of Data Science, and Professor of Statistics. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the Shannon Center for Advanced Studies and serves on the Institute for Advanced Study board of trustees and the National Security Agency Advisory Board.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Mathematics from UCLA (1993) and a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Chicago (1989). Throughout his distinguished career, Ono has held leadership roles including Vice President of the American Mathematical Society, Chair of the Mathematics Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Chairman of the Department of Mathematics at UVa.

Ken Ono specializes in Number Theory, Combinatorics, Algebra, and Arithmetic Geometry, with recent work expanding into sports analytics and swimming optimization. His research has produced numerous publications on partition theory, modular forms, and related areas, continuing the mathematical legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan.

His recent publications demonstrate a continued focus on partition theory, modular forms, and their connections to prime numbers and combinatorial structures. The work shows sophisticated connections between classical number theory and modern mathematical physics, with applications in cryptography and data science.

• Guggenheim Fellowship
• David and Lucile Packard Fellowship
• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellowship
• NSF CAREER Award
• Presidential Early Career Award (2000)
• National Science Foundation Director's Distinguished Teaching Scholar (2005)
• University of Chicago Alumni Medal for Professional Achievement (2023)
• Fellow of the American Mathematical Society

Ono has advised 34 PhD students and 17 postdocs, mentoring numerous award winners including 2 Breakthrough Mirzakhani Prize winners, 9 Morgan Prize winners, and 9 Schafer Prize winners. He founded and directs the Spirit of Ramanujan Global STEM Talent Search, which has awarded 125 budding scientists from 23 countries. His research grants have supported extensive REU programs, with continuous undergraduate research opportunities for 25 years. Beyond academia, Ono serves as a technical consultant for elite swimmers, has worked as an Associate Producer on the film The Man Who Knew Infinity, and is actively involved with the Infinity Arts Foundation.

His interdisciplinary work spans from pure mathematics to practical applications in sports science, where he has developed data-driven approaches to optimize swimming performance and served as a consultant for Olympic medalists. He co-founded the Velocity Swim Camp with Olympic coach Todd DeSorbo, combining mathematical analytics with elite swimming training.