Ravi Vakil

Ravi Vakil is the Robert Grimmett Professor of Mathematics at Stanford University and the President of the American Mathematical Society (AMS). He specializes in algebraic geometry, with contributions to enumerative geometry, moduli spaces, intersection theory, and Schubert calculus. His research interests also extend to mathematics education and public outreach.

He earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University under Joe Harris. Vakil is renowned for his book The Rising Sea: Foundations of Algebraic Geometry, set for publication by Princeton University Press in 2025. He co-founded MathOverflow and Proof School, and serves on editorial boards of journals like Algebra and Number Theory and Involve.

His awards include the AMS Centennial Fellowship, Coxeter-James Prize, Sloan Fellowship, and the Chauvenet Prize for mathematical exposition. He has advised numerous Ph.D. students and is known for his dedication to teaching, receiving the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.

Vakil actively participates in academic service, including roles on the AMS Board and the National Math Stars advisory board. His research explores foundational questions in algebraic geometry, often with connections to combinatorics and representation theory.