Ron Peled

Ron Peled is a Full Professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Tel Aviv University. Starting in summer 2024, he will serve as a Brin Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Maryland, on leave from Tel Aviv University. During the 2022-2024 academic years, he visited Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Study. His research spans multiple areas of probability theory and statistical physics, with significant contributions to understanding random surfaces, first-passage percolation, spin systems, and disordered models.

Peled's research interests primarily focus on Probability Theory and Statistical Physics. His work examines the behavior of random systems, particularly in the presence of disorder or constraints. He has made significant contributions to understanding minimal surfaces in random environments, the structure of geodesics in first-passage percolation, phase transitions in spin systems, and the properties of random surfaces. His research often combines deep probabilistic insights with connections to statistical mechanics and mathematical physics, revealing universal behaviors in complex random systems.

Analysis of Peled's recent publications reveals a strong focus on understanding the effects of disorder in statistical physics models. His work spans multiple domains including first-passage percolation, random surfaces, spin systems, and random matrix theory. A recurring theme is the investigation of how microscopic randomness affects macroscopic properties, with particular attention to phase transitions, correlation decay, and geometric structures emerging in random environments. His research often employs sophisticated probabilistic techniques combined with insights from statistical mechanics.

Peled has received significant recognition through prestigious grants including multiple Israel Science Foundation grants (1048/11, 861/15, 1971/19, 2340/23), a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions International Reintegration Grant (SPTRF), an ERC Starting Grant (LocalOrder), and an ERC Consolidator Grant (Transitions). These awards reflect the importance and impact of his research in the mathematical community.

Peled has supervised numerous students and postdocs throughout his career. His Ph.D. students include Daniel Hadas (joint with Wojciech Samotij) and Yinon Spinka (graduated August 2018). His Master's students include Michal Bassan (joint with Shoni Gilboa), Daniel Hadas, Yoav Bar Nir, Dor Elboim (who went on to do a Ph.D. at Princeton), Vital Kharash, Omri Cohen-Alloro, Alexey Gladkich, and Yinon Spinka. He has also mentored postdoctoral fellows including Lakshmi Priya, Paul Dario, Matan Harel, Raimundo Briceño, Alexander Glazman, Alexander Magazinov, Xiaolin Zeng, Nishant Chandgotia, Jeremiah Buckley, Wojciech Samotij, and Tom Ellis.

Peled is actively involved in the academic community, serving as one of the organizers of the online Joint Israeli Probability Seminar and previously organizing the Horowitz Seminar on Probability, Ergodic Theory and Dynamical Systems. He has also organized several workshops and conferences including "Challenges in probability and statistical mechanics" at the Technion in 2022, the "Workshop on Strongly Correlated Random Interacting Processes" at Oberwolfach in 2018, and "Elegance in probability: A conference honoring Russell Lyons' 60'th birthday" at Tel Aviv University in 2017.