David Jekel is this year's winner of the international Barbara and Jarosław Zemanek Prize for achievements in functional analysis, with particular emphasis on operator theory.
The Jury highlighted, in particular, his groundbreaking contributions to free probability, non-commutative optimal transport and operator algebras, especially his proof of SOT-contractibility of the unitary group of II_1 factors, as well as his important work on free entropy and its connections with model theory.
The prize was established by the IM PAN in 2018 with funds donated by prof. Zemanek and his wife. The winner is selected annually by a seven-member international Jury. More information about the prize.
Dr David Jekel, University of Ottawa