Raul Curto, professor in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS), one of the highest honors in the mathematical sciences.

The AMS Fellows program recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and utilization of mathematics.

“Being named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society is a tremendous honor,” Curto said. “I was thrilled to learn that one of the world’s leading mathematical societies appreciated the contributions I have made to the discipline through an extensive career encompassing research, service to the profession, and the development of new generations of mathematicians.”

Curto is an internationally recognized leader in multivariable operator theory. His work has advanced theoretical mathematics and has applications in physics, aerospace engineering, finance, optimization, and numerical analysis.

Over his career, Curto has authored or co-authored more than 160 papers, written four research monographs, edited nine conference proceedings volumes, and delivered more than 260 invited lectures on six continents. He has also received more than $4 million in funding from the National Science Foundation.

“The AMS Fellowship recognizes that my current research is central to theoretical mathematics, and that the discoveries, tools, and techniques I have developed have been highly significant and well received,” Curto said. “[This recognition] helps propel innovative ideas and approaches toward solving outstanding mathematical problems, with the aim of sharing the outcomes with other researchers.”

In addition to his research accomplishments, Curto has supervised 11 doctoral students and 10 postdoctoral researchers and mentored dozens of graduate students and junior faculty members. 

His previous honors include being named a CLAS Collegiate Fellow, receiving the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence, election as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a fellowship from the Simons Foundation.

“Having the department receive this honor for the third time in recent years reflects the strength of Math at Iowa and the nurturing, supportive environment we have built for undergraduate and graduate students and junior faculty members,” he said. “That national recognition strengthens our reputation as a destination for mathematical research and education, helping attract talented students and faculty and supporting new discoveries for years to come.”