Jacob Tsimerman (photo by Allie Ippolito)
Jacob Tsimerman awarded 2026 Fields Medal
Published: July 23, 2026
Jacob Tsimerman, a professor of mathematics in the Faculty of Arts & Science, has won the prestigious Fields Medal, in part for his role in proving the André-Oort conjecture, a problem that has occupied mathematicians for decades.
Often described as “the Nobel Prize of mathematics,” the Fields recognizes extraordinary research achievement and the promise of future discoveries. It’s awarded every four years by the International Mathematical Union to up to four mathematicians under the age of 40.
Tsimerman is the first scholar based at a Canadian institution – and the second Canadian – to receive the award since it was first established in 1932.
“It’s an incredible honour to win this award – not just for me, but for all my collaborators without whom this truly would not be possible,” says Tsimerman, an alumnus of University College.
“Math is such a team sport that it becomes impossible to disentangle who contributed what on projects. I'm lucky to have many of my collaborators as close friends, which helps work feel fun and playful.”
Tsimerman’s work was crucial in establishing the André-Oort conjecture, which holds that when many special points cluster around a curve, the pattern isn’t a coincidence, but the result of a deeper underlying order. The result is significant not only because it solved a long-standing problem, but because it opened entirely new directions of research.
He also resolved the Griffiths conjecture and developed an o-minimal version of the GAGA thorems, among other achievements.
The Fields Medal is the namesake of the late John Charles Fields, a celebrated Canadian mathematician who, like Tsimerman, was a U of T alumnus and professor.
“The Fields Medal recognizes Professor Tsimerman’s tremendous accomplishments and his stature as one of the world’s most promising leaders in mathematical research,” says U of T President Melanie Woodin.
“On behalf of the entire University of Toronto, I want to offer Jacob my heartfelt congratulations. This is a proud and historic moment for all of us.”
