Ideas

Rahul Ilango, Member in the School of Mathematics, studies computational complexity theory, which quantifies the amount of resources—like time and hardware—needed to solve computational tasks. Ilango has a particular interest in problems that bridge complexity theory with other fields, such as cryptography and proof complexity. 

Nadine Soliman, NASA Hubble Fellow in the School of Natural Sciences, studies star and planet formation. At IAS, she’ll examine and simulate processes such as the collapse of molecular clouds, the birth of stellar clusters, and the formation of protoplanetary disks—all as case studies for larger questions about the interplay between microphysical processes and large-scale astrophysical structures.

Zeynep Çelik Alexander, Hans Kohn Member in the School of Historical Studies, studies the history and theory of architecture since the Enlightenment. Her current work examines institutions in Victorian London in which information collected from around the British empire was aggregated and organized to serve imperialist ends in the second half of the nineteenth century. 

Corey Robin, Member in the School of Social Science, is a political theorist and journalist whose scholarship addresses a range of topics across modern economic and political thought, from the role of fear in the Western imagination to the black nationalist roots of Justice Clarence Thomas’s jurisprudence. He has published landmark work on the history of conservatism, including The Reactionary Mind: Conservatism from Edmund Burke to Donald Trump. 

Carol Kuna, Payroll & Tax Specialist, recalls her memorable encounter with the film crew of "IQ," sharing how she navigated the collision between Hollywood filmmaking and pressing payroll duties. She also reflects on four decades of technological evolution at the Institute for Advanced Study.

Alex Fink, Member in the School of Mathematics (2025), expounds on the continuity in thought and research at the Institute for Advanced Study and discusses the power of its many collaborative spaces to facilitate “aha” moments. 

Federico Ardila, Friends of the Institute for Advanced Study Member in the School of Mathematics (2024–25), describes mathematics as a deeply human, emotional, and collaborative pursuit. He shares how working alongside world experts at IAS inspires creativity in problem solving, akin to playing soccer with the best in the world.

Yelena Mandelshtam, Member in the Institute for Advanced Study’s School of Mathematics (2024–25), discusses the power of complementary knowledge between mathematics and physics, and how this might drive forward advances in understanding problems such as the KP Equation.

Paisley Currah, Robbert Dijkgraaf Member in the School of Social Science (2024–25), describes how the Institute for Advanced Study enriches conversation and research across languages and cultures, bringing about new ways of thinking about his work on gender and sexuality studies.

Anna Stirr, Elizabeth and J. Richardson Dilworth Member in the School of Historical Studies (2024–25), explores the rich world of Nepali musicology. She also reflects on Institute for Advanced Study’s own unique soundscape, from the distinctive birdsong to the lively atmosphere that fosters deep scholarly exchange.