Ideas

Introducing Celia Sánchez Natalías, William D. Loughlin Member in the School of Historical Studies, whose research focuses on lead curse tablets, or defixiones, from the Roman period. In this Q&A, she discusses her ‘autopsy’ work, being motivated by curiosity, and her fascination with virtually unrolling papyri.

Meet Ellen Eischen, von Neumann Fellow in the School of Mathematics, who works in the field of number theory, exploring the nature of whole numbers. In this Q&A, she shares her journey through math, from the secret math journal she kept in high school, to a Women in Numbers program that facilitated her research, to joining the Institute for the 2024–25 academic year.

Beatrix Muehlmann, Member in the School of Natural Sciences, is curious about the origin and fate of the universe. In this Q&A, she details her efforts to describe gravity through the principles of quantum mechanics, her admiration for mathematical physicist and frequent IAS Visitor Emmy Noether, and the joy found in researching fundamental questions.

E. Tendayi Achiume, Ashvin B. Chhabra and Daniela Bonafede-Chhabra Member in the School of Social Science, focuses on the international legal frameworks that govern migration, racism, and xenophobia. In this Q&A, she highlights IAS scholars who have influenced her work, the value of collaboration, and how she plans to expand her scope of analysis beyond nation states during her time at IAS.

In the Spring 2023 edition of The Institute Letter, archivist Caitlin Rizzo outlined her research into Thayyoor K. Radha, one of the earliest women of color at the Institute. Radha joined IAS in 1965–66 as a Member, but her continued success was rendered virtually undiscoverable after her marriage saw her change her surname. After reading The Institute Letter, Radha’s daughter reached out to the Archive, allowing more elements of her story to be collected.

Marc Aidinoff, Research Associate in the Institute for Advanced Study’s School of Social Science (2023–25), discusses how interdisciplinary scholarship stretching across academia, industry, and civil society can work in practice.

Geoff Mann, Member in the Institute for Advanced Study's School of Social Science (2023–24), describes his interest in modeling how the world works, and how uncertainties in this modeling process can be channeled from scientific research through the policy world and into the realm of politics.

María Bárbara Zepeda Cortés, John Elliott Member in the Institute for Advanced Study's School of Historical Studies (2023–24), explores how she is challenging conventions in biographical writing.

Pravesh Kothari, Visiting Professor in the School of Mathematics (2024), describes his experiences of interacting with “celebrities” from the worlds of pure mathematics and computer science at the Institute for Advanced Study, and how these two fields strongly interconnect at IAS.

Digvijay Wadekar, Member in the School of Natural Sciences (2021–24), reflects on the evolving nature of problem-solving in modern physics and how the Institute for Advanced Study supports both interdisciplinary collaboration and individual inquiry.