Paul Nelson awarded the Villum Foundation's Villum Investigator 2023 grant
Paul Nelson will conduct research that will bring together experts to develop new methods for rigorously analysing L-functions, with the goal of gaining deeper insight into these mysterious objects and tackling outstanding open problems.
Paul Nelson from the Department of Mathematics is awarded the Villum Foundation's Villum Investigator 2023 grant for his research into L-functions. Paul explains how L-functions are mathematical objects that help us understand the prime numbers and their distribution. Though studied for centuries, they remain the subject of fundamental open problems, such as the famous Riemann Hypothesis. A related problem is to determine how quickly L-functions grow. Surprisingly, this connects to many other basic questions in number theory (such as the distribution of integral points on spheres) and quantum chaos (such as the distribution of certain high energy quantum particles). Recent advances on this problem draw from a range of mathematical fields. The research will bring together experts to develop new methods for rigorous analysis of L-functions, with the goal of gaining deeper insight into these mysterious objects and tackling outstanding open problems. As one of eleven top researchers, Paul has received a Villum Investigator 2023 grant from the Villum Foundation.
The Danish research community will also benefit greatly from the researchers who, with the grant, will have time to immerse themselves in their research:
"The Villum Investigator programme gives researchers the time and funding their ideas deserve. Giving researchers the freedom to pursue their curiosity is crucial for attracting some of the world's top talents to Danish universities, where they can make valuable contributions to research and society with their ground-breaking knowledge",
– says Jens Kann-Rasmussen, chair of the VILLUM FONDEN board.
Attracting more talented researchers to the country creates great value for society, says Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund:
"It's crucial that we have highly qualified researchers in Denmark whose knowledge can help move our society forward. This is necessary, for example, if we are to succeed in the green transition. So, I look forward to following the work of the new Villum Investigators. Congratulations to the 11 top researchers."
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