The trio of scientific organizations has worked together over the past nine years to establish the Fields-AIMS-Perimeter Postdoctoral Fellowship program, which awards a jointly funded, one-year fellowship to one or two African nationals who have recently completed their PhD in mathematics or theoretical physics. 

Both fellows will have the option to pursue their research careers at Fields, Perimeter, or both institutes. They will also spend two months at an AIMS centre in Africa. The goal of this initiative is to support the careers of young researchers who have a commitment to advance science in their home communities.

"Mathematical talent can arise anywhere; it’s the challenge and joy of the Fields Institute to nurture that talent. We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with Perimeter and AIMS to make sure young mathematicians from Africa get the contacts, resources and supports they need to learn from others and share their ideas. The Canadian mathematics community also gains a great deal from our postdocs, learning as much from them and the fresh perspectives they bring," says Dr. Deirdre Haskell, Fields Institute Deputy Director. 

"Our renewed trilateral partnership with Fields and Perimeter Institutes will provide AIMS alumni and other African scholars a coveted opportunity to pursue postdoctoral roles at these two prestigious institutes. In addition, they will get to contribute to the work we do at AIMS by spending two months at an AIMS Centre and contribute to the training of our master's students.” adds Dr. Mama Foupouagnigni, Chief Academic Officer of the AIMS Global Network.

Last year's recipients, Kennedy Obinna Idu and Ali Mahmoud, recently wrapped up their tenure at Fields and Perimeter, respectively. Dr. Idu, who completed his PhD from the University of Pisa, spent the year at Fields, where he made important research collaborations at the University of Toronto that led to a new postdoctoral position.

Highlights from his time included co-organizing an international online workshop geared toward African mathematicians on “Nonlinear operator theory, convex optimization and partial differential equations” that attracted over 250 people and speaking at the 2022 Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) Summer Meeting in St. John’s.

“A guiding motivation for me in research is always to go where the results are made, so I get a chance to make them,” says Dr. Idu. “My time at Fields has been fundamental toward achieving my mathematical goals. Beyond this, it helped me create room for fellow mathematicians back in Africa thanks to the opportunities and resources that I gained here.” 

Meet the 2022 Fields-AIMS-Perimeter postdoctoral fellow, Gael Yomgne Diebou.