Wanchun (Rosie) Shen Receives 2027 George Lusztig Thesis Prize in Algebra

Congratulations to Harvard math Ph.D. graduate Wanchun (Rosie) Shen, currently a Szegö Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Stanford University, for receiving the inaugural 2027 George Lusztig Thesis Prize in Algebra! Shen was chosen in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Hodge theory of singularities and algebraic K-theory in her Ph.D. thesis, “On Hgher Singularities and Algebraic K-theory.”

In a statement, Shen thanked members of the Harvard mathematical community “for countless stimulating conversations and an unforgettable time in graduate school.” She  also referred to Benjamin Peirce Fellow Elden Elmanto who introduced her to the fascinating world of K-theory, as well as Professor Mihnea Popa, her Ph.D. advisor, whose guidance and deep mathematical insights shaped the way she thinks about algebraic geometry and mathematics as a whole.

The George Lusztig Thesis Prize in Algebra was established in 2026 by George Lusztig, an award-winning Romanian-born Hungarian-American mathematician and Abdun Nut Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) known for his work in representation theory. The annual prize, awarded by the American Mathematical Society (AMS), honors the author of an outstanding Ph.D. thesis in algebra.