Jan Saxl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan Saxl
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Jan Saxl at Oberwolfach in 2007
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| Born | 5 June 1948 |
| Died | 2 May 2020 (aged 71) |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics |
| Institutions | |
| Thesis | Multiply Transitive Permutation Groups (1973) |
| Doctoral advisor | Peter M. Neumann |
Jan Saxl (born June 5, 1948 – died May 2, 2020) was a brilliant mathematician. He was from both the Czech Republic and United Kingdom. Jan Saxl was a professor at the famous University of Cambridge. He was well-known for his work in a special area of math called group theory. This part of math helps us understand how different things can be arranged or changed.
Contents
Jan Saxl's Life and Career
Early Life and Studies
Jan Saxl was born in Brno, a city in what was then Czechoslovakia. In 1968, he moved to the United Kingdom. This was during a time known as the Prague Spring.
He first studied at the University of Bristol. Later, he earned his DPhil degree in 1973. This was like getting a PhD. He completed it at the University of Oxford. His main teacher there was Peter M. Neumann.
Working as a Mathematician
After finishing his studies, Jan Saxl worked in different places. He had research jobs at Oxford and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also taught at the University of Glasgow.
In 1976, he moved to the University of Cambridge. He stayed there for the rest of his career. In 1986, he became a fellow at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He retired from his work in 2015.
His Work in Math
Jan Saxl wrote about 100 math papers. These papers have been used and referenced many times by other mathematicians. He was especially known for his work in finite group theory. This area looks at groups of numbers or objects that have a limited size.
He often worked with other famous mathematicians. These included Robert Guralnick, Martin Liebeck, and Cheryl Praeger. Together, they made important discoveries in math.
Personal Life
Jan Saxl was married to Ruth M. Williams. She was also a mathematician at Cambridge. They had one daughter named Miriam.
His Passing
Jan Saxl passed away on May 2, 2020. He had been unwell for a long time before his death.
Awards and Special Recognition
In July 2015, a special three-day meeting was held. It took place at the University of Cambridge. This event honored both Jan Saxl and Martin Liebeck for their important contributions to mathematics.
