The University of Michigan Department of Mathematics is pleased to announce that Rahul Parhi will join the department as an assistant professor in Fall 2027. Parhi’s research spans applied harmonic analysis, applied functional analysis, and the mathematics of data, with a particular focus on the mathematical foundations of neural networks and deep learning. These areas complement the department’s strengths in applied and interdisciplinary mathematics. His work has received international recognition, including the Vasil A. Popov Prize, presented at the Foundations of Computational Mathematics conference, a prestigious triennial gathering of researchers working at the interface of mathematics and computation; the Charles Chui Young Researcher Best Paper Award from the journal Applied and Computational Harmonic Analysis; and the SIAM Review SIGEST Award.

Parhi has already contributed to the department’s community through the Mathematical Foundations of AI summer school held in Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2026. Organized by the Michigan Center for Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics (MCAIM), the program brought together mathematicians from across Africa to learn from leading researchers. Parhi led workshops on optimization and neural networks, supporting the department’s efforts to advance mathematical research and foster international collaboration.

“We are delighted that Rahul will be joining our department,” said Karen Smith, Department Chair.

We look forward to welcoming Rahul to Michigan in the Fall of 2027.