Research

Major Scientific Interests: Time-Frequency Analysis, Wavelets, Applied Mathematics, Image and Signal Compression, Comparison of Surfaces

Ingrid Daubechies is a mathematician. Her research focuses on mathematical aspects of time-frequency analysis. She is best known for the discovery and analysis of compact wavelets used in image compression. The Daubechies wavelets were named after her, as was an asteroid in 2016: (42609) Daubechies.

A wavelet is a mathematical tool used to remove unnecessary information from large image files. Ingrid Daubechies has discovered compactly supported wavelets that are fundamental to image compression, thereby revolutionizing the use of JPGs and other digital image formats. Her theory has led to the development of image filtering methods used in medical imaging devices such as mammography and wireless communication.

Ingrid Daubechies' current research focuses on the development of analytical and geometric tools for surface comparison. This comparison plays an important role in the creation of video animations as well as in medical and biological applications.

She is especially concerned with improving mathematics instruction worldwide and promoting women in mathematics. She is also committed to furthering mathematics, science, and technology in developing countries.

Career

• since 2011 James B. Duke Professor of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
• 2004-2010 William R. Kenan Junior Professorship, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
• 1997-2001 Director, Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
• 1994-2011 Professor, Mathematics Department and Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
• 1991-1993 Professor, Mathematics Department, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA
• 1987-1994 Technical Staff Member, Mathematics Research Center, AT&T Bell Laboratories
• 1984-1987 Research Professor, Dept. for Theoretical Physics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
• 1980 PhD in Physics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
• 1975-1984 Research Assistant, Dept. for Theoretical Physics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
• 1975 Bachelor's degree in Physics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

Functions

• 2011-2014 President of the International Mathematical Union (IMU)

Projects

• 2016-2021 Contributor, Simons Foundation - Math+X Investigators
• 2015-2019 Contributor, “New Approaches for Better Spatial Frequency Localization in 2 and 3-Dimensional Data Analysis”, National Science Foundation (NSF), Alexandria, USA
• 2014-2015 Project Manager, “Digital Removal of Cradle Artifacts from X-rays of Old Masterworks Painted on Wood Panel”, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
• 2013-2017 Co-Principal Investigator “Structured Dictionary Models and Learning for High Resolution Images”, National Science Foundation (NSF), USA
• 2011-2016 Co-Principal Investigator “Mathematics of Low Dimensional Representations for Design”, Office of Naval Research, Arlington, USA
• 2013-2016 Contributor “Discovery of Empirical Components by Information Theory, Random Matrix Theory, and Computational Topology”, Princeton University, USA

Honours and Memberships

• 2023 Wolf Prize in Mathematics
• 2020 Colloquium Lecturer, American Mathematical Society
• since 2019 Member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2019 Honorary doctorate by The Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
• 2019 L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Award
• 2018 Fudan-Zhongzhi Science Award, Fudan University and Zhongzhi Enterprise Group, Shanghai, China
• since 2015 Member of the Academia Europaea
• since 2015 Member of the National Academy of Engineering
• 2015 Gauss Lecture, German Mathematical Society
• 2014 Highly Cited Researcher, Thomson Reuters
• 2013 Honorary doctorate by The University of Oxford, UK
• 2012 The Frederic Esser Nemmers Prize in Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
• 2012 BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award
• 2011 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Electrical Engineering, The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, USA
• 2011 Jack S. Kilby Signal Processing Medal, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), New York, USA
• 2011 Leroy P. Steele Prize for Seminal Contribution to Research, American Mathematical Society
• 2010 Lars Onsager Medal
• 2010 Guggenheim Fellowship, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, New York, USA
• 2010 Fellow of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium
• 2010 Honorary doctorate by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norwegian
• 2009 Foreign Member of the Académie des sciences, Paris, France
• 2007 ICIAM Pioneer Prize
• 2006 Honorary doctorate by The Universitity of Genua, Italy
• 2005 Honorary doctorate by The Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
• since 2003 Member of the American Philosophical Society
• 2001 Honorary doctorate by The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
• 2001 Honorific Degree in Mathematics in Lausanne, Switzerland
• 2000 NAS Award in Mathematics der National Academy of Sciences
• 2000 Basic Research Award, German Eduard Rhein Foundation
• since 1999 Foreign Member of the Royal Netherlands Aacademy of Sciences
• since 1998 Member of the US-National Academy of Sciences
• 1998 Fellow of the IEEE Information Theory Society
• 1997 Ruth Lyttle Satter Prize in Mathematics der American Mathematical Society
• 1994 Leroy P. Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition, American Mathematical Society
• since 1993 Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 1992-1997 Fellow of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Chicago, USA
• 1984 Louis Empain Prize for Physics