Western Caspian University

Professor Masud Efendiyev, Honorary Professor of Western Caspian University, Professor at the Helmholtz Centre for Engineering in Germany, and distinguished scientist in Azerbaijan, has been awarded the prestigious lifetime achievement award from the Fields Institute for his research contributions in the field of mathematics. 

A letter addressed to the esteemed Azerbaijani scholar by the Director of the Fields Institute, Prof. Dr. Kumar Murti, reads, "Dear Professor Efendiyev! It is our great pleasure to welcome you among the recipients of the Fields Institute Fellows as a mark of respect for your involvement in the Institute's activities. Your research achievements and service to the mathematical community serve as an example for our society and, indeed, all mathematicians." 

The Fields Institute established the "Fields Institute Fellows" lifetime achievement award in 2002 as part of its 10th-anniversary celebration. Since 2002, this prestigious accolade has been presented annually to exceptional research mathematicians, recognising their substantial contributions to the Fields Institute and the mathematical community in Canada. The selection committee announces the names of new recipients during the Institute's annual general meeting held in June. 

Due to his visit to Azerbaijan, Masud Efendiyev participated in this year's meeting online. 

It is worth mentioning that the Azerbaijani scholar holds the distinguished status of "Dean's Distinguished Professor," which is reserved as an honour for a select few mathematicians who have achieved significant breakthroughs in their fields. In the United States and Canada, this status is typically held by Nobel laureates and globally renowned scholars known for their fundamental scientific accomplishments. In 2018, Masud Efendiyev served as the "Dean's Distinguished Visiting Professor" at the University of Toronto and the Fields Institute, where he delivered lectures on mathematical biology at the Faculty of Mathematics for one semester (January 1 - June 30, 2018). During this period, he also led the joint project of the University of Toronto and the Fields Institute, titled "Thematic Programme on Emerging Challenges in Mathematical Biology." These prestigious institutions and research centres usually invite Nobel and Fields laureates in the status of "Dean's Distinguished Visiting Professor" to deliver lectures. He became the first Azerbaijani scientist to be honoured with the Alexander von Humboldt Award, established by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, in 1990. This award is traditionally granted to foreign scientists under the age of 40.