Division of Research & Innovation
UofM’s Irena Lasiecka Receives Prestigious Balakrishnan Award for Excellence in Systems Mathematics
Internationally recognized mathematician honored for groundbreaking contributions to control of partial differential equations
Dr. Irena Lasiecka, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Memphis and Commonwealth Professor of Mathematics, Emerita, at the University of Virginia, has been named the recipient of the 2026 A.V. “Bal” Balakrishnan Award for Excellence in Scientific Research in the Mathematics of Systems.
Dr. Irena Lasiecka
Distinguished University Professor
Department of Mathematical Sciences
University of Memphis
Presented by the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC), the award honors outstanding contributions in the broad field of mathematics for systems, including areas such as control theory, communications, mechanics, and applied mathematics. Established in memory of renowned researcher Professor A.V. “Bal” Balakrishnan, the award is among the most distinguished recognitions in the field.
Professor Lasiecka was selected through a highly competitive and rigorous process, with the selection committee unanimously recognizing her for her pioneering work in the control of partial differential equations and their wide-ranging applications. Her research has significantly advanced the theoretical foundations and practical implementation of systems control, influencing disciplines across engineering and applied mathematics.
In addition to the honor, the award includes a $10,000 prize and an invitation to deliver a distinguished lecture at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering in Fall 2026.
This recognition highlights Professor Lasiecka’s exceptional contributions to mathematical sciences and reinforces the University of Memphis’s leadership in high-impact, globally recognized research.