Núria Fagella

Biosketch

After six years abroad learning about Complex Dynamics from experts like Robert L. Devaney (Boston University, Ph.D. supervisor), Adrien Douady or Bodil Branner among others, I returned to Barcelona in 1995 first to the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM), then to Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and finally to Universitat de Barcelona (UB) where today I hold a Full Professorship. I was at that time the only person working in Complex Dynamics in Spain, so I formed a research group together with Xavier Jarque, under the umbrella of the well-established Dynamical Systems groups at UB and UAB. Today Holodyn is an active and growing internationally recognized group, enjoying independent funding from different sources (MTM, SGR, Marie Curie Networks and Individual Fellowships), advising several Ph.D. students, hosting postdocs from all over the world, and organizers of international conferences. I would like to highlight the now well-known biennial school Topics in complex dynamics which, since 2005, has brought to Barcelona the most prominent researchers in the field as lecturers as well as many of today’s researchers in complex dynamics in their early career stages.

My research focus is in Dynamical Systems in one complex variable and real dynamics from the complex point of view. Since 2022 I am also research staff at the CRM (a holder of a María de Maeztu Excellence Award). I received an Icrea Academia award in 2020, a five year grant for excellence in research, and a Chern Professorship from MSRI in 2022. I have (co)authored over 55 articles mostly in mathematics generalistic journals, and two books, one of which has become a reference for the technique of quasiconformal surgery in complex dynamics. I have given over 90 invited talks at international conferences and I serve in the editorial board of several international journals, including the Journal and the Bulleting onf the LMS.

I contributed to the mathematical community as the deputy director of the Institut de Matemàtica de la UB (IMUB) for ten years, as a member of the governing board of the Barcelona Graduate School of Mathematics, the training unit of the CRM, since 2015, and I am currently the Dean of the Facultat de Matemàtiques i Informàtica de la Universitat de Barcelona.

Teaching is also an important and pleasurable part of my scientific life. Additionally to undergraduate and master courses like Complex Analysis or Dynamical Systems, I actively engage in student’s research projects and outreach activities. I particularly believe in motivating young students, especially women, through engaging Bachelor’s theses (some of which have earned regional awards), high school lectures, activities and research projects. I have advised or coadvised six Ph.D. students.

My midterm goal is to continue contributing to the mathematics community and society at large, in research, teaching, and administration (in reasonable proportions which vary over time). I aim to address challenging mathematical problems, choosing quality and interesting maths over quantity and publishing shortcuts.