Launch of the Xuemin Rising Stars Program postdoctoral program

Supported by the Xuemin Institute of Advanced Studies (Xuemin IAS) at Fudan University in Shanghai, the program enables IHES to welcome outstanding early-career scientists as postdoctoral researchers, giving them the opportunity to work closely with researchers already based at the Institute.

The program is part of the partnership formalized on June 24, 2026, when a scientific delegation from Xuemin IAS visited IHES. On that occasion, Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES, and Xiaohong Helena Yang, Executive Dean of Xuemin IAS, signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at fostering and sustaining scientific exchanges between the two institutions. The launch of the “Xuemin Rising Stars Program” marks the first initiative to emerge from this agreement.

Three researchers recruited in mathematics and physics 

Two mathematicians and one physicist are joining the Institute as part of the program:

• Robin Zhang, mathematician. Robin Zhang received his PhD from Columbia University in May 2023 under the supervision of Michael Harris and was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow and Instructor at MIT from 2023 to 2026. His research focuses on number theory, algebraic geometry, and representation theory, with particular interests in special values of L-functions, rational, torsion, and periodic points, and cluster algebras. A recipient of the 2023 Graduate Thesis Award (Gold Medal) from the International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians, he will have the opportunity to collaborate in particular with Fanny Kassel, CNRS Research Director at IHES, and Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES.
• Tess Bouis, mathematician. A former postdoctoral researcher at SLMath, Tess’ research interests include arithmetic geometry, algebraic topology, and the interactions between these fields, with work focusing on motivic cohomology, K-theory, and p-adic Hodge theory. Tess will collaborate primarily with Ahmed Abbes, CNRS Research Director at IHES, and Dustin Clausen, permanent professor at IHES. Tess is currently on a research visit at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and will join IHES in December.
• Ethan Torres, physicist. A postdoctoral researcher at CERN from 2023 to 2026, his research focuses on string theory, quantum gravity, and quantum field theory. He will collaborate primarily with Slava Rychkov, permanent professor at IHES.

They are joining IHES in autumn 2026 for a period of three years. This first cohort reflects the two institutions’ commitment to bringing their partnership to life beyond the signing of the agreement, while supporting the international careers of early-career researchers.

Xiaohong Helena Yang, Executive Dean of Xuemin IAS, commented : “IHES and Xuemin IAS share a deep commitment to fundamental research and to creating an environment where curiosity, intellectual independence, and originality can flourish. The Xuemin Rising Stars Program is a meaningful first step in bringing this shared vision to life. We hope this partnership will open new opportunities for scientific exchange and enable talented young researchers to pursue ambitious ideas and contribute to the frontiers of mathematics and physics.”

Emmanuel Ullmo, Director of IHES, commented: “Just a few months after signing our agreement with Xuemin IAS, we are delighted to see this partnership taking shape. This first cohort embodies our shared ambition: to foster a lasting scientific dialogue between our two institutions, driven by the talent and creativity of young researchers.”