Purdue mathematician honored with doctoral thesis prize from Paris region
01-26-2026
Recognition for early-career researchers often marks a turning point, signaling both the impact of past work and the promise of what comes next. For Antoine Prouff, a Golomb Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Purdue University, that recognition came in the form of a prestigious doctoral thesis prize awarded by a consortium of universities and higher education institutions in the Paris region.
Prouff received the award for his PhD dissertation “Quantum-classical correspondence principle and application to the control of wave and Schrödinger equations on the Euclidean space”. The prize, which includes a €10,000 monetary award, recognizes outstanding doctoral research across a wide range of disciplines and highlights young scholars whose work demonstrates rigor, creativity and broad scientific potential.
Each year, the Paris-region thesis awards ceremony brings together universities and higher education institutions from across the region to celebrate emerging researchers in fields spanning law, economics, medicine, pharmacy, exact sciences, humanities, arts and literature. This year’s cohort honored 54 early-career scholars whose research stood out for both its depth and its capacity to open new directions for future study. The awards are designed not only to recognize excellence but also to support ambitious research paths and elevate the international visibility of early-career researchers.
Prouff’s research sits at the intersection of mathematics and physics, exploring how principles from classical mechanics relate to quantum systems. His dissertation focuses on understanding and controlling mathematical equations that describe waves and quantum behavior — foundational tools used to model phenomena ranging from sound and light to quantum particles. By studying how classical and quantum descriptions align, his work helps clarify the mathematical structures underlying complex physical systems.
While highly theoretical, this line of research has long-term implications for fields that rely on precise models of wave behavior, including physics and engineering. Prouff’s work contributes to a deeper understanding of how these systems can be guided or controlled, a question that plays a central role in both fundamental science and applied research.
The thesis prize recognizes research completed during Prouff’s time at Paris-Saclay University in France , but its impact continues to shape his work as a visiting assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics. At Purdue, he contributes to the department’s strong research profile while engaging with students and colleagues across pure and applied mathematics
The award also reflects the international scope of Purdue’s academic community. Visiting assistant professors like Prouff bring perspectives shaped by global research environments, strengthening connections between Purdue and institutions abroad. Honors such as this one underscore the value of that exchange and the caliber of scholars who contribute to the university’s teaching and research missions.
As Prouff continues his work at Purdue, the recognition serves as both a celebration of his doctoral research and a signal of his potential as an emerging scholar in mathematics. The thesis prize not only honors past achievement but also supports the next stage of a career dedicated to advancing mathematical understanding on an international stage.
About the Mathematics Department at Purdue University
The Department of Mathematics is one of seven departments making up Purdue's College of Science. The Department has an international reputation as an outstanding center for mathematical research and education. Over 70 professors are actively involved in research in many areas of mathematics, including visiting scholars and through a vibrant graduate program. The Department offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The department is located in the Math Building at 150 N. University Street in West Lafayette, Indiana. Learn more at math.purdue.edu.
Written by: Alisha Willett, Communications Specialist, amwillet@purdue.edu
Contributors: Antoine Prouff, Ph.D. candidate