Applied Mathematics Professor Fred Hickernell Named 2026 SIAM Fellow for High-Dimensional Computational Leadership

Illinois Tech professor Fred Hickernell joins the 2026 SIAM fellows for his leadership in high-dimensional integration and open-source software development.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 8:58 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EurekAlert!

Recognizing Excellence in Applied Mathematics

The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics has officially inducted Fred Hickernell, a professor of applied mathematics at the Illinois Institute of Technology, into its prestigious 2026 class of fellows. This distinction honors Hickernell’s substantial contributions to the fields of computational and data science, specifically regarding the analysis of high-dimensional integration. According to the society, the appointment reflects both his technical innovations and his extensive service, which includes mentoring, journal editorship, and leadership within the scientific community.

Democratizing Cutting-Edge Computational Methods

Central to Hickernell’s recognition is his work in developing software libraries that provide researchers with access to sophisticated computational tools previously restricted by technical complexity. His research group has focused on consolidating software that supports novel methods for solving function approximation problems involving vast numbers of variables. By making these methods easily available, Hickernell has addressed a significant historical void in the discipline, allowing scholars to apply advanced theory to real-world engineering and scientific challenges.

Navigating Complexity in Uncertainty Quantification

As modern computational power continues to expand, the engineering problems of interest have grown increasingly complex, requiring more robust methodologies for uncertainty quantification. Hickernell noted that his research group and collaborators are striving to build a complete problem-solving ecosystem for high-dimensional integration. This involves a multi-pronged approach that integrates theory, methodology, and software to ensure that as problems become more intricate, the tools used to solve them remain flexible and reliable.