Disappearing Grants, Genius Grants, and the AI Proofs with Lauren K. Williams

About this episode

Lauren K. Williams discusses the realities of mathematical research, her experiences with federal grants and the MacArthur Genius Grant, and the intersection of AI and mathematics.

In this episode, Lauren Williams, professor of mathematics at Harvard University and a 2025 MacArthur Fellow, speaks about the surprising and often messy reality of mathematical research. The conversation begins with a turbulent moment in academia, when federal grants supporting her work were suddenly canceled—only months before she received the MacArthur “Genius Grant,” an unexpected recognition that allowed her to continue her research. Williams explains her work in algebraic combinatorics, illustrating how abstract mathematics can connect to real-world systems. The discussion also explores the human side of discovery, from collaborations that span continents to the strange coincidence of research papers and babies arriving the same week. Finally, the episode dives into one of the most intriguing experiments in modern mathematics: the First Proof project, which tests whether artificial intelligence can produce genuine mathematical proofs, revealing both the promise and the current limitations of AI-generated reasoning. Chapters 01:27 Winning the MacArthur Genius Grant 01:43 Becoming a Woman in Mathematics at Harvard 04:25 Research Applications 10:04 The Human Side of Research…

People in this episode

Hosts: Autumn Phaneuf, Noah Giansiracusa

Guest: Lauren K. Williams

Topics covered

• mathematical research
• federal grants
• algebraic combinatorics
• AI in mathematics
• human side of research
• MacArthur Genius Grant

Keywords

• mathematics
• grants
• AI proofs
• research
• algebraic combinatorics
• MacArthur Fellowship
• human side of discovery
• First Proof project

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard University, MacArthur Fellowship

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