Elden Elmanto has been named a 2026 Sloan Research Fellow. The fellowship honors early-career researchers whose creativity, innovation, and research accomplishments make them stand out as the next generation of leaders.
When Elmanto learned of the award, he was on his way to a screening of The Lord of the Rings with a long-time friend. It was a fittingly cinematic moment for a mathematician whose work involves navigating some of the most complex landscapes in modern mathematics. For Elmanto, who joined the University of Toronto in Fall 2024, the recognition highlights his work in building bridges between algebraic geometry and algebraic topology.
A New Tool for Mathematical "Spaces"
Elmanto’s research centers on motivic cohomology, a sophisticated framework that acts as a high-powered probe for understanding mathematical shapes.
"It’s a tool to study spaces," explains Elmanto. "It takes a space, performs various measurements, and provides an answer that allows us to analyze how that space looks in general."
The concept of motivic cohomology remained a largely theoretical ambition for decades. In 2002, Fields Medalist Vladimir Voevodsky proposed a program of 17 conjectures that, if proven, would allow mathematicians to use the ideas of algebraic topology to make progress towards the elusive motivic cohomology. Despite the efforts of leading mathematicians, those conjectures remained unresolved for decades.
In a series of recent papers, Elmanto and his collaborators have successfully proven 11 of the 17. Their work has established a general theory of motivic cohomology in most settings, providing the global mathematical community with a powerful new set of instruments for proving groundbreaking theorems in algebraic geometry.
The Art of Observation
While mathematics is often framed as a pursuit of technical "cleverness," Elmanto advocates for a style rooted in observation and storytelling. He often shares his philosophy with his students through the words of poet Mary Oliver: "Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it."
Math is not really about being smart; it's about being observant. It's about observing phenomena and listening to what the math says, rather than forcing a solution. I think this way of doing math is beautiful, and I'm glad that it was recognized by the Sloan Research Fellowship.
He also credits this approach to his mentors, noting that Mike Hopkins (Harvard University) taught him that math is a narrative rather than a list of formulas, while his closest collaborator, Matthew Morrow (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), instilled the courage to lead with ideological conviction. "Sticking to those convictions is the only way I know how to do math now," he says.
Michael Molloy, Interim Chair of the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, notes the impact of Elmanto’s work. "Elden’s breakthrough achievements on motivic cohomology have opened doors for mathematical progress and bolstered our university's elite reputation for mathematics," says Molloy. "He is a worthy recipient of this prestigious fellowship."
Investing in Community
The Sloan Research Fellowship includes a $75,000 (USD) grant, which Elmanto intends to use to strengthen the research environment at U of T Scarborough. His priority is fostering the next generation of thinkers by hiring postdocs and supporting graduate students. "Math cannot exist without humans," Elmanto says. "It’s not just about investing in my research, but about building the community. Having the resources to do that is essential."
As he continues to work toward the remaining six conjectures of Voevodsky’s program, Elmanto remains driven by a simple, spatial curiosity. "I’ve always been inspired by spaces and how they interact," he says. "The fact that this work is interdisciplinary and talks to so many different subjects is, for me, just an excuse to learn as much as I can."