Hero Saremi’s Research Stay at CRM Through CIMPA-ICTP Fellowships

Last March, the Centre de Recerca Matemàtica (CRM) welcomed Hero Saremi, associate professor at the Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj Branch (Iran), for a research stay supported by the CIMPA-ICTP Fellowships “Research in Pairs” programme, which fosters collaboration between researchers from developing countries and European colleagues. During her visit, Saremi worked alongside Rosa Maria Miró-Roig, professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and affiliated researcher at CRM.

Saremi’s stay included a course she delivered on Artinian Gorenstein Algebras with the Weak Lefschetz Property. In her own words, “In my course, I hope the participants would gain a deep understanding of these algebras, their structure, and their properties. The key idea involved identifying algebras that possess the Weak Lefschetz Property, and I wish to inspire participants to find research problems and contribute their results to the growing body of knowledge in this area.”

Her collaboration with Rosa Maria Miró-Roig was a natural extension of her research interests, which have evolved over the years. Saremi explained, “Nowadays, I am researching on Lefschetz Properties and Artinian Gorenstein algebras. The new environment at CRM, with access to diverse resources and a very good atmosphere, helped me to focus on my research.”

The CIMPA-ICTP Fellowship came at a crucial time in Saremi’s career. “This fellowship was incredibly meaningful to me,” she shared. “It came when I was seeking new collaborations and ways to develop my perspective in my area. Working closely with a colleague in Europe allowed me to explore new ideas and make significant progress in my research. It has also strengthened my international network, opening doors for future collaborations.”

Saremi’s academic journey reflects a strong dedication to commutative algebra, a field she describes as offering “problems that are both challenging and rewarding to solve.” Her research career began with a focus on local homology modules during her PhD at Islamic Azad University, Tehran, later broadening to areas like polynomial rings with integer coefficients and combinatorial commutative algebra.

During her interview, Saremi spoke about both the rich mathematical heritage and the challenges of doing mathematics in Iran. “Mathematics in Iran has a rich history with significant figures such as Omar Khayyam and recent Fields medalist Maryam Mirzakhani,” she said. “However, the field also faces several challenges, including limited funding and resources, and social barriers that often limit opportunities for women in mathematics.”

Looking ahead, Saremi plans to submit the results of her work at CRM to a peer-reviewed journal and present them at international conferences. She also expressed a strong commitment to mentoring younger mathematicians, particularly women, and contributing to the local mathematical community in Iran by organizing workshops and seminars.

Hero Saremi’s stay at CRM is featured in an interview now available on CRM’s YouTube channel, where she shares her insights on research, collaboration, and the future of commutative algebra.