Masatoshi Gündüz Ikeda

2.1. Birth and Childhood

Masatoshi İkeda was born in Tokyo, Japan, on February 25, 1926. He was the youngest of four children, with one brother and two sisters. His father, Junzo Ikeda, served as the head of the statistics department at an insurance company, and his mother was Yaeko Ikeda. From a young age, İkeda developed a keen interest in mathematics, often reading his father's mathematics books. During his school years, he would purchase used books on mathematics and the biographies of mathematicians. He was particularly inspired by the life and work of the French mathematician Évariste Galois (1811-1832), whose contributions to abstract algebra deeply impressed him.

2.2. Education

İkeda pursued his higher education at Osaka University, graduating from its mathematics department in 1948. He continued his studies at the same university, earning his PhD degree in 1953. His doctoral thesis was titled "On Absolutely Segregated Algebras." During his postgraduate studies, he conducted research on Frobenius algebras and quasi-Frobenius algebras with mathematicians such as Tadashi Nakayama. His doctoral studies were supervised by Professor Kenjiro Shoda.

3.1. Early Academic Positions in Japan

Following the completion of his doctoral studies, İkeda began his academic career in Japan. He was appointed as an associate professor in 1955. Prior to this, he also served as a lecturer at both Nagoya University and Osaka University.

3.2. Research in Germany

Between 1957 and 1959, İkeda undertook scientific research at the University of Hamburg in Germany. During this period, he worked under the supervision of the renowned mathematician Helmut Hasse (1898-1979), a key figure in algebraic number theory. This period of collaborative research significantly shaped İkeda's academic trajectory.

3.3. Life and Career in Turkey

On the suggestion of Professor Helmut Hasse, Masatoshi İkeda moved to Turkey in 1960. He initially joined Ege University in İzmir, where he was appointed as a foreigner specialist in the Faculty of Science in 1961. His commitment to Turkey deepened when he married Emel Ardor, a Turkish biochemist, in 1964. In the same year, he became a naturalized Turkish citizen, converted to Islam, and adopted the Turkish name Gündüz, becoming Masatoshi Gündüz İkeda. He was promoted to associate professor at Ege University in 1965 and then to a full professor in 1966.

In 1968, with the university's permission, he transferred to Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara as a visiting professor for one year. Following the conclusion of his term, he was offered a permanent full professorship, which he accepted upon the strong recommendation of the influential Turkish mathematician Cahit Arf, whom İkeda had known since his early years in Turkey. İkeda remained at METU for a significant portion of his career. From 1976 to 1978, he chaired the mathematics department at Hacettepe University in Ankara before returning to METU. He officially retired from METU in 1992.

Beyond his university roles, İkeda also contributed to various research institutions within Turkey, including the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center, the Turkish National Research Institute of Electronics and Cryptology, and the Feza Gürsey Basic Sciences Research Center in Istanbul. He was also a member of the Basic Sciences Board at the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and served as the head of the Mathematics Research Unit at METU.

3.4. International Research and Visiting Professorships

Throughout his career, İkeda maintained strong international academic ties, frequently accepting invitations as a visiting professor at various universities worldwide. His international engagements included:

• The University of Hamburg, Germany (1966)
• San Diego State University, California, United States (1971)
• Princeton University (1976), where he conducted significant research work. The Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton was also a place of his research.
• Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan (1984, and again from 1985 to 1986).
• Eastern Mediterranean University in Northern Cyprus.

3.5. Main Research Fields and Contributions

Masatoshi Gündüz İkeda's primary research focus was in algebraic number theory. He is particularly recognized for his profound contributions to Galois theory, a field that explores the connections between field theory and group theory. His doctoral thesis, "On Absolutely Segregated Algebras," marked an early contribution to abstract algebra. His collaborative work with Tadashi Nakayama on Frobenius algebras and quasi-Frobenius algebras further solidified his expertise in advanced algebraic structures. İkeda's deep understanding and work in Galois theory had a lasting impact on the mathematical community, extending to related areas such as anabelian geometry.

6.1. Awards

In recognition of his outstanding scientific achievements, Masatoshi Gündüz İkeda was honored with the prestigious TÜBİTAK Science Award in 1979. This award is one of the highest scientific accolades in Turkey, bestowed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey.

6.2. Commemorative Projects

To commemorate İkeda's lasting impact on mathematics and his dedication to academia, the Mathematics Foundation of Turkey established the "Masatoshi Gündüz İkeda Research Award." This award aims to encourage and recognize excellence in mathematical research, continuing İkeda's legacy. A notable recipient of this award in 2006 was the renowned Turkish mathematician Cem Yildirim.