Sara Zahedi

Sara Zahedi’s research bridges mathematical theory and practical applications, with the goal of improving numerical algorithms to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of computer simulations. Her work focuses on computational methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs) in evolving domains, particularly in multiphase flow simulations, where interfaces separate immiscible fluids. Traditional finite element methods (FEM) require re-meshing to handle large deformations. Zahedi has advanced Cut Finite Element Methods (CutFEM), an alternative that allows evolving geometries to intersect computational meshes arbitrarily while maintaining accuracy.

Zahedi’s contributions to numerical analysis have been widely recognized. She earned her doctorate from KTH, with a dissertation on numerical methods for fluid interface problems, and later held a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University. In 2016, she was awarded the European Mathematical Society Prize for excellent contributions in mathematics by young researchers. In 2019, she received a Wallenberg Fellowship, with an extension granted in 2024. In 2023, she was invited to contribute a survey paper on CutFEM to the 2025 volume of Acta Numerica, with CutFEM being one of only eight topics selected by the editorial board. This recognition further underscores the impact of her work on computational mathematics. She is also an Associate Editor for SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis (SINUM), one of the field’s leading journals.