Ackermann Award | Toghrul Karimov
Toghrul Karimov (2015), former MSc Computer Science student at Keble, has been awarded the 2025 Ackermann Award – a prestigious prize for PhD dissertations in Logic in Computer Science – for his outstanding thesis, Algorithmic Verification of Linear Dynamical Systems.
Reflecting on this achievement, Toghrul commented "The roots of my doctoral thesis undoubtedly go to the things I learned and the people I met while I was an undergraduate at Keble. I am honoured and relieved that my work was received so well by the theoretical computer science community."
Toghrul completed his PhD last year at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems under the supervision of Keble Fellow by Special Election Professor Joël Ouaknine. Joël writes “The Ackermann Award is considered to be the top award worldwide for PhD dissertations in the general area of "Logic in Computer Science", itself a broad subfield of theoretical computer science. Within this area, Toghrul's thesis makes groundbreaking contributions to the mathematical analysis of discrete linear dynamical systems, through the design of novel algorithms that allow us to rigorously predict and certify the behaviour of such systems, particularly in the context of software verification and control theory. At the same time, Toghrul's work builds new theoretical bridges between contemporary mathematics and computer science (e.g. between number theory and automata theory), and opens up exciting directions for future research.”
In our continuing commitment to supporting students, we were pleased to launch the Talbot Bursaries at our recent 1980s Reunion Weekend. The bursaries will help to alleviate the financial pressures students may encounter, enabling them to enjoy life at College to the full.
We would like to welcome the following individuals, who joined the Fellowship in 2025. Our new Fellows come from a variety of disciplines, offering fresh expertise to our Keble community.
An innovative programme of vaccine research co-led by Professor Daniela Ferreira has received £118 million to bring together AI technology and medical science.
The stained-glass windows of Keble Chapel have recently undergone a major conservation project and have now been reinstalled, restored to their former glory.
We celebrate the remarkable long service of Gardens Assistant Steve Beasley, who has helped to look after our gardens and grounds for over 60 years.
A new £3 million project backed by the Faraday Institution will be led by Keble Fellow Professor Robert House, aiming to revolutionise lithium-ion battery cathode technology.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, Keble partnered with Better Reuse to run a refuse collection at the end of the academic year, finding new homes for students’ unwanted items. Inspired by the initiative, the MCR ran its own successful reuse scheme.
Earlier in the year, Keble hosted a Complexity Cluster workshop, bringing together mathematicians from a wide range of research areas to share their work.
150 years of Keble Chapel; Excellent Teacher Awards for Dr Martin Gillies and Professor Robert Klose; Recognition of Distinction for Keble Computer Science Fellow, Professor Alfonso Bueno-Orovio; Former Warden Public Service Milestones.
Amaury Genovese, 2024-25 MCR President, recounts the process of a much-needed refurbishment of the Parks Road MCR over the summer, creating a more welcoming environment for graduate students.
KA Grant Award recipient Alexandra Hart (2023 MSt Creative Writing) shares how her KA grant helped bring to life her play, HYSTERIA, on the London stage, exploring women’s experiences of mental health through five historical figures on one hospital ward.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Keble Sports Fund has made significant progress towards entirely funding sport at the College, with College sports teams and Blues athletes now fully supported.
One year into fencing at Oxford, Phoebe Cheung (2024 DPhil Engineering Science) discusses the experience of her recent podium finish at the Warwick National Novices Fencing Competition, and her journey from complete beginner.
Co-authored by Keble student Jeanne Inchauspé (2021 DPhil Interdisciplinary Biosciences), an Oxford-led study has made a breakthrough discovery about platelets, with important implications for the future of cancer detection and pre-natal screening.
We are delighted to welcome five new Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholars for the academic year, supporting graduate students in their academic pursuits and personal development.
Energy transition consultant Hettie Moorcroft (2020 Geography) shares her research into wealth-based emissions inequalities and how addressing them could drive faster climate action.
Acclaimed poet Sir Geoffrey Hill (1950 English) is remembered in Florence through a commemorative lecture examining his formative 2007 visit to Italy and its lasting influence on one of his most significant late works. By Nicholas Brownlees (1971 Jurisprudence).
From shared meals in Edinburgh to time spent at MIT’s AgeLab, Elisa Cardamone (2021 MSc Medical Anthropology) reflects on her research into ageing and care, and how her experiences have shaped her thinking about the future of care.
Ellen Roxby (2023 Theology and Religion) speaks with former Organ Scholar Leonard Sanderman (2010 Music) about his time at Keble and his current work reviving the chorister tradition in West Yorkshire.
Alumni and friends gathered for the return of the Keble Entrepreneurs Evening in London, featuring three presentations from Udai Dhamija (2021 MMPM), Mark Stockdale (1978 PPE) and Timur Kamalov (2022 MMPM).
Toghrul Karimov (2015 MSc Computer Science) has received the prestigious Ackermann Award for his innovative thesis in computer science logic, under the supervision of Keble Fellow by Special Election, Professor Joël Ouaknine.
Recent publications from the Keble alumni community. Authors include Sally Coulthard (1994 Archaeology and Anthropology), Foteini Dimirouli (2009 DPhil Medieval and Modern Languages; Keble Research Fellow in English and Access Fellow), Laura Theis (2015 MSt Creative Writing) and Justin Pottinger (2000 Theology).
In October, Keble came to Manchester for the College’s first alumni gathering in the city, bringing together familiar faces and new connections alike.
King’s Birthday Honours for Christopher Clapham (1960 BA, DPhil PPE); Best New Song Award for Oli Adcock (2017 History and Politics) and Zach Burns (2017 History); Poetry book launch at Keble for Suzanna Fitzpatrick (1994 English); Rebeka Sellick (1987 Engineering, Econ & Management) elected Chair of the Railway Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers; New board game launched by Bijan Toloui (1976 DPhil Metallurgy); Rugged Weekend for Keble friends Nick Jennings, Steve Kelly, Mark Dewey, Neil Pearse, Stuart Bell, Andy Kennedy and Phil Goodwin (all 1979 PPE).
