The first woman to win the

Maryam Mirzakhani, professor at Stanford University, and the first and only woman who won the prestigious Field Math prize, died at the age of 40.

According to Guardian, a message from Stanford University said Professor Mirzakhani died on July 15 due to breast cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease four years ago.

The 40-year-old mathematician is a Stanford University professor since 2008 and was also the first Iranian woman to be elected to the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in May 5/2016.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the departure of Maryam Mirzakhani 's mathematical genius was a great pain. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also expressed regret.

Professor Maryam Mirzakhani.(Photo: Stanford University).

"Professor Maryam Mirzakhani, the young genius of Iran, has passed away. This information makes me and every Iranian, who is always proud of the country's outstanding scientists,". Iran's foreign minister confirmed.

At the time, Maryam Mirzakhani dreamed of becoming a writer. However, her passion for burning mathematics helped her to receive many awards in this area from a young age.

Graduated with a BA in mathematics from Iran's Sharif University of Technology in 1999, Mirzakhani went to the United States and earned a doctorate in mathematics from Harvard University in 2004.

In 2014, she became the first female mathematician to receive the Field Prize, considered the Nobel Prize in mathematics.

Stanford University said Iranian mathematician specializes in the study of theories such as modular space, Teichmuller theory, non-Euclidian geometry, . which are considered very difficult majors.

Professor Mirzakhani died on July 15 due to breast cancer.

Mirzakhani's research focuses on complex and meaningful geometry in many fields, from cryptography to "physical theory of the existence of the universe".

She described her work as "lost in the jungle and finding ways to use all knowledge to come up with new methods, with a little luck to find the exit".

Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne said Maryam Mirzakhani was an inspiration to thousands of women determined to pursue mathematics as well as other sciences.