Research Recruitment Seminar
This is a seminar in which faculty advertise their research areas to prospective graduate students.
Early program graduate students are especially encouraged to attend, but anyone is welcome.
To sign up to speak in this seminar, please fill out this form.
This seminar is organized by Lorenzo Najt and Yu Sun, please contact them with questions.
Spring 2018
In general the time of this seminar is flexible (though we will try to stick to 4PM on Mondays and 12 Noon on Fridays), so please check each talk for the exact time and location.
Time: 12-1 on Friday, Feb 9th 2018
Location: B215
Speaker: Jean-Luc Thiffeault
Title: Applied topology, mixing, and microswimmers
Abstract: "I will discuss several topics of my current research, which involves applications of topology and partial differential equations. First, we'll see how ideas from braids and mapping class groups can be used to investigate the behavior of dynamical systems as well as characterize braiding of actual textiles. Nest, we'll examine how the mixing of fluids can be studied via PDEs, and some connections to probability theory. Finally, I'll discuss probabilistic problems for swimming microorganisms, such as dispersion and consumption of resources."
Time: 4-5 on Monday, Feb 12 2018
Location: B115 in Van Vleck
Speaker: Paul Terwilliger
Title: Tridiagonal pairs and applications
Abstract: A tridiagonal pair is a linear algebraic object that appears in many subjects, such as (i) Combinatorics (Q-polynomial graphs); (ii) Lie theory (sl2, affine sl2, tetrahedron algebra); (iii) Quantum groups (Uqsl2, affine Uqsl2, q-tetrahedron algebra); (iv) Physics (Onsager algebra, q-Onsager algebra); (v) Special functions (q-Racah polynomials etc from the Askey scheme of
orthogonal polynomials);
(vi) Representation theory (the universal Askey-Wilson algebra, DAHA of
type (C1V, C1).
We will describe some main facts about tridiagonal pairs, and discuss some of the above connections. The talk is nontechnical and meant for a wide audience.
Time: 12 on Friday, Feb 16 2018
Location:
Speaker: Daniel Erman
Title: Syzygies
Abstract: I’ll discuss some of the subtleties that arise when one tries to do linear algebra over the polynomial ring, as well as connections to algebraic geometry.
Time: 4-5 on Monday, Feb 19 2018
Location:
Speaker: Saverio Spagnolie
Title: Fluid-structure interactions, from biolocomotion and active suspensions to liquid crystals
Abstract: I will discuss a few problems in the interactions of simple/complex fluids and immersed deformable structures, ranging from the evolution of locomotion on the planet to the dynamics and self-assembly of soft, active matter. I will show how the development of novel numerical techniques can be used alongside classical methods of applied mathematics to study the coupled nonlinear PDEs that describe these exciting physical systems, and point to a number of open problems in these fields.
Time: 12 on Friday, Feb 23 2018
Location:
Speaker: Sigurd Angenent
Title:
Abstract: