Katherine Morrison
University of Northern Colorado Academic School of Mathematical Sciences Positions: Associate Professor -- August 2018 to Present Assistant Professor -- August 2012 to July 2018
Pennsylvania State University Department of Mathematics Research Associate (Mathematical Neuroscience) -- July 2015 to December 2015
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Mathematics Graduate Teaching Assistant -- August 2006 to August 2012
Education: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 2012 PhD, 2008 MS Mathematics with Electrical Engineering minor (Algebraic Coding Theory) Advisor: Dr. Judy Walker
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 2005 BA Mathematics and Psychology
Manuscripts in Progress: Publications: C. Curto, C. Langdon, K. Morrison. Robust motifs of threshold-linear networks. Submitted to Neural Computation. Available at https://arxiv.org/abs/1902.10270
C. Curto, J. Geneson, K. Morrison. Stable fixed points of combinatorial threshold- linear networks. Available at https://arxiv.org/abs/1909.02947
K. Morrison, C. Langdon, C. Parmelee, J. Geneson, A. Degeratu, V. Itskov, C. Curto. Dynamically relevant motifs in inhibition-dominated threshold-linear networks. In preparation. Earlier version available at https://arxiv.org/abs/1605.04463
C. Langdon, K. Morrison*, C. Curto*. Combinatorial geometry of threshold-linear networks. In preparation. (* equal last authors)
C. Parmelee, S. Moore, K. Morrison*, C. Curto*. Predicting emergent sequences from network connectivity. In preparation. (* equal last authors)
Peer-Reviewed Publications: C. Curto and K. Morrison. Relating network connectivity to dynamics: opportunities and challenges for theoretical neuroscience. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Vol 58, 11-20, 2019.
C. Curto, E. Gross, J. Jeffries, K. Morrison*, Z. Rosen, A. Shiu, N. Youngs. Algebraic signatures of convex and non-convex codes. J. of Pure and Appl. Algebra, Vol. 223, No. 9, 3919-3940, 2019. (* corresponding author)
C. Curto, J. Geneson, K. Morrison. Fixed points of competitive threshold-linear networks. Neural Computation, Vol 33, No. 1, 94-155, 2019.
K. Morrison and C. Curto. Predicting neural network dynamics via graphical analysis. Book chapter in Algebraic and Combinatorial Computational Biology. R. Robeva, M. Macaulay (Eds) 2018.
A.M. Burzynski, S.W. Anderson, K. Morrison, M.R. Patrick, T. Orr, W. Thelen, Lava lake thermal pattern classification using self-organizing maps and relationships to eruption processes at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i. Chapter in Field Volcanology: A Tribute to the Distinguished Career of Don Swanson. M.P. Poland, M. O. Garcia, V. E. Camp, A. Grunder (Eds) 2018.
C. Curto, E. Gross, J. Jeffries, K. Morrison, M. Omar, Z. Rosen, A. Shiu, N. Youngs. What makes a neural code convex? SIAM J. Appl. Algebra Geometry, Vol 1, 222- 238, 2017.
C. Curto and K. Morrison. Pattern completion in threshold-linear networks. Neural Computation. Vol 28, 2825-2852, 2016.
G. Karakok, K. Morrison, C. Craviotto. Lessons Learned from a Math Teachers’ Circle. In Association for Women in Mathematics Series: Mathematics Education, Vol. 7, J. Dewar, P. Hsu, H. Pollatsek (Eds), 2016.
K. Morrison. Enumeration of Equivalence Classes of Self-Dual Matrix Codes. Advances in Mathematics of Communication. Vol 9, No. 4, 415-436, 2015.
H. Gluesing-Luerssen, K. Morrison, C. Troha. Cyclic Orbit Codes and Stabilizer Subfields. Advances in Mathematics of Communication. Vol 9, No. 2, 177-197, 2015.
H. Gluesing-Luerssen, K. Morrison, C. Troha. On the Cardinality and Distance of Cyclic Orbit Codes based on Stabilizer Subfields. Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Mathematical Theory of Networks and Systems, 2014.
K. Morrison. Equivalence for rank-metric and matrix codes and automorphism groups of Gabidulin codes. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Vol 60, Issue 11, pp. 1-12, 2014.
C. Curto, V. Itskov, K. Morrison, Z. Roth, J. L. Walker. Combinatorial neural codes from a mathematical coding theory perspective. Neural Computation. Vol 25, pp. 1891-1925, 2013.
N. Axvig, K. Morrison, E. Psota, D. Turk, L. C. Pérez, J. L. Walker. Analysis of connections between pseudocodewords. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Vol 55, Issue 9, pp. 4099-4107, 2009.
N. Axvig, K. Morrison, E. Psota, D. Turk, L. C. Pérez, J. L. Walker. Towards universal cover decoding. Proceedings of International Symposium on Information Theory and Its Applications. December 2008.
N. Axvig, K. Morrison, E. Psota, D. Turk, L. C. Pérez, J. L. Walker. Average min- sum decoding of LDPC codes. Proceedings of International Symposium on Turbo Codes and Related Topics. September 2008.
Funded EXTERNAL FUNDING
Projects: Collaborative Research: Emergent sequences from recurrent network motifs NSF Mathematical Biology Grant ($319,340 total -- $163,211 for UNC): 2020 – 2023. Lead PI; collaborative research grant with PI Carina Curto at Penn State
Emergent Dynamics from Network Connectivity: A Minimal Model NIH BRAIN Initiative Grant ($1.1 million total – $203,879 UNC subaward): 2016 – 2019. Sole co-PI with PI Carina Curto. *Equal contribution to grant writing
AWM Mentoring Travel Grant ($3800): Summer 2016
COSYNE Travel Grant ($800): 2016
Applied Algebra Days 2 Travel Grant ($500): 2014
AWM Workshop Travel Grant ($1100): 2012
AMS Graduate Student Travel Grant ($500): 2012
NSF Mentoring Through Critical Transition Points Traineeship: 2011
GAANN Traineeship: 2009
INTERNAL FUNDING
Grant Writing Initiative Program (3-credit course release): Spring 2016
Summer Support Initiative ($6000): Summer 2016
Summer Support Initiative ($5000): Summer 2015
Research, Scholarship, and Creative Works (RSCW) (3-credit course release): Fall 2014
Summer Support Initiative ($3000): Summer 2014
Honors and College-wide Excellence in Scholarship Award: 2017. Awards: First Year Scholars Outstanding Faculty & Staff Award: 2013.
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award: 2009-2010.
Bill Leavitt Award: 2008.
Outstanding First Year Student Award: 2007.
Invited: Professional Predicting neural network dynamics from graph structure Presentations: 50-minute seminar talk for the Brain Networks & Behavior Lab at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN 2020.
Predicting neural network dynamics from graph structure 50-minute plenary talk at the Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology annual symposium in Atlanta, GA 2020.
Graphs, neural networks, and emergent dynamics in the brain 50-minute keynote talk at the Pikes Peak Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Conference in Pueblo, CO 2020.
Emergent Sequences from Recurrent Network Motifs 20-minute talk at the 2019 SIAM Applied Algebra and Geometry Conference in Bern, Switzerland.
Dynamically relevant motifs in inhibition-dominated neural networks 20-minute talk at the 2019 SIAM Dynamical Systems Conference in Snowbird, UT.
Predicting Neural Network Dynamics from Graphical Analysis 20-minute talk at the AMS Southeastern Sectional Meeting in Auburn, AL 2019.
Emergent Sequences from Neural Network Connectivity 50-minute talk in the Theoretical Biology seminar at Penn State University 2019.
Predicting Neural Network Dynamics from Graphical Analysis 20-minute talk at the 2019 Joint Math Meetings in Baltimore, MD.
Emergent Sequences from Neural Network Connectivity 40-minute talk at the 2018 Clemson Mini-Conference on Discrete Mathematics and Algorithms.
Predicting Neural Network Dynamics via Graphical Analysis 50-minute talk for undergraduate math club at Clemson University in 2018.
Predicting Emergent Sequences from Network Connectivity 20-minute talk at the 2018 BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting in Bethesda, MD.
Predicting Neural Network Dynamics from Graphical Analysis 50-minute colloquium at James Madison University in 2018.
Emergent Dynamics from Neural Network Connectivity 20-minute talk at the 2018 Joint Math Meetings in San Diego, CA.
Algebraic Signatures of Convex and Non-Convex Neural Codes 20-minute talk at the 2017 SIAM Conference on Applied Algebraic Geometry in Atlanta, GA.
Algebraic Methods of Determining Convexity of Neural Codes 20-minute talk at the 2017 Mathematical Congress of the Americas in Montreal, Canada.
Predicting Emergent Dynamics from Network Connectivity 20-minute talk at the 2017 SIAM national meeting in Pittsburgh, PA.
Algebraic Signatures of Convex and Non-convex Neural Codes 20-minute talk at the Coding Theory special session of the 2016 AMS Fall Central Sectional Meeting in Minneapolis, MN.
Predicting Neural Network Dynamics from Graph Structure 1-hour talk and 3 hours of curricular materials presented at the 2016 NIMBioS Algebraic Mathematical Biology workshop in Knoxville, TN.
Algebraic Methods for Determining Convexity of Neural Codes 20-minute talk at the 2016 Spring Research Conference in Chicago, IL.
Properties of Neural Codes Via the Neural Ring 50-minute talk for advanced undergraduates in the MASS program at Pennsylvania State University in October 2015.
Properties of Neural Codes Via the Neural Ring 20-minute talk at the 2015 Joint Math Meetings in San Antonio, TX.
Northern Colorado Math Teachers’ Circle’s Implementation of the Common Core State Standards 20-minute joint talk (with Gulden Karakok) at the 2015 Joint Math Meetings in San Antonio, TX.
Enumerating Equivalence Classes of Rank-Metric and Matrix Codes 50-minute talk at the Algebra Seminar at University of Kentucky in Nov 2013.
Neuroscience-Inspired Network Decoder 20-minute talk at the Seminar in Coding Theory in Dagstuhl, Germany in August 2013.
Combinatorial Neural Codes from a Mathematical Coding Theory Perspective 25-minute talk at the 2012 Joint Math Meetings in Boston, MA.
Equivalence and Duality for Rank-Metric Codes 20-minute talk at the Seminar in Coding Theory in Dagstuhl, Germany in November 2011.
Equivalence and Duality for Rank-Metric and Matrix Codes 20-minute talk in the Coding Theory special session of the AMS Fall Central Sectional Meeting in October 2011.
Properties of Rank-metric and Matrix Codes with Applications to Network Coding 15-minute talk at the Algebraic Structure in Network Information Theory conference in August 2011.
Towards a Duality Theory of Subspace Codes for Network Coding 20-minute talk in the Coding Theory special session of the AMS Spring Southeastern Sectional Meeting in March 2010.
Juried: Emergent Sequences from Recurrent Network Motifs 25-minute plenary talk at the International Conference on Mathematical Neuroscience in Copenhagen, Denmark in June 2019.
Predicting Emergent Sequences from Network Connectivity 20-minute talk at the International Conference on Mathematical Neuroscience in Boulder, CO in June 2017.
Pattern Generation in Simple Inhibition-Dominated Networks Poster at 2016 COSYNE Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT.
Problem-Solving Tasks Fostering Mathematical Discourse 60-minute joint presentation with Gulden Karakok at the 2015 National Council for Teachers of Mathematics Annual Meeting in Boston, MA.
Combinatorial Neural Codes from a Mathematical Coding Theory Perspective Poster at the 2012 COSYNE Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT.
Non-juried: Emergent sequences from recurrent network motifs Poster at the Max Planck-HHMI Connectomics Meeting in Berlin, Germany 2019.
Dynamically relevant motifs in inhibition-dominated neural networks Poster at the 2019 BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting in Washington, DC.
Predicting emergent sequences from network connectivity Poster at the 2018 BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting in Bethesda, MD.
Predicting emergent sequences from network connectivity Poster at 2017 Society for Neuroscience annual meeting in Washington DC.
Emergent Dynamics from Network Connectivity: A Minimal Model Poster at the 2016 BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting in Bethesda, MD.
Internally-generated dynamics in a simple inhibition-dominated neural network model Poster at 2016 Modeling Neural Activity 2 conference in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
What Makes a Neural Code Convex? 20-minute talk at 2016 Midwest Math Biology Conference in La Crosse, WI.
Irreducible Cyclic Orbit Codes 20-minute talk at the Applied Algebra Days 2 conference in May 2014.
Problem Solving and Math Teachers’ Circles 60-minute joint presentation with Gulden Karakok at Colorado Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference in October 2013.
An Analysis of Relationships Between Pseudocodewords Poster presentation at the IMA workshop on Career Options for Women in the Mathematical Sciences in April 2009.
On Relationships Between Pseudocodewords 20-minute talk at the Canadian Summer School on Communications and Information Theory in August 2008.
Courses Taught At University of Northern Colorado Teaching: 2020 Math 709: Abstract Algebra I
2020 Math 221: Linear Algebra
2019 Math 795 Graduate Topics Course: Applied Algebraic and Discrete Methods in Mathematical Biology
2017, 2019 Math 286: Elements of Discrete Mathematics
2015, 2017 Math 391: Elementary Number Theory
2016, 2017, 2019, 2020 Course coordinator for Math 181 and Math 182
2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020 Math 181: Fundamentals of Mathematics I – Numbers and Operations
2015, 2016 Math 182: Fundamentals of Mathematics II – Algebra, Probability, and Data Analysis
2013, 2014 Math 228: Discrete Mathematics
2014 Math 522: Reading Course in Linear Algebra
2012, 2014 Math 131: Calculus I
Other Teaching Experiences: 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 Northern Colorado Math Teachers’ Circle Summer Institute
2015, 2016 Joint Rocky Mountain and Northern Colorado Math Teachers’ Circle Summer Institute
2013 Math 804T (University of Nebraska-Lincoln MAT course): Experimentation, Conjecture, and Reasoning
Students Advised/Co-advised on Research: Devon Olds. Fall 2020 Mentored undergraduate at UNC in analysis of neural networks.
Christopher Langdon. Summer 2017 to Summer 2019. Co-advised postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University in theory of threshold-linear neural networks.
Jessalyn Bolkema. Fall 2013 to Summer 2018. Co-advised doctoral student at University of Nebraska in coding theory.
Jesse Geneson. Summer 2017 to Summer 2018. Co-advised postdoctoral researcher at Penn State in theory of threshold-linear neural networks.
David Falk. Summer 2017 to Summer 2018. Co-supervised honor’s thesis for undergraduate at Penn State in analysis of neural networks.
Karen Haar, Maggie Carly, Quanqui Hu, and Shanglun Li. Summer 2017. Co-mentored undergraduates at Penn State in analysis of neural networks.
Samantha Moore. Spring 2016 to Spring 2017. Supervised McNair Scholar’s thesis for undergraduate at UNC in analysis of neural networks.
Carolyn Shaw. Spring 2016 to Fall 2016. Mentored undergraduate at UNC in analysis of neural networks.
Amy Burzynski. Fall 2013 to Spring 2015. Co-advised Masters student at UNC in application of artificial neural networks to problem in Earth Science.
Students Mentored in Teaching: Sarah Sparks. Spring 2020 Mentored grad student in teaching Linear Algebra as we co-taught this course.
Michelle Morgan. Fall 2017 Mentored graduate student in teaching Elements of Discrete Mathematics as we created this new course and co-taught it.
Alee Lee. Spring 2017 Mentored graduate student in teaching Elementary Number Theory as we revamped and co-taught the course.
Doctoral Committee Member: Committee member for doctoral students in Educational Mathematics at UNC: Jennifer Zakotnik-Guittierez. Spring 2018 to Spring 2020.
Adam Ruff. Spring 2019 to present.
Jenna Krieschel. Spring 2019 to present.
Served on an NSF grants review panel: 2020 National Service: Associate Editor of Journal of Math Circles: 2019 - Present
Past-Chair, Chair, Chair-Elect of the SIGMAA MCST: 2014 - 2016 Served as Chair-Elect, Chair, then Past-Chair of the Special Interest Group of the MAA on Math Circles for Students and Teachers (SIGMAA MCST). This involved organizing multiple events around math circles at both national meetings, the Joint Math Meetings and MathFest.
Member of the MAA Council on Outreach: 2015 - 2018 Served on the MAA Council on Outreach Programs dedicated to promoting mathematics outreach in the community.
Sessions Organized “Algebraic and Discrete Methods in Mathematical Biology” Invited Paper Session Co-organized this Invited Paper Session at AMS Southeastern Sectional Meeting in March 2019.
“My Favorite Math Circle Problem” Contributed Paper Session Co-organized this Contributed Paper Session at MathFest in August 2016.
“The Broad Impact of Math Circles" Contributed Paper Session Co-organized this Contributed Paper Session at the Joint Math Meetings in January 2016.
“Math Circle Problems Involving the Number 100 in Honor of the MAA’s 100th Anniversary" Contributed Paper Session Co-organized this Contributed Paper Session at MathFest in August 2015.
“What Makes a Successful Math Circle" Contributed Paper Session Co-organized this Contributed Paper Session at the Joint Math Meetings in January 2015.
“Algebraic and Geometric Methods in Applied Discrete Mathematics” Assistant organizer for a research group in this program of the AMS Mathematics Research Communities in Summer 2014.
“Coding Theory And ...” AMS-MAA Special Session Co-organized this Special Session at MathFest in August 2013.
“Teaching Introductory Courses with Under-Prepared and/or Math-Anxious Students” panel for Project NExT Co-organized this panel for Project NExT participants at MathFest in August 2013.
Community Co-advisor of the UNC Math Club: 2019 to Present Service: Co-director of the Northern Colorado Math Circle: 2013 to Present The Northern Colorado Math Circle focuses on developing problem-solving skills in both middle school students and their teachers. This includes 8 academic-year evening sessions for students and 6 for teachers, as well as a weeklong summer institute for teachers and a 4-day math camp for students. I have co-organized the logistics of these sessions as well as facilitated numerous problem-solving sessions for both students and teachers. We have also begun monthly after-school math circle sessions at Valley High School in Gilcrest, CO, starting in February 2020.
Presentations to the Community Celebration of Mind Co-organizer of the UNC Math Department’s Celebration of Mind: Gathering for Gardner math night for the community
Dividing Squares 60-minute problem-solving activity for middle school students in the Guided Explorations in Mathematics (GEM) Seminar at Mount Nittany Middle School in State College, PA in March 2019.
Introduction to Coding Theory 120-minute presentation to high school girls at the Las Chicas Reunion at University of Northern Colorado in September, 2012.
Introduction to Cryptology 75-minute presentation to undergraduate students at the Great Plains National Security Education Consortium in July 2011.
The Journey to Solve Fermat’s Last Theorem: From the 6th century BC to the 20th century AD 50-minute presentation on the history of Fermat’s Last Theorem given to the undergraduate math club at Nebraska Wesleyan University in April 2011.
Careers in Mathematics Panelist at the Intensive Mathematics: A Mentoring, Education and Research Summer Experience (IMMERSE) program at University of Nebraska in 2011.
Random Bits of Advice Panelist at Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics (NCUWM) in January 2011.
Presentations/Panels University Tips for Forming Inquiry-Based Learning Environments Service: 50-minute joint presentation with Gulden Karakok at the UNC 2013 GTA Conference in August 2013.
Inquiry-Based Learning Environments and Teaching Ideas 90-minute joint presentation in CETL Faculty Forum series in October 2012.
COMMITTEE WORK Workload Committee Member: 2020-Present.
School Evaluation Committee Member: 2019-Present.
Undergraduate Committee Member: 2012-2014, 2017, 2019-Present.
PhD Committee Member: 2019-Present.
PhD Admissions Committee Member: 2014-2015, 2019-Present.
Scholarships and Undergraduate Awards Committee Member: 2019-2020.
IDC Oversight Committee Member: 2019-Present.
Math Education Faculty Search Committee Member: 2014-2015, 2016-2017.
Policies and Procedures Committee Member: 2016-2017.
Supplemental Academic Instruction Comm. Member: 2014-2015.
Web Committee Member: 2013-2014.
Math Placement Committee Member: 2013-2014.
Professional MAA College Instructor Development Source (CoMInDS) participant: 2019. Development Activities: Center for Excellence of Teaching and Learning (CETL) Scholar in Residence: 2012-2013.
Project NExT Fellow: 2012-2013.
Faculty Mentorship through MCTP Fellowship: 2011.