Newsletter of the Department of Mathematical Sciences @ University of Delaware RECKONINGS SUMMER 2016

Message from the Chair LOUIS F. ROSSI Inside Chair’s Message...... 1 t’s a pleasure to share with you through outstanding research, excel- New Center for Applications of again all the great things happening lent education and the integration Mathematics in Medicine Opens....2 Iin and around the Department of of education and research within the Faculty Research Grants...... 3 Mathematical Sciences. As a faculty, we context of the mission of their orga- New Faculty...... 4 measure ourselves by our students and nizations.” Associate Profs. Sebastian College of Arts & Sciences Honors our discoveries, and also to the degree Cioaba and Yvonne Ou were named Faculty, Students, Alumni...... 5 to which we involve our students in our to the editorial boards of the Electron- The Theory of Dense Graph Limits: New Connections Between Analysis, scholarship. ic Journal of Linear Algebra and the Combinatorics and Journal of Applicable Analysis, respec- Data Science...... 6 There is certainly plenty to celebrate in tively, top journals in their fields. Profs. Dr. Driscoll elected to SIAM Council Appointment...... 7 this issue of Reckonings. Dawn Berk, Bettyann Daley and Tammy Rossi who planned and deployed our Mathematical Sciences Great departments create an environ- in the Land of Aus...... 8 Mathematical Sciences Learn Laborato- ment where faculty flourish. With 43 Departmental Student faculty, there is always lot going on, ry are the first instructional team ever Awards...... 9 and I thought I would touch on a few of to be recognized with the College of Graduate Program Alumnus Talk...... 10 the many highlights. Last fall, we wel- Arts and Sciences Teaching Award. Prof. New Math Learning Lab Offers One- comed Assistant Profs. Mahya Ghan- Toby Driscoll was elected to the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Stop Shop for Student Success...... 11 dehari, Dominique Guillot and Doug Conference Corner...... 12 Rizzolo to the department. In addition (SIAM) Council, a position of significant profession influence. Finally, Prof. Jinfa Job Experience as the to bringing talented instruction to our SIAM President...... 13 Cai has been named a Fellow of Amer- programs, they expand our research Featured Graduate capacity into new areas including data ican Educational Research Association Students...... 14 (AERA), one of two faculty in UD’s histo- mining, probabilistic graph theory, Nayantara Bhatnagar is Awarded wavelet analysis and graph limits. This ry to hold this great honor. NSF CAREER Grant...... 15 Editorial Appointments...... 16 spring brought the happy news that A significant new addition to the Associate Prof. Nayantara Bhatnagar NACADA Outstanding Department is the Center for Applica- Advising Award...... 16 has been awarded a prestigious NSF tions Mathematics in Medicine (CAMM). Honors...... 17 CAREER grant, the premiere early Building on considerable research career award given to a rare few who “... Thank You to our expertise within our department, on Generous Donors!...... 18 exemplify the role of teacher-scholars campus and at regional medical cen- Congratulations to our new Ph.D.s’ new jobs!...... 19

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Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 1

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 1 9/8/16 9:57 AM Nayantara Bhatnagar is Awarded NSF CAREER Grant

Prof. Nayantara Bhatnagar is awarded program is NSF’s premiere early career the prestigious NSF CAREER Grant for award given only to those who “... her research on probability and combi- exemplify the role of teacher-scholars natorics through outstanding research, excel- lent education and the integration Prof. Nayantara Bhatnagar’s project, of education and research within the entitled “Phase Transitions in Some context of the mission of their organi- Discrete Random Models and Mixing of zations.” Markov Chains” will begin this summer and run for five years. The NSF CAREER

Faculty Research Grants 2016

AMOUNT/ PI / CO-PI AGENCY TITLE DURATION Bhatnagar,Nayantara NSF NSF CAREER: Phase Transitions in Some Discrete Random Models and Mixing of Markov Chains 400K/5Y Cai, Jinfa DDOE Conceptual Understanding of Mathematics for Students in Grades 8-11 44K/2Y Cirillo, Michelle Cioaba, Sebastian NSF The Interplay between Spectral and Combinatorial Properties of Graphs and Association Schemes 130K/3Y Driscoll, Toby NIH NIH Delaware INBRE 3 18K/1Y Schleiniger, Gilberto Guillot, Dominique UDRF Analysis of Clustering via Graph Limits 35K/2Y Guyenne, Philippe NSF Nonlinear Dispersive Water Waves in Multiscale Interaction Problems 130K/3Y Lazebnik, Felix SIMONS Algebraic Constructions of Dense Graphs with Forbidden Cycle Lengths 35K/5Y Monk, Peter B NSF Collaborative Rsch: Integrated Simulation of Non-homogeneous Thin-film Photovoltaic Devices 500K/3Y

NSF New Directions in the Qualitative Approach to Inverse Scattrering Theory 62K/1Y Park, Jungeun UDRF Improving Calculus Instruction through content-specific TA professional development 35K/2Y Plechac, Petr DARPA BROWN/ DARPA Information Metrics for Reliable Uncertainty Quantification in Materials Design 171K/2.5Y Rakesh, Rakesh NSF NSF Inverse Problems for the Wave Equation 152K/3Y Rizzolo, Douglas UDRF Asymptotic Properties of Random Trees 35K/2Y Xiang,Qing NSF Algebraic Methods in Combinatorics and Finite Geometry 210K/ 3Y

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CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 2 9/8/16 9:57 AM New Center for Applications of Mathematics in Medicine Opens BY R.J. BRAUN

he Center for Applications of will shape new approaches to relevant Mathematics in Medicine (CAMM; problems and new generations of Twww.mathandmedicine.org/) mathematical researchers. was founded in the College of Arts and Sciences in Spring 2016. The founding Our research projects cover a wide range already; they including treatment A computed distribution of the saltiness director is Tobin Driscoll, with associate of tears over the exposed ocular surface; directors Pak-Wing Fok and Richard of neonatal heart conditions, tear film this case has rapid evaporation and the Braun. At the time of writing, CAMM and ocular surface dynamics, athero- darkest red indicates a six-fold increase in sclerosis, the BIAcore optical biosen- the saltiness over normal tears (Longfei Li, boasts 20 faculty members from four et al, Math. Med. Biol. 2016). departments and two colleges, five sor, and models for cancellous bone. Short introductory videos by some of external associates, and six students. first year of life. Understanding the Among the members are five holding our members can be found at www. mathandmedicine.org/projects. physiology of a patient in real time in medical doctorates and a certified the hospital is challenging but mathe- radiologist. The founding of CAMM Part of the foundation of CAMM is a matical models of the heart and circula- was celebrated with a reception at the series of projects on the tear film and tory system have been developed that Faculty Commons in April with Deans the ocular surface. Profs. Braun and aid in this critical function. The needed George Watson, Doug Doren and John Driscoll have been funded by the NSF parameters for the model are deter- Pelesko, Department Chair Louis Rossi, since 2007 and the NIH since 2010. They mined based on continuously collected and CAMM members. work closely with research associates bedside vital signs. The project goal is CAMM’s purpose is to coordinate Profs. Carolyn Begley (Indiana Optome- to provide clinicians with patient-spe- research and education that advance try) and P. Ewen King-Smith (Ohio State cific warnings and diagnostics to pro- the application of mathematics and Optometry). This set of projects has vide timely treatment and prevention computation to biomedical research studied tear film motion during blink- measures. The project is seeing a surge and clinical practice in order to improve ing, tear flow and saltiness (osmolarity) in participation with four new under- human health in the state, region, and over the exposed ocular surface, and graduates and one new PhD student beyond. the breakup (disruption) of the tear film in the summer of 2016. The project is in small local areas. The results have currently supported by funds from the Why math and medicine? Our un- appeared in top eye and mathematical Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical derstanding of complex biological journals, has produced 4 PhDs to date, Research (INBRE) grant, UD Summer systems, including human health, are and will produce three more PhDs and Scholars, UD Summer Fellows and the increasingly based on quantitative one MS student in the near future. Department of Mathematical Sciences. measurement and models built from Sixteen undergraduate students have first principles. Physicians are often worked on summer and thesis projects, Other projects include a recent PhD brilliant empiricists, but are not usually with three winning undergraduate thesis by Dr. Brooks Emerick, under as well trained to apply mathematical research awards, two going on to study the guidance of Prof. Schleiniger and and computational techniques as are optometry, one studying medicine, and Dr. Bruce Boman of Christiana Care, applied . Similarly, others to mathematics, economics and Thomas Jefferson University and UD. academic mathematicians need guid- finance. Together, they developed a model of ance to find medical problems that are colon cancer development in colonic relevant to medical science or clinical The hypoplastic left heart syndrome crypts. Prof. Fok and collaborators practice and that would benefit from (HLHS) project began in 2013 with a have developed effective models for mathematical models. By facilitating collaboration between Profs. Toby atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaques, collaboration between the members of Driscoll and Gilberto Schleiniger, PhD which are thought to be important in these communities, CAMM enhances student Lei Chen and Dr. Michael Mc- the onset of heart attacks. The proper- current mathematical knowledge in Culloch of Nemours/AI duPont Hospital ties and dynamics of cancellous bone, medicine and accelerates the under- for Children. HLHS is a cardiac birth and how they change in health or with standing of intellectual challenges that defect with a 20% mortality rate in the osteoporosis, has been the subject of

2 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 3

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 3 9/8/16 9:57 AM studies by Prof. Yvonne Ou and her Continued from page 1 collaborators. Prof. David Edwards and Department saw an expansion in our collaborators have studied the BIAcore stature on and off campus, growth in optical biosensor; this device noninva- the size and quality of our undergradu- sively measures reaction rates between ate and graduate programs, and expan- important biological molecules, and sion of our research activities. From our its results are improved with accurate new Mathematical Sciences Learning mathematical models to help inter- Laboratory in McKinly Hall over to pret the results. Eight undergraduate our Active Learning Classroom on the students and three graduate students second floor up to the coffee machine have worked on the project; two PhD in our lounge, John’s dedication to the dissertations have been completed. faculty and students has been exem- This project has been funded by both plary, and he will be missed. The good NSF and the National Institute for Gen- news is that his new office is not very eral Medical Sciences. far away, and I look forward to working This has just been a quick summary of with him in the coming years. Taking some of CAMM activities. CAMM will the helm mid-year was not easy, and I continue to add projects and mem- thank my colleagues, staff and students bers, and we look forward to growing; Diagram of individual colon crypt for their support during the transition. there is so much more that we could showing the position of the different cell types including stem cells at the base of Exciting times lie ahead. The University do. You can help us with our projects the crypt. has been crafting its latest strategic and growth by donating to support our plan entitled “Delaware Will Shine” students, collaborations, and expenses during the last year with an unprece- at www.mathandmedicine.org/donate. dented amount of faculty input. The html. current draft calls for UD to emerge as a “pre-eminent learner-centered research university.” Meeting this challenge will be no easy task, but in many ways, our College of Arts & Sciences Honors Department is ahead of the game. Our Faculty, Students, Alumni faculty are constantly re-imagining what a mathematics classroom should Dean George Watson recognized seven faculty members (Brenda Shaffer, Lindsay be and how best to reach students. At Hoffman, Dawn Berk, Bettyann Daley, Paul Brewer, and Joseph Harris), six alum- the same time, our research mission ni with college awards (Paul A. Fioravanti Jr., Dr. Carol Van Dyke Freer, Tyron D. continues to expand into new areas Jones, Andrew M. Stern, Mark S. Stewart, Joan E. Wainwright), and also honored with projects receiving national and faculty members and students who had previously received 2016 University international recognition. We have awards. two CAREER fellows and a Sloan fellow amongst our junior faculty. Among our senior faculty, we have associate editors and chief editors of some of the highest ranked journals in our profession, two recipients of the Arts and Sciences Outstanding Researcher Award as well as the current President of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM). Our student clubs and organi- zations continue to thrive, and we are pleased to see our students complete their educations with us and move into exciting careers. We welcome news from our alumni. When you have a Pictured are (from left) Dean George Watson with faculty CAS award winners Brenda chance, send us a note math-contac- Shaffer, Joseph Harris, Bettyann Daley, Lindsay Hoffman, Tammy Rossi and Dawn Berk [email protected] or a tweet #UDmath.

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CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 4 9/8/16 9:57 AM NEW FACULTY MAHYA GHANDEHARI Mahya Ghandehari received her PhD in 2010 from University of Waterloo in Canada. Before joining University of Delaware in 2015, she held a position as a Post-doctoral fellow at Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences and University of Waterloo. Mahya’s research focuses on non-commutative harmonic analysis as well as combinatorics, and the links between the two areas. In particular, she studies large networks, such as Facebook, using the theory of graph limits. Currently, Mahya’s research focuses on the applications of non-commutative harmonic analysis in the study of continuous wavelet transforms, which have essential applications in many areas such as noise reduction in signals, pattern recognition, and image processing.

DOMINIQUE GUILLOT Dominique Guillot received his PhD in 2010 from Laval University in Canada. Before joining the University of Delaware in 2015, he held a position as Post-doctoral fellow at Stanford University. Dr. Guillot works on problems involving mathematical analysis on cones of matrices, with applica- tions in high-dimensional statistics. Another aspect of his work involves analyzing large networks and graph limits. He is also interested by applications of mathematics and statistics to climate science, in particular to the reconstruction of the climate of the past.

NEW POSTDOCS JAMES MELBOURNE James Melbourne received his PhD from the University of Minnesota in 2015 under the supervision of Sergey Bobkov. His thesis work focused on the adaptation of certain convex geometric tools to probability theory, with special interest in their application to infinite dimensional settings. He joined University of Delaware as a post-doctoral researcher in September 2015, hosted by Mokshay Madiman.

James’s current research draws from a broad range of influences, but is primarily focused in information theory and probability theory, particularly topics that interface with geometry. Active projects include work on discrete curvature, Renyi entropy power inequalities, and convex measures. In the 2016-16 academic year he will join collaborators at Yale and Delaware for work on an NSF-funded INSPIRE project in mathematical linguistics.

TING WANG Ting Wang joined the department in Fall 2015 as a postdoctoral researcher working with Prof. Petr Plechac. He received his PhD in Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2015. His thesis mainly focused on the development and analysis of efficient sensitivity estimation algorithms for stochastic reaction networks.

Ting’s current research interests lie in the interface between probability theory and computation- al methods for multiscale stochastic dynamical systems. Specifically, Ting is interested in utilizing Monte Carlo simulation technique for sampling and computation of stochastic reaction networks with multiple time scales. Currently, under the supervision of Prof. Petr Plechac, Ting is devel- oping a parallel simulation for accelerating the simulation of continuous time jump Markov process with metastable states.

4 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 5

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 5 9/8/16 9:57 AM The Theory of Dense Graph Limits: New Connections Between Analysis, Combinatorics and Data Science BY MAHYA GHANDEHARI AND DOMINIQUE GUILLOT

any interesting structures gles or the number of hexagons that in the world are naturally are contained in the graph. Although Mdescribed using networks. For such a task is immediate for graphs example, one of the largest and most with a few nodes, it becomes extreme- commonly used networks is the inter- ly computationally intensive when net. As of today, the internet contains working with graphs with millions or more than 30 billion webpages that are billions of vertices. In that case, a very interconnected with each other. An- natural strategy is often used: 1) sample other popular network is the Facebook a smaller number of vertices from the graph, which represents the friendship graph at random; 2) compute the graph relationships between users of the so- parameter for the subgraph induced cial network. More generally, networks on the sampled vertices; and 3) use are used to describe relationships in that value to approximate the graph many areas such as biology, statistical parameter on the whole graph. The Figure 1. The star graph S physics, engineering, and neurosci- first and second steps are straightfor- 7 ence, to name a few. For example, neu- ward. The third step is also very natural, roscientists commonly use functional but how can we justify it? Is it true that parameter? Using techniques of math- magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) a sampled sub-network will always ematical analysis, probability theory, to construct networks describing how provide a good approximation of the and combinatorics, the theory of graph different parts of the brain interact with whole network when computing a giv- limits provides a beautiful answer to each other. en graph parameter? This is clearly not this question. always the case. For example, consider Analyzing and making sense of the In the theory of graph limits, each a star graph Sn with one internal node information contained in very large and n leaves—see Figure 1. graph is first naturally identified with networks is an extremely challenging a function defined on the unit square task in modern data science. Networks Suppose that the graph parameter [0,1]2 and taking values in [0,1]. The are very high-dimensional objects that we want to compute is the maximum identification is made via the adjacency are difficult to visualize. They often degree of the vertices in the graph (i.e., matrix of the graph (see Figure 2). The evolve in time, and their nodes are the maximum number of edges that space of all functions W: [0,1]2 → [0,1] not always labelled. Their number of are connected to a vertex in the graph). is called the space of graphons. Each nodes is also not generally constant in Note that a sampled sub-network will graph is thus identified with a graphon. time, making the comparison of these provide a correct approximation if and A natural topology is then defined graphs difficult to perform. The recent only if the internal node is chosen. on the space of all graphons. This theory of graph limits developed by A simple calculation shows that this topology enables us to measure how Borgs, Chayes, Lovász, Sós, Szegedy, happens with probability k/(n+1)if k ``close’’ graphs are to each other, even Vezstergombi and others (1,2) provides nodes are sampled uniformly from the if the graphs have a different number a new way of approaching network n+1 nodes of the star. As a result, we of nodes, and if their vertices are not analysis that shows a lot of promise. need to sample a significant portion aligned (i.e., graphs can be compared of the nodes for the approximation to up to isomorphism). Using that topol- To illustrate some of the ideas in that be valid. The sampling procedure is ogy, one can study limits of graphs. area, consider the following natural therefore not a good approach to com- Note that the graphon associated to a question: for a very large graph/net- pute the maximum degree of a large graph is always {0,1} valued. However, work, compute the value of a given graph. In general, how can we know a sequence of graphs can converge to graph parameter (a function defined if the sampling process will provide a a graphon taking any value in [0,1]. In on graphs). For example, the graph good approximation for a given graph fact, graphs are dense in the graphon parameter could be the number trian-

6 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 6 9/8/16 9:57 AM 4 approximation works: these are pre- cisely the functions that are continuous 2 0111 1 1010 on the graphon space. In particular, the 4 0 1 proportion of edges, triangles, hexa- 1100 gons, etc. in a graph are all continuous 3 B1000C on the graphon space, and can thus be B C estimated by sampling a sub-network. @ A G G The area of graph limits is still young G M f and is attracting a lot of interest in the mathematical community. Many Figure 2. Left to right: A graph, its adjacency matrix, and its associated graphon (the applications of the theory still need to function fG is equal to 1 on the black squares and to 0 on the white squares). be developed. Several faculty members of the Mathematical Sciences depart- space (i.e., for every graphon W: [0,1]2 → and networks. For example, let us go ment at U. Delaware (including the [0,1], there exists a sequence of graphs back to the problem of computing a two authors of this article) are actively (Gn)n>1 such that Gn → W). graph parameter f(G) for a very large working in this field. We expect that network G. The theory of graph limits this theory will have an important The graphon topology provides a new provides a nice representation of the impact in several areas of pure and exciting setting for studying graphs parameters f for which the sampling applied mathematics.

[1] Christian Borgs, Jennifer T. Chayes, László Lóvász, Vera T. Sós, and Katalin Vesztergombi. Convergent sequences of dense graphs. I. Subgraph frequencies, metric properties and testing. Adv. Math., 219(6):1801-1851, 2008. [2] László Lóvász. Very large graphs. In Current developments in mathematics, 2008, Int. Press, Somerville, MA, 2009.

Dr. Driscoll elected to SIAM Council Appointment

Dr. Tobin Driscoll were elected by the members of the IMA in Minnesota and the MBI in Ohio, has recently society to the Council, which advises which widely affects the applied math- been elected the current president, Unidel Professor ematics community. Dr. Driscoll would to a three-year Pamela L. Cook, on the scientific policy like to promote active lobbying of NSF position on the of the organization. Dr. Driscoll’s vision and congress to address these issues. SIAM (Society for the future of SIAM includes a focus In regard to postsecondary education, for Industrial on rising scholars in mathematics as Dr. Driscoll’s plans include a focus on and Applied well as the recent budget cuts that the adapting current curriculum to teach Mathematics) NSF (National Science Foundation) has relevant ideas and skills to the students Council. SIAM is an international society seen, both of which impact the future who will be the future of the field. He made up of leading mathematicians, of SIAM, its members, and the indus- wants to make sure that SIAM also plays scientists, and engineers whose goal trial mathematics field. In particular, a part in recruiting diverse students is to connect mathematics to science, budget cuts have caused the NSF to into college mathematics programs, as technology, and society. Dr. Driscoll begin phasing out funding for two demographics continue to evolve, to and three other members of SIAM of its national research institutes, the secure the field’s future.

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CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 7 9/8/16 9:57 AM Mathematical Sciences in the Land of Aus BY LOU ROSSI

n January 2016, I boarded a flight to College in the University of Melbourne. would have opportunities to visit many Melbourne Australia where I would The program staff at Melbourne Uni of these exotic and fragile ecological Ilink up my colleague Charlie Bonce- would help us plan out accommoda- areas. Charlie would teach a scientific let from Electrical Engineering and 26 tions, meals, excursions and activities computing course to support students’ undergraduate mathematics, physics, well in advance. As a place to live and modeling activities. In general, study and engineering study, it is hard to beat Trinity College abroad is more popular to women than majors to spend a month learning and with its “faux Oxford” architecture and men, but our final enrollment achieved traveling together. Neither Charlie nor I comfortable facilities. almost gender parity with a good had done this before, but we had been mixture of STEM disciplines primarily planning the project from mathematics and for over a year. Charlie engineering disciplines. approached me in the Outside of excursions, late Fall of 2014 to ask the routine was simple. me if I would be inter- Mornings would be ested in teaming up spent in class. After- with him to offer pair of noons and evenings courses, one in elec- were for homework and trical engineering and exploring the city. one in mathematics, for a single study abroad Our program including program in Melbourne. a wide array of activ- I did not know Charlie ities and excursions. well, but it seemed like In addition to visiting a fine idea. I had lived many of the attractions in Melbourne while on within Melbourne, we sabbatical several years The full study abroad group assembled in front of the hiked through the Dan- ago and have friends Puffing Billy steam locomotive in the Dandenongs. denong range, rolled and contacts there. down the Great Ocean Next to San Francisco, Road, visited animal it’s my favorite city in the world. I love sanctuaries, camped math, and I love travel. What could Our study abroad program was de- in the Grampians National Park and be better than to guide students on a signed to meet the needs of upper divi- toured the Commonwealth Scientific mathematical journey to this special sion STEM students at the University of and Industrial Research Organisation part of the world? Delaware. This target audience is large- (CSIRO) which is the national govern- ly underserved because most study ment research agency in Australia. One of the best things about this abroad courses are 100- or 200-level Melbourne hosts the Australian Open project for newbs like Charlie and me is courses that can reach a broad audi- tennis tournament in January so many that the University of Delaware has one ence. I linked my course on modeling of us were able to enjoy seeing a match of the oldest and most expansive study and analysis to the location by design- or two live. abroad programs in the United States. ing an offering called “Mathematics of While Mathematical Sciences does not Sustainability”. Model systems were One of the things that impressed Char- participate often, UD’s Institute for drawn from ecological interactions, the lie and me was how quickly students Global Studies (IGS) has considerable spread of disease, the movement of found fun and inexpensive things to do infrastructure and expertise in offer- wildfires and other processes relevant in Melbourne. Thanks to a helpful social ing programs around the world. IGS in Australia. While Australia is roughly network app, the whole group was provides students with travel assis- the same size as the United States, it is able to stay connected while exploring tance, health coverage and UD has a mostly desert. Water conservation and Melbourne individually, in small groups long standing relationship with Trinity land management is critical. Students or as a mob. Students organized trips

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CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 8 9/8/16 9:57 AM to Cairns, Sydney and Tasmania during ans, a spectacular National Park a few necting scientific topics to a particular their free weekend. Charlie and I hours west of Melbourne. Half the class part of the world. For four weeks, our enjoyed getting to know our students had never been camping before and students were no longer a tiny part of a better, and the students enjoyed get- there was more than a little apprehen- medium-sized, self-contained universi- ting to know us well too. Charlie and I sion before we embarked. It gave the ty. During this study abroad, they each were always present at meals and activ- class a chance to sleep under the Large became a big part of a tiny community ities, but we were mindful not to hover and Small Magellanic Clouds, chase of scholars exploring new surround- or intrude. The students genuinely mobs of ‘roos in the early morning and ings. Overall, the students became enjoyed including us in smaller groups watch an echidna devastate a nest of empowered. Students’ projects were whether it was visiting a museum, ants. Cell reception was spotty at best outstanding, not only for the quality cycling up and down the foothills of Mt. and wifi was non-existent, so students of the mathematics but also for their Wellington in Hobart or jumping out of enjoyed spending more time con- grasp of the central issues they were an airplane. versing with one another. In the end, studying in the context of the Austra- students found this to be the stand out lian people and their environment. As The internet, wifi and smartphones experience on the trip. a novice, I maintained some skepticism have transformed travel, but for all that, before embarking on this project. Now the most transformative experience for Of course, one can study mathematics that I have gone through it once, I am the class was spending four days and and scientific computing anywhere, convinced this an essential experience three nights camping along the Great but for Charlie and I, providing this we should be offering to our students. Ocean Road and then in the Grampi- experience was far more than con-

Departmental Student Awards

GRADUATE STUDENTS SIAM Outstanding Efforts & Achieve- ments Award: Ms. Lan Zhong

Baxter-Sloyer Graduate Teaching Award: Mr. Thomas Brown

Wenbo Li Award: Mr. Shixu Meng

Winter Research Symposium Poster awards: Mr. Tonatiuh Sanchez-Vizuet and Ms. Lan Zhong

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS Clark Prize (Seniors): Jacek Cencek and Ryan McKenna

Undergraduate Research Prize: Joseph Brosch

Wolf Prize (Juniors): Daniel Atadan

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CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 9 9/8/16 9:57 AM Graduate Program Alumnus Talk BY G. SCHLEINIGER

Dr. Nuno Crato, a PhD graduate from This skill helped him not only in the our Department of Mathematical writing of his research papers, but also Sciences who went on to pursue a in his activity as a science writer. His research and academic career in the US book Figuring It Out: Entertaining En- and in his native , visited the counters with Everyday Math published Department on April 4, 2016. by Springer, has been praised by quite a few math reviewers. The Department of Mathematical Sciences special guest graduated Dr. Crato was an Applied Mathematics with a PhD in 1992, and went on to graduate student at UD−most of his a wide-ranging career in the US and graduate work was done in stochastic abroad, as a , a math- models, time series, and econometric popularizer, and an occasional politi- modeling. In reviewing some of his cian. His distinguished career includes research, he highlighted a model he appointments as pro-Rector of the developed for the statistical analysis Technical University of , and Dr. Nuno Crato of random algorithms behavior. The president of the TagusPark, a science issue is a puzzling behavior met by re- and technology park located in the searchers dealing with extremely hard Dr. Crato gave an informal talk to Greater Lisbon subregion in Portugal. computational problems. The typical faculty and graduate students in Ewing TagusPark is the largest Science and case is quasi-group problems of which Hall about his research and his career. Technology organization in Portugal, Sudoku is a fun example. When solving He started by acknowledging what he with two university campuses within these problems, researchers noticed a owes to his UD education. Naturally, he the Park and hundreds of technological very wild behavior of the computing emphasized that he learned what re- rms. He also served three consecutive costs (measured search is, and his terms as president of the Portuguese as number of training on how Mathematical Society. In 2003 he was backtracks), and to do it. He likes awarded the First Prize of the Public a seemingly to blend original He started by Awareness of Mathematics contest by increasing wan- theoretical and the European Mathematical Society; dering mean. In methodological acknowledging in 2008 he was awarded the Europe- practice, restarts research with an Union Science Award (previously are the way to solving prob- what he owes known as the Descartes Prize), second bypass stalling lems of interest place as Science Communicator of to his UD computations. in diverse areas, the Year, and he received the National Collaborating in line with his medal awarded by the President of education. with computer education in the Portuguese Republic: Command- scientists from our Applied er (Comendador) of the Prince Henry Cornell Universi- Mathematics Order; and in 2016 he received the Na- ty, Crato worked Program. He also tional medal awarded by the President on a new stochastic model explaining emphasized that he learned a lot of the Portuguese Republic for civil and the behavior of these algorithms. By about good teaching practices, both peaceful services to the development assuming that the computing cost of from the example of his professors of the country: Grand Cross (Gr~a-Cruz) these algorithms is an alpha-stable ran- during his graduate student days in the of the Prince Henry Order, the highest dom variable, it is possible to explain Department, and from the directives recognition of a civilian by the Portu- its puzzling behavior and the effective- he received from the professors he was guese government. Between 2011 and ness of the restart strategy. A simple helping as a TA. Maybe more surpris- 2015, Dr. Crato was Minister of Edu- random tree model is able to mimic ingly, he mentioned that his graduate cation and Science in the Portuguese the behavior of very different random work and, in particular, the help of his government. Starting in May 2016, he algorithms for this type of problem. advisor, Professor Howard M. Taylor, will be a senior fellow at the European helped him learn how to write well. Joint Research Center in Italy.

10 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 10 9/8/16 9:57 AM Describing his views on math educa- Attendants to the session may have tion, Crato criticized some features been curious about his decision to of mathematical education in a few serve in government. Crato explained [Crato] thought it countries, and he praised the common with disarming simplicity the rea- core standards for mathematics recent- son why he has worked at this high was his duty to ly developed in the US. He armed his political level−he was invited and he try and improve belief in the need for raising the level thought that it was his duty to try and of math education, and in not shying improve education. He served a full education. away from rigor, denitions, and proofs. term, not a normal occurrence within In his opinion, nothing can improve the education portfolio in Portugal in elementary, middle, and secondary (this happened only in four cases so education without a more rigorous and far). Dr. Crato has now returned to his content-based teacher training. research career.

New Math Learning Lab Offers One-Stop Shop for Student Success

tudents can come to the new Mathematical Sciences Learning SLaboratory for tutoring and oth- er assistance with basic, foundational math courses.

If there’s a University of Delaware de- partment that really knows how to rely on numbers, it’s Mathematical Scienc- es, and faculty members there have been seeing some worrisome data—a large proportion of freshmen failing or dropping their beginning math courses and, too often, difficulties with math causing interested students to aban- don STEM classes altogether.

“We know that, nationally, a large number of students enter college with an interest in STEM [science, technolo- The department and the college came remodeled the area and introduced its gy, engineering and math], but those up with what they think is a solution. services last spring and began operat- numbers drop off,” said John Pelesko, They established a dedicated “one-stop ing on a full schedule this semester. professor of mathematical sciences and shop” to provide innovative teaching, interim associate dean for the natural specialized classroom space and tutor- Its large classroom is modeled on sciences in the College of Arts and Sci- ing, advising and test-taking services the instructional space in the Harker ences. “A lot of that attrition is due to for students taking basic, foundational Interdisciplinary Science and Engineer- negative experiences in college math mathematics courses. ing Laboratory, with movable desks classes, so we decided to address it. We and chairs to encourage small-group realized that we can’t fix this problem The Mathematical Sciences Learning problem-solving and embedded tech- by doing the same things that got us Laboratory (MSSL) occupies a former nology to allow students and faculty to here.” physical therapy clinic in McKinly Lab. It easily share and discuss their work.

10 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 11

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 11 9/8/16 9:57 AM Conference Corner

DelMar Numerics Day, 2015

DELMAR NUMERICS REACHES ITS 5TH EDITION The DelMar Numerics Day is organized every spring by the Mathematics de- partments of the University of Dela- ware and the University of Maryland at College Park. This year, DelMar Numer- ics gets to its fifth edition and moves away from the bi-state area to George Mason University in Virginia. Saturday May 14 was the day chosen for this year’s event, showcasing research in computational mathematics at large. Matthias Heinkenschloss from Rice University was the keynote speaker in DelMar Numerics Day 2016. For more ICIAM 2015 information, see the conference site at http://delmar.math.umd.edu/ Nedelec (France) and Prof. Wolfgang professor and Director of CI2MA at the L. Wendland (Germany), was recently University of Concepcion, Chile), Nilima honored for his lifelong academ- Nigam (now full professor at Simon PROFESSOR GEORGE HSIAO ic achievements in computational Fraser University, Canada), and Liwei HONORED AT CQWCAM 2015 mathematics at the 2nd Chongqing Xu (now full professor and Vice Dean of Prof. George Hsiao (Carl Rees Professor Workshop on Computational and College of Mathematics and Statistics Emeritus of Mathematics and Francis Applied Mathematics. Among the six of Chongqing University, China). Alison Professor at the University of members of the organizing committee Delaware), along with Prof. Jean-Claude were three former PhD students of Prof. Hsiao from UD: Gabriel Gatica (now full

12 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 12 9/8/16 9:57 AM Job Experience as the SIAM President BY PROF. PAMELA COOK

2015 and 2016 have defined and do or don’t evolve into well respected and most reasonably passed amazing- programs. priced. With the current focus nation- ly quickly for me, ally and internationally on open access there is truth to Particularly rewarding has been my role to research results/journal papers, the the statement that as president in inviting individuals to future of refereed journals is an open “time passes quickly stand for election to SIAM office and/ and driving question of major import when you are having or to serve on one of the many commit- to large (expensive) publishers, and fun”. In fall of 2013 I was elected pres- tees of SIAM. It is most impressive how of importance to smaller (and more ident of the Society for Industrial and dedicated SIAM members generally reasonably priced) society publishers Applied Mathematics (SIAM). The term are, the time many of them commit to like SIAM. The future of publishing has for an elected president is four years, the society and its programs, and their been an important focus during my last one as president-elect - 2014, two positive and thoughtful responses to few years at SIAM. as president - 2015, 2016, and one as requests. I have been particularly im- past-president - 2017. It has been a busy pressed with current practices at SIAM It has been a learning experience, two years. which work to assure inclusiveness an honor, and a passion for me to be on committees, particularly to assure involved in SIAM and to represent UD The job of SIAM president is eased by breadth of discipline, of workplace in SIAM. My involvement with SIAM the amazing SIAM staff at the head- (academy, industry, government, lab- began when I was a graduate student, quarters in Philadelphia, staff that oratories), of international (non-US my first conference presentation was carry on the major work of SIAM as the based) members, of gender, among at a SIAM annual meeting, my first presidents and vice-presidents come other categories. The complexity of paper was in a SIAM journal, the SIAM and go, each of them with their own this inclusiveness can be seen in our J. of Math Analysis. While at UCLA I priorities. Still, the time involved in numbers. SIAM has 14,000 members served on the SIAM Southern California being SIAM President, while carrying of which 40% are international (non- Section steering committee, and more on regular UD duties, has been close to US based). Of the academic members recently I’ve served on the editorial overwhelming. The opportunity/neces- roughly 60% identify as having a home board of and then Editor in Chief of sity of travel has been terrific. High- in a math or applied math department, the SIAM J. of Applied Math, on the lights of my travel included: Beijing, the other 40% represent computer editorial board of SIAM Review (SIREV), China to represent SIAM at the Inter- and information science, engineering, as Secretary of SIAM, as Vice President national Congress on Industrial and or other sciences, among other areas. for Publications of SIAM, and currently Applied Mathematics (ICIAM) meet- Women represent roughly 14% of the as President of SIAM. It hass been an ing (with a side trip to the Great Wall membership. amazing journey and the support, and one to the Forbidden City), and mentoring, and external viewpoint that Cambridge, UK, to meet with the SIAM SIAM hosts 17 technical journals which I’ve gotten through my SIAM activities UKIE (United Kingdom and Republic of range from the original and flagship has been invaluable. Ireland) section members, and to give SIAM Journal of Applied Mathematics to an invited talk in honor of their 20th the most recent additions SIAM Journal The University of Delaware should be anniversary. on Applied Algebra and Geometry and as proud of its strong activity and pres- SIAM Journal on Uncertainty Quantifica- ence in SIAM as I am. Not only does UD The SIAM president is a member of the tion. SIAM supports student sections, has a SIAM Student Section (currently SIAM Science Policy Committee which offers free membership to students, advised by Prof. Richard Braun), and meets twice per year with representa- supports regional geographic sections, several faculty who are or have served tives of national funding agencies and as well as SIAM Interest Groups (SIAGS). on SIAM Journal Editorial Boards, but makes “trips to the hill” to advocate for Currently there are 21 active SIAGs also UD faculty have been twice rep- funding for priorities related to SIAM ranging from the SIAG on Analysis of resented among SIAM Presidents: Ivar members’ activities. This has been an Partial Differential Equations to the Stakgold, then Chair of the Department education for me, offering a glimpse newest two SIAG on Applied Mathe- of Mathematical Sciences at UD, was of how the government operates, how matics Education, and the Mathematics president of SIAM 1989, 1990. the various entities work with each of Planet Earth. The primary activity of other, and how funding priorities are SIAM resides with its journals which are More information is available on the SIAM website, www.siam.org/

12 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 13

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 13 9/8/16 9:57 AM FEATURED GRADUATE STUDENTS

After graduate school, Jiange plans to fractional calculus in solving Abel-type pursue a career in academia where he Integral equations: surface-volume can continue to work on problems in reaction problem”. In addition, he had pure mathematics. While many people the opportunity to present his work have influenced him inside and outside at the National Institute for Standards mathematics, Jiange appreciates the and Technology (NIST), in Gaithersburg, inspiration and guidance provided by MD; and the International Congress on his advisors Professor Wenbo Li and Industrial and Applied Mathematics, in Professor Mokshay Madiman. Beijing, China. After graduating with JIANGE LI his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics in Jiange Li grew up in Handan, China, a RYAN EVANS May, 2016, Ryan will be continuing his work on surface-volume reactions in city with rich culture and a long history. Ryan Evans is from Mechanicsburg, optical biosensors at NIST, under the He did his undergraduate study at Pennsylvania, a small town outside of direction of Dr. Anthony Kearsley. Harbin Institute of Technology, China. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Ryan gradu- In July 2009, he graduated with his ated with his B.S. in Mathematics from Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathe- Bloomsburg University of Pennsylva- Beyond Mathematics Ryan enjoys matics. nia in May, 2010. During his time at long distance running, swimming, the Bloomsburg University, he collaborated outdoors, reading, church, and spend- Jiange began his studies at UD in with his Professor Dr. Yixun Shi and one ing time with his family and friends. February 2010. During that summer, of his classmates to publish an article Ryan is very grateful for the patience, he worked in the Groups Exploring on Sudoku puzzles, entitled “Generat- guidance, and support of his advisor the Mathematical Sciences program ing Sudoku Puzzles and its Applications Dr. Edwards during his time here. Ryan with Professor Wenbo Li. Since then in Teaching Mathematics”. His profes- would also like to thank the other he continued working with Professor sors at Bloomsburg University encour- departmental faculty and staff for their Wenbo Li, his advisor, on probability aged him to pursue graduate studies in tremendous support during his time theory, particularly on small ball prob- Mathematics, so after taking a year off, at UD. ability and random analytic functions. he enrolled at the University of Dela- Unfortunately Professor Li passed away ware in fall of 2011 to get his Ph.D. in Jan 2013. Since then Jiange start- ed to work with Professor Mokshay Ryan started working with Dr. David Madiman. Jiange has diverse research Edwards in the fall of 2014 to study interests including probability theo- a class of chemical reactions, known ry, combinatorics, particular additive as surface-volume reactions. A sur- combinatorics, information theoretic face-volume reaction involves a inequalities and convex geometry. stream of reactants, flowing through In addition to speaking at many sem- a fluid-filled volume, over a surface to inars at UD, Jiange has presented his which receptors are confined. Under work at many conferences including the direction of Dr. Edwards, Ryan the 13th & 14th Northeast Probability developed and studied a mathematical Seminar, New York; 14th New York model for surface-volume reactions in TONATIUH SANCHEZ-VIZUET I was born in a little town called Mexico Number Theory Seminar at CUNY; Sem- optical biosensors—a device used to City. During my first year of middle inar on Stochastic Process 2015 at UD. measure rate constants associated with such reactions. Mathematically, this school I stumbled upon Stephen Aside from research, Jiange enjoys involves modeling, partial differential Hawking’s “History of time” and I got various sports: playing basketball and equations, perturbation techniques, completely hooked by it, thereby de- billiards, doing gymnastics, and watch- and numerical methods. This work ciding that I would become a theoret- ing NBA plays. In 2013, he won the has Ryan to collaborate with Dr. Udita ical physicist and would spend my life bocce-ball tournament with Lei Chen. Katugampola to study problems in understanding the mysteries of black He also enjoys traveling and hiking. fractional calculus, which culminated holes. As a result I attended the School in a paper entitled “Applications of of Sciences at the National Autono-

14 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 14 9/8/16 9:57 AM mous University of Mexico (UNAM) conservation laws exploiting the ca- several summer schools and work- from which I graduated with a degree pabilities of Chebfun, an open-source shops in places like the Institute for in physics. suite of tools for Matlab based on the Mathematics and its Applications at the powerful approximation properties of University of Minnesota and the Math- As an undergraduate student working trigonometric polynomials. ematical Sciences Research Institute at on computational general relativity I the University of California, Berkeley. All came to realize that in order to tackle My doctoral research was directed this experiences were a key component interesting problems from the applied by Prof. Francisco-Javier Sayas and of my professional development and al- sciences I would need to learn deeper focused on the numerical treatment lowed me to establish professional and mathematical methods than those ans analysis of the interaction between personal contact with many experts on that I had been exposed to during my transient acoustic waves and obstacles my field. training as a physicist. This switched my with various kinds of elastic properties. interest from theoretical physics into The approach we use leads to systems Amongst the many good things that numerical analysis. that couple integral equations with Delaware gave me, the absolute best partial differential equations and re- was the chance to meet Lise-Marie I went on to pursue a Masters degree in quire a combination of Finite Elements, Imbert-Gerard, who was a visiting PhD mathematics also at UNAM under the Boundary Elements and Convolution student from the University of Paris VI guidance of Prof. Antonio Capella-Kort. Quadrature for their numerical solu- and was crazy and brave enough to For my thesis I worked on numerical tion. This work gave rise to five research become my fiancée. Without her love methods for non-linear conservation papers and is condensed on my thesis and support I simply wouldn’t have laws and implemented a finite volume “Integral and coupled integral-volume made it this far. scheme to solve numerically Euler’s methods for evolutionary wave-struc- equations for gas dynamics in 3D and ture interaction”. After my graduation I will be joining was conferred the degree summa cum the Courant Institute of Mathematical laude in 2011. During my time at UD I’ve had the Sciences at as a opportunity to present my work at postdoctoral associate. There I will Attracted by the wide variety of faculty many different places in the US and work with Professors Leslie Greengard with interests in computational math- abroad including the University of and Antoine Cerfon devising and ematics and numerical analysis, I came Oxford in England, the Public Universi- implementing numerical methods to UD right after finishing my masters ty of Navarra in Spain, the University of for the simulation of the behavior of studies. During my first summer I Concepción in Chile and the Karlsruhe plasmas in fusion reactors. In the long worked with Professor Tobin Driscoll Institute of Technology in Germany. run I would like to pursue a career in implementing a simple geometric I have also taken advantage of the academia. algorithm for the solution of non-linear opportunities offered by UD to attend

14 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 15

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 15 9/8/16 9:57 AM Editorial Appointments

JINFA CAI SEBASTIAN MOKSHAY Professor Jinfa CIOABA MADIMAN Cai has been Sebastian Prof. Mokshay appointed as the Cioaba has been Madiman joins Editor of Journal named to the the editorial for Research in Editorial Board board of the Mathematics Ed- of The Electronic IEEE Trans- ucation (JRME) Journal of Linear actions on in the next five Algebra (ELA), a publication of the Information Theory journal. The journal years (2015-2020, the first year as the International Linear Algebra Society publishes high-quality theoretical and Editor-Designate). JRME is the premier (ILAS), a refereed all-electronic journal experimental papers concerned with research journal in mathematics edu- that welcomes mathematical articles the transmission, processing, and utili- cation. Established in 1970 as an official of high standards that contribute new zation of information theory. journal of the National Council of information and new insights to matrix Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), JRME analysis and the various aspects of advances the frontiers of mathematics YVONNE OU linear algebra and its applications. Effective education by disseminating the highest January 2016, quality research on the learning and Prof. Yvonne Ou teaching of mathematics at all levels— serves as an as- preschool through college. The work sociate editor of published in JRME over the past several Journal of Appli- decades has helped to guide research, cable Analysis, foster innovations in practice, and an international inform policy debates and decisions. journal with primary focus on analysis that has application to scientific and engineering problems.

NACADA Outstanding Advising Award

Jamie Sutherland is the Winner of the Outstanding Advising Award by the Na- tional Academic Advising Association. The NACADA Outstanding Advising Award, http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/ Events-Programs/Awards/Associa- tion-Awards/Outstanding-Advising. aspx is awarded to a faculty member whose primary role is not advising, and who advises students in addi- tion to teaching and service for their department. Jamie received Region 2 recognition in February. This is national recognition for his outstanding work in the service of our majors and our undergraduate programs. Jamie Sutherland (2nd from left in the front row)

16 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 16 9/8/16 9:57 AM Honors

JINFA CAI HONORED FOR NOTABLE, SUSTAINED RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS Jinfa Cai, professor of mathematical sci- ences with a joint appointment in the School of Education at the University of Delaware, has been named a fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), which cited his “no- table and sustained research achieve- ments” in the field of mathematics education.

Cai was one of 22 scholars selected as 2016 fellows of the association, which is the largest national interdisciplinary research association devoted to the scientific study of education and learning. The new fellows will be inducted at the AERA annual meeting in April in Washington, D.C. Graduate student fellowship recipients (left to right): Allan, Irene, Jake, and Kelvin. (Ewing Hall in the background.) GRADUATE STUDENT FELLOWSHIPS ANNOUNCED you can give them. In any case, you can visit the page for updates, as Christina Four graduate students of the Depart- posts messages there on Allan’s recovery. ment of Mathematical Sciences will enjoy competitive fellowships from the Office of Graduate and Professional SAMUEL COGAR RECEIVES Education next academic year. Allan NDSEG FELLOWSHIP Hungria is the recipient of a Gradu- First year graduate student Samuel ate University Fellow Award, Kelvin Cogar just received the prestigious Na- Rivera-Lopez will enjoy his second year tional Defense Science and Engineering with the Graduate Scholar Award, while Graduate Fellowship. The NDSEG fel- both Irene de Teresa and Jake Rezac lowship, awarded by the Department will receive the Graduate Dissertation of Defense, provides financial support Fellow Award. Congratulations to all of for three consecutive years, as well as them! full tuition costs. The NDSEG fellowship program is highly competitive with less Note: Allan Hungria suffered a severe sei- than 200 fellowships awarded every zure on July 23 and has been hospitalized year in fifteen scientific and technical since then. He was in a coma for a week disciplines. but has shown remarkable progress in recent days. As the therapy costs are likely Sam’s awarded proposal is based on a to skyrocket, Allan’s wife Christina asked project in computational methods for some of their friends to help her with that inverse scattering, one of the flagships and they opened a GoFundMe account of the Department of Mathematical https://www.gofundme.com/praying- Sciences at UD. forallan. They will appreciate any help Samuel Cogar

16 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 17

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 17 9/8/16 9:57 AM Thank You to Our Generous Donors!

Agilent Technologies Foundation Eugene R. Davis ‘81 ‘03M and Gayle Jinfa Cai and Ning Wang American Endowment Foundation McVey Davis ‘81 Jing Li ‘10M ‘13M ‘13PhD Amy E. Trauth-Nare Evelyn A. Strawbridge ‘55 Jo Anne Phillips Pratt ‘61 Andrew R. Caramanico Faith A. Muirhead Joan Wyzkoski Weiss ‘75M Anna Lewis Ellis ‘97M Fay Jefferson Gagnon ‘60 and Ernest P. John F. Ahner ‘67 ‘72PhD Gagnon Arthur V. Milholland ‘74M ‘76PhD John F. Porter ‘81M ‘86PhD and Kathryn Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Ashish J. Modhera ‘91 Frost Porter ‘83M ‘87PhD Francis J. and Carolyn S. Livoy Barbara Bartos Sloyer ‘07 Jonathan L. ‘89 and Alexandra S. French Francisco J. Sayas Gonzalez Barbara G. and Robert J. VanDornick Sr. Jorge G. Punchin ‘72M ‘78PhD and Frank J. Miesnik ‘72 and Margaret Maria Marrero Punchin ‘73M Bayard O. ‘68 ‘72PhD and Elaine H. Zetterlund Miesnik ‘72 Baylis Joseph K. Wald ‘73M ‘78PhD and Lin- Gary C. Robinson ‘69 and Kathleen dalee Curley Wald ‘73M Beverly Lutz Grunden ‘70 ‘72M and Bunitsky Robinson ‘75 Larry A. Grunden Joyce Neidig Budna ‘61 Gene Sand Hall ‘74 and Peter C. Hall Boeing Company Julia Mann ‘14 General Electric Foundation Brice W. Cropper ‘73 and Kathleen Can- Kimberly D. and Christopher J. Cavallio tara Cropper ‘73 George A. ‘72M ‘78PhD and Sara J. Gray Kirk E. ‘74M ‘80PhD and Lorraine H. Caitlin L. Miller George A. Webber ‘58 Jordan Carl F. Geiszler ‘78 ‘80M and Gail Ford Haifeng Zeng ‘09M Liangping Ma ‘04PhD Geiszler ‘77 Hidefumi Katsuura ‘80M ‘84PhD and Liza M. Bartle ‘74 ‘79M Carl O. Miller ‘53* Frances Bazela Katsuura ‘72 Longfei Li ‘14PhD Christian Concepcion ‘14 Hyun-Joon Ahn ‘71M ‘75PhD Louis F. and Tammy A. Rossi Christine Woerner Ebert ‘94PhD and IBM International Foundation Lowell H. ‘67 and Mary Lou E. Tonnes- Gary L. Ebert Ivar Stakgold sen Clavel Albay Gempesaw ‘82M ‘91PhD James N. Walbert ‘70 ‘73M ‘75PhD Lucille Grimes Meissner ‘71M ‘76PhD and Conrado M. Gempesaw II Jessica A. Moskowitz Margaret M. Donlan ‘66 Daniel J. Gempesaw ‘08 Jiguang ‘00M ‘05M ‘05PhD and Yang- Marie O. and John T. Senff Daniel J. Jr. ‘77 and Christine H. McBride ping Sun Marjorie A. Trenary David J. Barsky ‘81 Martin G. and Karen Begley David J. Klemish ‘01 MathWorks, Inc Deborah L. Ziomek Matthew J. Moye ‘14 Debra L. Shenk ‘74 Gifts Melanie G. Steiger Denise Impagliazzo Griffiths ‘69M Gifts to the Department of Melinda S. Bush ‘81 Dennis E. Sweitzer ‘90M ‘93PhD Mathematical Sciences are Michael J. Zankowsky ‘88 and Linda Dennis W. ‘69 ‘71M ‘73PhD and Diane used to support our general Stewart Zankowsky ‘83M ‘06EdD M. Quinn development goals. You may Michael P. Parvensky ‘14 Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation also designate your gift to be Microsoft Corporation used for particular student Diane Roberts Hodgkiss ‘80 Milan N. Lukic awards as well as the Gradu- Donna J. Minner ‘68 Milton Rubin ‘41 ate Enrichment Account. Dorothy J. Helm ‘69 Miriam R. Krantz ‘66 Edward D. Mooney and Patricia A. If you have any questions Patricia Albert Strocko ‘73 ‘80M and Dillon-Mooney about making your gift, please Raymond R. Strocko Eileen B. McEnroe ‘74 contact UD’s Annual Giving Patricia L. and Scott W. Dooling Elinor L. Baker ‘73 team at annualgiving@udel. Patricia Miller Overdeer ‘49M edu or call toll-free at 866- Elizabeth Ligreci Paul R. and Joanne M. Thies 535-4504. Ellen Fischer Monk ‘88M and Peter B. Peter P. Klopfenstein ‘78 Monk

18 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 18 9/8/16 9:57 AM Philip and Alice E. Broadbridge Steven J. and Emily Amendum Phyllis Roberson Schott ‘70M and Rob- Synopsys Foundation ert J. Schott Synopsys, Inc. RECKONINGS Raytheon Company The Pfizer Foundation, Inc. Newsletter of the Department Regina Borinsky Swoope ‘64 ‘68M Thomas E. Favinger ‘94M ‘99PhD of Mathematical Sciences Richard J. and Mary D. Braun Thomas J. Vozzo ‘83 and Linda Brucker University of Delaware Richard L. Showers ‘69M Vozzo ‘83 Summer 2016 Richard S. and Peggy D. Sacher Victoria Michalik Baker ‘70 ‘72M Robert A. ‘86 and Teresa Grey W. Geary Andrews ‘62M Robert G. Bowers ‘67M Weiran Zhu ‘15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Robert J. Ronkese ‘03M ‘07PhD Wenhua Yu Yvonne Ou Robert L. and Kathy S. Gravell William A. Krebs Jr. ‘57 and Laurie Bliss Krebs ‘59 Rochelle Paris Goren ‘75M ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ronald J. and Carol J. Vukelich William G. Jr. ‘68M ‘72PhD and Nancy P. Lese Dominique Guillot Ryan R. Martin ‘95 William J. Geppert Jr. ‘69M Jungeun Park Sandra Andres Amory ‘70 Xiaohan Tang Scott E. Rimbey Xuemei Chen Shirley Phillips Miller ‘69M CONTRIBUTORS YiLing Yao Richard Braun Silicon Valley Community Foundation Yuecong Ma ‘12M Songzhu Mei Pamela Cook Yutong Wang ‘95M Stephen L. Koffler ‘70 Mahya Ghandehari Zhenzhen He Stephen M. Zemyan ‘70 Dominique Guillot Zikun Gong Louis Rossi Francisco-Javier Sayas Gilberto Schleiniger Amanda Seiwell Congratulations to Liwei Xu our new Ph.D.s’ new DESIGN jobs! Heather Harwood Reckonings is produced by the • James Alexander (Advisor: • Matthew Hassell, (Advisor: Department of Mathematical Felix Lazebnik), Synopsys Francisco Sayas), JBT Auto- Sciences as a service to alumni Inc., Mountain View, CA mated Guided Vehicles and friends of the Depart- ment. • Shixu Meng (Advisors: David • Tianyu Qiu (Advisor: Fran- Colton and Fioralba Cakoni), cisco Sayas), Rice University IMA postdoc (one year) postdoc Please contact us by email at followed by U. Michigan [email protected] or postdoc • Shelvean Kapita (Advisor: a tweet #UDmath Peter Monk), IMA postdoc • Ryan Evans (Advisor: David Edwards), NIST postdoc

• Tonatiuh Sanchez-Vizuet (Advisor: Francisco Sayas), NYU postdoc

18 | RECKONINGS | Department of Mathematical Sciences Department of Mathematical Sciences | RECKONINGS | 19

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 19 9/8/16 9:57 AM Department of Mathematical Sciences University of Delaware Ewing Hall Newark, DE 19716

The University of Delaware is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and Title IX institution. For the University’s complete non-discrimination statement, please visit www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html

CAS_Newsletter_MATH_Reckonings_Summer2016_final.indd 20 9/8/16 9:57 AM