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Fall 2012 {MMathath NewsNews A publication of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln VIEW FROM THE CHAIR Judy Walker

he past year Thas been tre- mendous for the department, and I am grateful for a wonderful start to my time as chair.

I feel fortunate STEPHANIE VENDETTI/UNL CSMCE to have inherited (Left to right) David Manderscheid, Judy Walker, Sylvia Wiegand, Luchezar Avramov, a department Roger Wiegand and Jim Lewis were named AMS Fellows on Nov. 1, 2012. that is already thriving, thanks to the leadership of our previous chair, Pro- fessor John Meakin. It seems there are 6 named AMS Fellows exciting things happening everywhere I look. ix UNL mathematicians have ful validation of the importance of Our two new assistant professors Sbeen invited to join a prestigious the work being accomplished by our – commutative algebraist Wenliang national organization’s inaugural mathematics faculty. It is a privilege Zhang and mathematical ecologist Yu class of fellows. The fi rst class of to have these six outstanding schol- Jin – are excellent mathematicians and American Mathematical Society ars among our colleagues.” already proving themselves to be ex- (AMS) Fellows includes Luchezar The inaugural class of AMS cellent colleagues. I couldn’t be more Avramov, Jim Lewis, David Mander- Fellows includes individuals who are pleased to have them here. Michael scheid, Judy Walker, Roger Wiegand members of the society who have Hopkins, an Omaha native who is and Sylvia Wiegand. made outstanding contributions to a Professor of Mathematics at Har- “The selection of six mem- the creation, exposition, advance- vard University and a member of the bers of our faculty for this honor is ment, communication and use of National Academy of Sciences, began evidence of the strength of UNL’s mathematics. The society has a total a three-year appointment as a Visit- Department of Mathematics. Only membership of more than 30,000. ing Research Professor in our depart- 62 institutions worldwide had fi ve The inaugural class includes 1,119

ment. Srikanth Iyengar was awarded or more fellows – including 11 of fellows representing more than 600 a Simons Fellowship and is spending our peer CIC institutions,” said Ellen institutions.

Weissinger, Senior Vice Chancellor of “The new AMS Fellows Pro- See CHAIR on Page 8 Academic Affairs. “This is a power- See AMS on Page 8 {

INSIDE: MORE { RESEARCH NEWS: RESEARCH NEWS: Harvard’s Explore the ALUMNI NEWS: Bouska, Carlin Hopkins lectures at UNL Page 2 world of math biology Page 4 share their experiences Page 13

www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 1 {RResearchesearch NewsNews Hopkins serves as visiting professor e are delighted to announce Wthat, through the diligent efforts of former Chair John Meakin, Michael J. Hopkins, professor at Harvard Uni- versity and member of the National COURTESY PHOTO Academy of Science, will serve as Mike Hopkins, professor at Harvard University, will give a workshop at UNL once a a visiting research professor in our semester for the next three years as a visiting research professor in the department. department for each of the next three years. Every semester during this time, the road. The fi rst one that stumped remaining cases of the Kervaire invari- Hopkins will spend one week in Lin- him was the Heine-Borel Theorem; its ant problem by proving the invariant coln giving a workshop to the graduate proof eluded him on each of the three- vanishes for manifolds of dimension n students and faculty on a topic of his legs of his journey. To this day, Mike 2 – 2 with n > 8. Roughly speak- choosing. Through these workshops, calls statements with tricky proofs ing, they proved there are no “exotic” he will expose the members of the de- “three-legged theorems.” manifolds of dimension 254, 510, partment to current trends in algebraic The topic of this fall’s workshop 1022, etc. Their proof is a tour-de- topology and homotopy theory. is related to a very special case of the force of techniques from equivariant The fi rst workshop was held Kervaire invariant problem, a 45-year- stable homotopy theory. Nov. 12-16, 2012, and the theme was old question concerning framed dif- Partly due to his role in set- the classifi cation of immersions of ferentiable manifolds. tling the Kervaire invariant problem, compact surfaces via the quadratic re- The Kervaire invariant is a numer- Hopkins was awarded the NAS Award fi nement of the mod two intersection ical invariant associated to such mani- in Mathematics from the National pairing. His beautiful series of lectures folds that are of dimension congruent Academy of Sciences in 2012. Al- on this topic illustrated the powerful to 2 modulo 4, and it is determined though of recent mintage, this is a connections between topology and by a refi nement of the quadratic form highly prestigious award: just one is algebra. associated to the self-intersection awarded every four years, and previous His connection to Nebraska goes pairing on the Z / 2 homology classes recipients include Andrew Wiles and back to his childhood. Hopkins grew of middle dimension. Roughly, the Ingrid Daubechies. (Some of you may up in Omaha, and attended Westside vanishing of the Kervaire invariant recall that Daubechies delivered the High School, where he was recently says the manifold is not “exotic.’’ The 2006 Rowlee Lecture for our depart- inducted into their Hall of Fame. vanishing for all such manifolds except ment and was a plenary speaker for the As a teenager, he played guitar for those of dimension 2n – 2 was proven 2012 NCUWM.) a rock band that toured the area. In by Browder in 1969. Examples where Hopkins is also a member of the summer following his senior year the invariant does not vanish for mani- National Academy of Sciences and was of high school, he had a job driving folds of dimension 6 and 14 (i.e., when awarded the Oswald Veblen Prize in a truck between the three cities of Lin- n is 3 or 4 in the above notation) were Geometry in 2001. Some of his major coln, Fremont and Council Bluffs. One known previously, and examples of previous research accomplishments could argue his path toward fame be- non-vanishing in dimensions 30 and include proving the Ravenel Conjec- gan with this job. As a strategy to stay 62 (corresponding the cases when n tures, along with collaborators Ethan awake during the long drives, he would is 5 or 6) were constructed by various Devinatz and Jeff Smith, and proving read the statement of a theorem from mathematicians during the 15 years what is now called the Hopkins-Miller the textbook of a point-set topology following Browder’s Theorem. Theorem, with collaborator Haynes class he had taken at UNO, and then Recently, Mike Hill, Hopkins, and Miller. he would try to prove it in his head on Doug Ravenel settled (nearly) all the – Mark Walker

2 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends RResearchesearch NewsNews { Iyengar organizes MSRI year

ollaboration campus” is the best is “working on he admires in the fi eld, notably Aldo “Cway to describe the environ- developing new Conca, David Eisenbud, Joseph Lip- ment that UNL Department of Math- techniques and is man, Daniel Murfet and Anurag Singh. ematics faculty member Srikanth Iyen- enjoying partici- “David (Eisenbud) is one of the gar fi nds himself in at the Mathematical pating in extended leaders in the fi eld, with expertise in a Sciences Research Institute (MSRI). discussions which wide range of topics in commutative Located on the University of are broadening his algebra and algebraic geometry. Over California, Berkeley campus, this non- experience of the the past 40 years, he has developed profi t organization was established in fi eld.” The time to many beautiful ideas, and I feel fortu- 1982 for “the advancement and com- Srikanth Iyengar work in-depth on nate to have this opportunity to learn munication of fundamental knowledge problems without from him,” Iyengar said. in the mathematics and mathematical as many of the interruptions one expe- Not only is MSRI a place where sciences” and is funded by revenue riences in everyday academic life is one new connections can be made, but also streams from the National Science of the greatest draws for participants – it is a place where former colleagues Foundation, government agencies, aca- giving them the gift of time. can reconnect. Iyengar said he has demic sponsors, private foundations David Eisenbud (University of been fortunate to reunite with former and individual contributions. California, Berkeley), UNL’s Iyengar colleague UNL emeritus faculty mem- Iyengar is at the MSRI as part Ezra Miller (Duke University), Anurag ber Roger Wiegand. He feels privileged of his research leave, for which one Singh (University of Utah) and Karen to have had the chance to work with semester is supported by a fellowship Smith (University of Michigan) make Wiegand again on a project for an from the Simons Foundation. up the commutative algebra organiz- extended period of time. On any given day, approximately ing committee whose formal proposal Thus far, Iyengar said he has 60 to 85 highly respected mathemati- to MSRI to host a program was ac- taken the opportunity to attend some cians with a broad range of areas of ex- cepted and runs August 2012 through of the seminars in a parallel program pertise can be found working at MSRI, May 2013. The fi ve organizers invited on cluster algebras, running concur- the duration of their stay typically approximately 110 participants to take rently with the commutative algebra ranging from one to four months, or part in the program. program, and also the weekly Eisenbud up to one full year. Iyengar said these individuals were Seminar in the Department of Math- “This includes a number of grad- selected based on “scientifi c merit, ematics at the University of California. uate students and early career faculty. balance of disciplines within com- When he returns home, Iyengar For them, this gives an opportunity to mutative algebra, broad spectrum of hopes to take with him new connec- interact with senior mathematicians; experience levels and diversity in every tions he has drawn to his existing conversely, it gives the established re- sense of the word.” work. He is taking advantage of the searchers a chance to become familiar MSRI is known for its dedica- time and resources provided at MSRI with the work of many of the math- tion to aiding researchers at all levels and said he hopes to be able to share ematically ‘younger’ researchers. This of their development, thus postdocs with the UNL community an expand- is invaluable for both parties,” Iyengar work alongside graduate students and ed knowledge of the fi eld of commuta- said. Ph.Ds. Iyengar is taking advantage of tive algebra and beyond. While at MSRI, Iyengar said he the opportunity to work with people – Stephanie Vendetti 2012 marks 10 years of UNL hosting REU site he year 2012 marks the 10th year students. Over the past 10 years, since only gain an academic advantage, but Tthat the UNL Department of the NSF began funding it in 2002, also benefi t by receiving room, board Mathematics has hosted a Research UNL has been through three renewals and travel expenses in addition to Experience for Undergraduates (REU) and has applied for a fourth. $4,000 in monetary rewards. in Applied Mathematics. UNL is one Students have an opportunity “For many students, this is the fi rst of only 68 summer applied mathemat- to work in a team environment to time in their collegiate experience that ics REU sites funded by the National endeavor to answer an open-ended they have had an opportunity like this,” Science Foundation at a higher educa- problem; learn to problem solve in said Professor Gordon Woodward. tion institution in the U.S. new ways; and learn from the experi- Mathematics research experiences The Nebraska REU in Applied ence of professors with whom they at UNL are competitive with other Mathematics is an eight-week summer have not yet worked. Students who REUs throughout the country, due research opportunity for eight to 10 participate in this REU program not See REU on Page 6 www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 3 RResearchesearch NewsNews {Collaborating with life sciences Faculty in mathematical biology shedding light on neurological, ecological questions or 11 years, the UNL Depart- Mathematical neurosci- Fment of Mathematics has had a ence is a fi eld of research prominent program in mathematical that uses mathematics to biology, with strength in the areas of develop models, theory, and mathematical ecology, mathematical data analysis tools in order to neuroscience and, most recently, bioin- address questions arising from formatics. The department has signifi - neuroscience, such as: How cant interdisciplinary relationships, do neurons work? How do the extending to East Campus (Fisheries interactions between neurons and Wildlife), the School of Biological give rise to neural network Sciences, the University of Nebraska activity? How does this activity Medical Center and the University of relate to information process- Nebraska at Omaha. ing in the brain? What are lab uses and develops mathemati- The core faculty members in the neural underpinnings of learning cal and computational approaches to ecology include professors Bo Deng, and memory? What do experimental tackle questions in systems (network- Steve Dunbar, Glenn Ledder, David observations allow us to say about the level) neuroscience. They study neural Logan, Richard Rebarber and Brigitte brain? These are all questions being coding and neuronal networks using Tenhumberg (joint appointment with actively pursued by mathematical novel algebraic and geometric meth- the School of Biological Sciences). The neuroscientists, often in close col- ods. Curto and Itskov are particularly core faculty members in neuroscience laboration with experimentalists, said interested in understanding how net- are professors Carina Curto, Deng and Carina Curto. works of neurons in the brain encode Vladimir Itskov, as well as postdocs Early models of neural networks information about external “stimuli,” Chad Giusti and Alan Veliz-Cuba. date back as early as the 1930s, but it including space and time coding in This past year the department can be argued that mathematical neu- the hippocampus. Their theoretical added tenure-track faculty member roscience didn’t really take off until the work is often paired with the analysis Dr. Yu Jin, a former postdoctoral late 1950s, with the Hodgkin-Huxley of electrophysiological data, another student at the University of Alberta, model. Many physicists work in this integral component of the research. who works to quantify aspects of fi sh fi eld, though they would refer to it as Over the past three years, Curto populations in streams. The biology “theoretical neuroscience,” in analogy and Itskov’s research has been funded department, with strong input from with “theoretical physics,” Curto added. by four single-investigator NSF grants, mathematics, hired Dr. John DeLong, “We have found that by trying to as well as the Alfred P. Sloan and a post-doc from Yale, who works in fi nd – and develop – mathematical Woodrow Wilson Foundations. quantifying allometric properties of tools to answer questions in neurosci- “I didn’t really start working in growth in animal and plant species. ence, rich and interesting connections my current fi eld until after I completed Applied mathematics is math- to unexpected areas of mathematics my Ph.D.,” said Curto, who majored in ematics motivated by applications in arise. This includes algebra, topol- physics as an undergraduate. “Nev- other fi elds, typically science, engi- ogy, and discrete math, in addition ertheless, all the math and physics I neering or economics. Mathematical to more traditionally applied areas learned has proven quite useful – some- biology aims at the mathematical of mathematics, such as probability times directly, but more often due to representation, treatment and model- and differential equations. Biology the rigorous training and problem-solv- ing of biological processes, through is increasingly doing for math what ing skills these fi elds have given me.” applied mathematics. physics has done very well in the Mathematical ecology is an area “Some applied mathematicians past – to be a source of problems and of biology that has had a long history use applications as a springboard for ideas, to highlight natural connections with mathematical analysis. “The gen- proving theorems, while some use between different areas of math, and esis of the type of ‘structured’ popu- mathematics to answer questions in to motivate the development of new lation models I study was probably the other fi elds,” Rebarber said. mathematics based on the promise of started in the mid-1940s with Matrix The fi rst signifi cant math research scientifi c application,” said Curto. modeling, although there were prede- in mathematical biology dates from Curto and Itskov co-head the cessors as early as 1895,” Rebarber said. the 1930s, but it got a jump-start in the Mathematical Neuroscience Lab, with In mathematical ecology, popula- 1970s, and now is a well-established area. postdocs Giusti and Veliz-Cuba. The tions are often modeled and analyzed 4 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends RResearchesearch NewsNews { using mathematics such as calculus, differential equations and matrix theory, and more advanced techniques from dynamical systems, partial dif- ferential equations and functional analysis. In such models, the popula- tion is represented by a function, and the way the population evolves is de- scribed by an equation. This equation is used to describe how the popula- tion got to where it was, and predict what the population will do, Rebarber explained. “I like best when I can develop new mathematical techniques to shed light on ecological questions,” Re- Discussions take place at the Conference on Mathematical Ecology at UNL on April barber said. “For endangered species, 14, 2012, organized by Professor Richard Rebarber. we sometimes study how to change the system so that the model predicts better population growth. For invasive 14 talks highlight math ecology conference species, we sometimes study how to change the system so that the model he Conference on Mathematical little and expand my knowledge.” Ecology, hosted by UNL’s Department The speakers were (in alphabetical predicts better population decay.” T of Mathematics, School of Biological Sci- order): Priyanga Amarasekare (Ecology Mathematical biology also has ences, and School of Natural Resources, and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA); Stephen been well represented in the depart- was held on April 14-15, 2012. Cantrell (Mathematics, University of Mi- ment’s REU program, led by Rebar- The conference provided an ami); Kim Cuddington (Biology, University ber with the help of mentors Ledder, interdisciplinary overview of the current of Waterloo); Stephen Ellner (Ecology and Deng, Tenhumberg and Veliz-Cuba. state-of-the-art research in Population Evolutionary Biology, Cornell); Bill Fagan Ledder’s current research is in plant Dynamics, through talks from some of (Biology, University of Maryland); Mark life history theory, and his most recent the most distinguished researchers in Lewis (Mathematical Sciences, Biological REU group contributed to his project the fi eld, and fostered contacts between Sciences, University of Alberta); Judith involving the identifi cation of connec- mathematicians and ecologists, and Miller (Mathematics, Georgetown); tions between a plant’s environmental contacts between early-career and senior Michael Neubert (Woods Hole Oceano- researchers. The conference featured 14 niche and its life history strategy. He graphic Institution, Biology Department half-hour presentations, three organized Ocean Life Institute); Roger Nisbet also is collaborating with an engineer- 40-minute discussion times, and (Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, ing professor at Ohio State University evening activities to encourage informal University of California, Santa Barbara); and three applied mathematicians in interaction (see schedule at: http:// Tim Reluga (Mathematics and Biology, England to develop a mathematical www.math.unl.edu/events/special/ Penn State); Sebastian Schreiber (Evolu- model to describe a process that is population_dynamics/). tion and Ecology, University of California being used to concentrate stem cells in “The 14 talks were excellent, with – Davis); Stuart Townley (Mathematics artifi cial tissue. a real attention to making the material Research Institute, University of Exeter); “Ultimately, this work will be accessible to both mathematicians and Shripad Tuljapurkar (Biology, Stanford); helpful in the design of biomedical scientists,” said Professor Richard Rebar- Pauline van den Driessche (Mathematics implants that need a network of blood ber, organizer of the conference. and Statistics, University of Victoria); and fl ow, such as heart valves,” Ledder said. Todd Levine, professor at Murray Hao Wang (Mathematical and Statistical State, said, “I had a great time at the Sciences, University of Alberta). Ledder has been engaged with conference and learned an incredible This conference was held in conjunc- the broad community of mathemat- amount and focused my ideas about tion with the annual Howard Rowlee ics faculty who are developing new an on-going project, largely due to my Lecture. On April 13, Mark Lewis gave the curricula for biology majors, resulting experiences there. This was a great op- Rowlee lecture on “Mathematical Models in a forthcoming MAA Notes volume portunity to learn, workout my brain a for Carnivore Territories.” of contributed articles called “Un- dergraduate Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Models, Processes, and Direc- articles, co-authored with Tenhum- dynamics, the effects of global climate tions.” One of the 26 articles in this berg, are about the Research Skills in change on ecosystems and food webs, volume is based on Ledder’s pedagogi- Theoretical Ecology summer course and insect eco-physiology. cal work on mathematics for biology, that was part of the RUTE program. Furthering the department’s Faculty member David Logan’s which is being published in 2013 as the more recent work in bioinformatics, book “Mathematics for the Life Sci- research in mathematical ecology Deng, Dunbar and Hartke (as part of ences: Calculus, Modeling, Probability, includes work on nutrient cycling, and Dynamical Systems.” Two other physiologically-structured population See BIOLOGY on Page 6 www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 5 RResearchesearch NewsNews

BIOLOGY From Page 5 It an interdisciplinary team) received Curto earns made sense {seed funding in 2011 for the project, because “Analysis of Signal Transducing Pro- Curto had teins Toward Biomedical Application,” Academic Star always from the UNL Life Sciences Initiative’s sk 12-year-olds what they want been drawn inaugural competitive grants program. Ato be when they grow up and the to the big Jointly funded by the Institute of answers that pop up might include questions. Agriculture and Natural Resources and professional athlete or singer. But And what’s the Offi ce of Research and Economic when she was 12, Carina Curto a bigger Development, the grants support wanted to be a theoretical physicist. question initial research so teams can gather the She also distinctly remembers not than the preliminary data needed to compete wanting to become a mathematician brain? more successfully for external fund- like her father. “I just felt like, wow, here’s this ing. The main tools Deng uses in his “In my mind, theoretical physics fi eld that’s really cool and it’s ripe was very, very different,” she said. “I research activities include information for theory,” she said. “It’s ripe for was very consciously interested in and communication theory, circuitry, mathematics.” something I thought was way cooler differential equations, qualitative Today, Curto is in her fourth than what my father did.” theory of dynamical systems, and ap- year as an assistant professor of Curto went on to study physics at plied nonlinear analysis. mathematics at UNL, and is making Harvard University as an undergradu- The UNL Life Sciences Initiative ate and despite her earlier protests, headway in her quest to use math- started in 2010 at the encouragement of she became enamored with pure ematics to yield new insights on how Chancellor Harvey Perlman. The inter- mathematics. By graduate school, the brain works. As a result, she has disciplinary collaboration promoted by she found her way into mathematical earned the honor of being named a the Department of Mathematics truly physics. But, a different endpoint was College of Arts & Sciences Academic supports this university-wide mission. waiting for Curto to discover. During Star in fall 2012. “When in doubt, learn more her fourth year at Duke University, she While she is focused on funda- math. It does for the brain what veg- decided to plunge into neuroscience. mental research, she acknowledges gies and exercise do for the body, and Her newfound passion fascinated that her work could someday help prepares you for more possibilities in her and, like mathematical physics, other researchers better address such life than you could possibly anticipate,” it would allow her to accomplish her neurological disorders as autism, Par- Curto said. goal of using mathematics to make an kinson’s disease and schizophrenia. – Lindsay Augustyn impact in science. – University Communications

petitive opportunities for undergradu- gain for students, up to a maximum From Page 3 REU ate research experiences to mathemat- of $4,400, allowing them the gift of primarily to the high caliber of UNL’s ics students: Undergraduate Creative time to spend on their research. The faculty mentors. Some projects that stu- Activities and Research Experiences university reported in 2012 that for dents have worked on over the past few (UCARE) and senior thesis projects. the fi rst time the UCARE program was years include: Reconstruction Problems UNL students are encouraged to take included among the 28 best university in Graph Theory (Professor Stephen advantage of summer REU programs programs in undergraduate research Hartke), Differential/Difference at other institutions to gain another and creative projects. Equations (Professor Allan Peterson), perspective or are further encouraged Writing a thesis presents UNL stu- and Stabilization of Underactuated to do UCARE or a thesis project. dents yet another opportunity during The UCARE project is a unique which they have the chance to consult Mechanical Systems (Professor Mikil opportunity funded by the Pepsi En- with a faculty advisor 1:1 in producing Foss). This experience is a great way dowment that enables UNL students a paper on their research fi ndings. If for students from other colleges and to work in a 1:1 ratio with the supervi- the research is of high-enough caliber, universities to test drive the university sion of a faculty member on a research students may seek to have papers pub- to see if it will be a good fi t for further project for up to two years. This lished in undergraduate journals. study in graduate programs. research experience is roughly double Woodward said the most lasting With approximately 100-120 the length of the summer program in benefi ts mathematics students receive students applying for this program in terms of hours worked on a particular from research experiences at UNL are the past year, less than 10 percent of problem and allows the students indi- the opportunities to pose new ques- the students who apply have a chance vidual time to work with a professor tions and to endeavor to answer fully to take part in this competitive op- whom they choose and on a problem or in part questions that have not yet portunity. or model which they have selected. been answered. UNL also offers two other com- This program also offers monetary – Stephanie Vendetti

6 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends DDepartmentepartment NewsNews { MEET OUR NEW LEADERSHIP Revamping of entry he past year has seen signifi cant Tchanges in administrative leader- ship in the department. In January level courses begins 2012, John Meakin ended his term as chair of the Department of Math- ike the East Stadium construc- needs and learning styles. ematics and Judy Walker assumed the Ltion that can be seen outside the “Learning is active,” said Wendy responsibilities as department chair. windows of Avery Hall and the UNL Smith, research assistant professor in Walker brings outstanding research Department of Mathematics, renova- the Center for Science, Mathematics and teaching credentials, clear national tions to Math 100A: Intermediate Al- and Computer Education. Smith is visibility, energy, and a comprehen- gebra and Math 101: College Algebra leading an effort to survey 100A and sive vision of the are under way to produce a product 101 students at the beginning of the profession and that better serves UNL students. semester and again at the end regard- the role of the Modifi cations to these entry-level ing their attitude and comfort level department to math classes are monumental as they with mathematics. Smith and Jennifer this key leadership will affect such a large portion of the Green, research assistant professor position. student body. The benefi t that faculty in statistics and the CSMCE, are also In addition, most hope students will see is the value looking back through the past 10 years in January 2012, Allan Donsig be- of math in their lives. to track 100A and 101 students’ prog- Allan Donsig “We would like students to come ress throughout college in order to came vice chair of out of this class seeing how to use math make predictions about their student the department, in subsequent classes and in the world,” success and graduation rates after tak- and in August, said Professor Allan Donsig, vice chair ing these courses. Richard Rebar- of the mathematics department. For the graduate teaching assis- ber took over the Math 100A and Math 101, de- tants, a main goal of the modifi cations responsibilities as signed for the non-math major, started is to allow for greater success for them the department’s experiencing revision beginning in Fall as instructors. Typically, the GTAs are graduate commit- 2012. The greatest refashioning being fi rst-time instructors. The hope is that tee chair for the made is a shift away from lecture- the syllabi, lesson plans and exams, Richard Rebarber 2012-13 academic based dissemination of information which have been designed by expe- year while Susan to a more active instructional format, rienced faculty members, will allow Hermiller is on allowing students more time with the GTAs to focus their attention on faculty develop- higher-level conceptual problems. guiding their students through mate- ment leave, and Revamped syllabi and lesson plans rial and leading discussions, without Mark Walker are designed to get students into this the added pressure of designing the assumed Rebar- problem solving mind-set. A few topi- coursework. ber’s position as cal changes also have been made with In addition, this format allows graduate recruit- the aim of connecting algebra and for GTAs to see how professors who ing chair in the Mark Walker geometry and developing higher-level have been working in the fi eld for department. reasoning abilities. some time organize a class, and gives These changes The new class format is modeled them experience working with a represent a transition to a new genera- on a group problem-solving ap- model that is conversational instead of tion of administrative leaders as the proach with discussion during class lecture-based. Faculty members will department enters an exciting and and then reading assignments and be increasing their involvement by challenging new phase of its develop- online homework following. Not only attending the classes in order to track ment. This transition of departmental leadership has been ongoing for several does online homework allow students progress of the changes. years as faculty who were appointed access to practice outside of class, but With the changes to Math 100A and during the 1960s and 1970s are retiring also it allows instructors to see where Math 101, faculty members hope that or naturally passing major leadership students are having diffi culties and students will have an opportunity to see roles to outstanding colleagues who to track trends within the larger class math the way a mathematician does. joined the faculty more recently. Col- population. Instructors can then tailor “Math is dynamic to the math- lectively, Jim Lewis and John Meakin lesson plans during the run of the class ematically inclined,” Donsig said. to meet that specifi c group of students’ – Stephanie Vendetti See LEADERS on Page 9 www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 7 DDepartmentepartment NewsNews Our graduate program continues to ber of math majors is on the rise. The From Page 1 CHAIR be something of which I am incredibly department has set a goal to convince the year at the Mathematical Sciences proud. Our graduate students write more (or all!) UNL undergraduates that {Research Institute (MSRI) in Berkeley, papers and give talks at professional almost any fi eld of study is enhanced by Calif., where he is organizing a yearlong meetings as a matter of routine, while mathematics, and that many students research program. Carina Curto was continuing to be excellent teachers. We would benefi t from adding math as a awarded a Woodrow Wilson Career are relying heavily this fall on our GTAs second major. Enhancement Fellowship, which is al- as we work to transform two of our I consider myself very fortunate lowing her to focus exclusively on her fi rst-year undergraduate courses into to be part of this department, and I am research this academic year. Petronela collaborative learning experiences, with humbled by the opportunity to lead it. Radu was selected as a Fulbright scholar the aim of signifi cant improvement As I write this, I can say that in the past and will teach and conduct research at in success rates; more information on seven days, we have held the induction Trinity College in Dublin in the spring. this is in the story on page 7. Also in ceremony for the new members of our Six members of the faculty were named this newsletter is a story about Ph.D. undergraduate honor society, Pi Mu to the inaugural class of Fellows of the student Katie Haymaker, who holds a Epsilon; Mike Hopkins gave a series of American Mathematical Society, a truly University of Nebraska Presidential Fel- lectures for our graduate students and impressive number given our relatively lowship this year. faculty; the six faculty members who small size. I hope you enjoy reading Our undergraduate program were named AMS Fellows were featured about these and other faculty awards continues to thrive as well. A shining on the main UNL webpage; Carina and activities in this newsletter. example that mathematics majors can Curto was selected as a College of Arts As many of you know, I was go on to do anything, Mallory Slama is & Sciences “Academic Star”; and more graduate chair before becoming chair. currently teaching English in the Czech than 1,400 high school students were You also may know that it was in large Republic on a Fulbright Scholarship af- on campus for the 23rd Annual Math part because of the UNL mathemat- ter graduating in August with majors in Day. It is a true privilege to be a math- ics graduate program that I was so mathematics and mathematics educa- ematician at the University of Nebraska. excited to join the faculty 16 years ago. tion (and a minor in Czech). The num- I hope you enjoy this newsletter.

AMS From Page 1 mathematical education of K-12 the department’s Mentoring through teachers and has attracted more than Critical Transition Points program and gram recognizes some of the most $18 million in grants to support teach- was named Aaron Douglas Professor accomplished mathematicians — AMS er-training programs. Among many of Mathematics in 2012. members who have contributed to our honors across his career, he was named Roger Wiegand, Willa Cather Pro- understanding of deep and important Aaron Douglas Professor of Math- fessor of Mathematics, joined the UNL mathematical questions, to applica- ematics and, in 2010, the Nebraska mathematics faculty in 1972. During tions throughout the scientifi c world CASE Professor of the Year. his career he has received 19 grants and to educational excellence,” said Manderscheid, dean of the College from the NSF and two grants from the AMS President Eric M. Friedlander. of Arts and Sciences, is an internation- National Security Agency to support One of the top commutative ally recognized number theorist and his research into commutative algebra. algebraists in the world, Avramov has has won numerous awards for his He also is responsible for more than given more than 130 talks in 25 coun- teaching. He has held visiting positions $2.2 million in grants from the U.S. tries and has published 100 research at the University of Paris, the Institute Department of Education to support papers. Included among his talks are for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., graduate education in mathematics. two plenary addresses at AMS meet- and the Mathematical Sciences Re- He has published 77 research papers, ings. He has had 17 doctoral students. search Institute in Berkeley, Calif. He supervised 15 doctoral students and His research has been continu- also serves on the board of directors given more than 180 talks. ously funded by the National Science of the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sylvia Wiegand also has been a Foundation since coming to the U.S. Sciences. major contributor to UNL’s commuta- in 1991 from his native Bulgaria. Walker, chair of the Department tive algebra group. She has more than Avramov was named the Dale Jensen of Mathematics, is a past recipient of 50 publications and has given a ple- Chair in Mathematics in 2002. the Haimo Award, recognizing her as nary address at an AMS meeting. She In more than 40 years at UNL, one of the nation’s most outstand- has been a prominent national leader Lewis, director of the Center for ing mathematics teachers. She was an in the mathematics profession, serving Science, Mathematics and Com- elected member of the Council of the as national president of the Associa- puter Education, has established a American Mathematical Society and tion for Women in Mathematics and distinguished reputation locally and for two years she was a George Polya an elected member of the Council of nationally as a dedicated and inspiring Lecturer. Her research in coding theory the American Mathematical Society. educator. He has led efforts to build has been continuously funded by the For program details, visit http:// partnerships with Nebraska school NSF. She has attracted more than www.ams.org/profession/ams-fellows. districts to signifi cantly enhance the $4.8 million in NSF grants to support – Lindsay Augustyn and Jean Jones

8 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends DDepartmentepartment NewsNews { TThankhank youyou toto ourour DonorsDonors

he generosity of our friends and Recent donors to the Drs. Brian L. and Regina T. Harbourne Talumni helps to support all aspects Department of Mathematics Peter V.N. Henderson, Ph.D. of the work of the UNL Department of Mr. Richard M. Henry, Jr. Mathematics. In these times of fi nancial Chair’s Circle Dr. Erica L. Johnson and Dr. Howard constraint, we rely more than ever on (donors above $5,000) Skogman Dr. and Mrs. Gerald W. Johnson donations to enable us to excel in our re- Ms. Amy S. Bouska Dr. W. James and Mrs. Doris Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Joel Kligerman search, teaching and outreach missions. Mrs. Julie S. Kraft Just in the past year, we have Friends Dr. Michael K. Lewis made use of these funds to support Mr. and Mrs. Scott A. Liberman Lt. Cmdr. Daryl C. Allen Ms. Alison Litowsky many scholarships for undergraduate Mr. and Mrs. Mark F. Allison students, awards for graduate students Altick and Corwin Co., L.P.A. Mr. and Mrs. Maynard K. Louis and undergraduates, student activities, Douglas R. Anderson, Ph.D. Marshall D. Ruchmann Rev. Liv. T. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Mastera research conferences, research visitors, Mr. and Mrs. James P. Angell Mr. Paul S. McKie named postdocs and professorships Mr. Timothy Arndt Dr. and Mrs. Jack L. Beal Drs. John C. and Glory L. Meakin in the department, our work with the Ms. Barri Bernstein Kirsten R. Messer, Ph.D. mathematical education of teachers, and S. Elwood Bohn, Ph.D. Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Moisan many aspects of our extensive educa- Monte B. Boisen Jr., Ph.D. Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Nelms tional outreach program. Ms. Linda J. Bors Mr. and Mrs. Milton L. Plunkett Mr. and Mrs. James R. Box I greatly appreciate any contribu- Mr. and Mrs. Kell A. Reimann Mr. Ken and Mrs. Marjorie P. Bennett Ms. Bonnie Rennemann tions that you are able to make, large or Brown Mr. Conrad Rennemann Jr. small, to sustain and grow our Founda- Dr. and Mrs. Karl E. Byleen Mr. Edward L. Rennemann tion funds in support of our work. I in- Dr. Leo G. Chouinard II Mr. and Mrs. Dick Richardson Crate and Barrel vite friends of the department to donate Mr. and Mrs. Alexander F. Rolle Crate MIS Group to the UNL Mathematics Department Linda L. Roos, Ph.D. Mr. and Mrs. Timothy S. Davis Mr. and Mrs. Ronald D. Schlattmann Fund or to contact me to discuss dona- Ms. Elizabeth Derosier tions to support a specifi c purpose, either Dr. and Mrs. Lynn Erbe Robert J. Schwabauer, Ph.D. through existing funds or through the Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Everhart Mr. and Mrs. John Sparks Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Stone creation of a new fund. Donations made Mr. Thomas L. Faulkner Mr. and Mrs. Steven H. Feinberg Ms. Carolyn S. Taylor to the department through the Univer- Mr. Patrick Fillingim and Ms. Felicia Potok Daniel D. Van Peursem, Ph.D. sity of Nebraska Foundation are tax Mr. Christopher Frye Drs. Judy L. and Mark E. Walker deductible. Mrs. Tanya E. Baker Mr. and Mrs. Dean M. Way – Judy Walker Mr. and Mrs. James R. Goodrum Drs. Roger A. and Sylvia M. Wiegand Contributions to math department funds can be made online or through the mail. Go to www.math.unl.edu/department/giving for details. Thank you for supporting the activities of the UNL Department of Mathematics.

had strong, visionary, committed outstanding faculty in the coming years LEADERS From Page 7 leadership for many years, and the and to examine all aspects of its work. have chaired the department for the department has achieved real national We are extremely fortunate that a new past 24 years. Readers of last year’s prominence in all aspects of its mis- generation of faculty, under the leader- newsletter will recall that several of our sion. In many ways we are well posi- ship of Professor Judy Walker as our tioned to achieve additional national senior faculty retired last year. These new department chair, has the vision prominence, although constraints on included Lynn Erbe, Dave Skoug, Roger and energy to accept these challenges. the university’s budget together with Wiegand and Sylvia Wiegand, all of We invite all readers of this newslet- likely retirements in the next few years whom were long-time faculty members of several more of the department’s ter to welcome our new departmental who had important roles in building senior faculty present real challenges. leaders and to continue to provide the national reputation that the depart- But this also presents an opportunity them with the support that the depart- ment now enjoys. for the department to obtain admin- ment has enjoyed for many years. We have been fortunate to have istrative support to appoint additional – John Meakin www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 9 {FFacultyaculty NewsNews UNL is place to be for AMC, Olympiad ince 1974, the American Math- 270 of the top Sematical Competitions (AMC) scoring AMC headquarters has been housed on 12 participants the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be in- campus. This national program of vited to take the the Mathematical Association of USAMO, and America sponsors middle school and approximately high school mathematics competi- 230 of the top tions, which lead to the selection and scoring AMC 10 training of the USA delegation to the participants take annual International Mathematical the USAJMO. Olympiad (IMO). The USA has par- The 12 top scor- ticipated in the IMO since 1974. ing USAMO stu- Professor of Mathematics Steve COURTESY PHOTO dents are invited Dunbar has been the director of the Professor Steve Dunbar (far right) poses with TEAM USA 2012. to an Olympiad AMC since January of 2001; the previ- Awards Cer- ous director was Professor Emeritus piad Summer program (MOSP) held emony in Washington, D.C. sponsored Walter Mientka. As Director, Dunbar on the UNL campus, is where the fi nal by the MAA. Six students will com- has traveled with the USA team to the six contestants are chosen for the IMO. prise the U.S. team that competes in IMO each year, taking him to Mar del In 1950, the fi rst Mathematical the IMO. Plata, Argentina (2012); Amsterdam, Contest, sponsored by the New York Those six students and two alter- Netherlands (2011); Astana, Kazakh- Metropolitan Section of the Mathe- nates train for the IMO at UNL for stan (2010); Bremen, Germany (2009); matics Association of America (MAA), three weeks in June at the MOSP, as Madrid, Spain (2008); Hanoi, Vietnam took place. It was given in approxi- well as other students who were top (2007); Ljubljana, Slovenia (2006); mately 238 schools to around 6,000 fi nishers on the USAMO preparing for Merida, Mexico (2005); Athens, Greece students in the New York area only. future international Olympiad events. (2004); Tokyo, Japan (2003); and In recent years, more than 400,000 Full days of classes and extensive Glasgow, Scotland (2002). students in more than 5,000 schools problem sets give students thorough deep The USA team has placed either participated in the AMC Contests. Of preparation in several important areas of second or third in the each of the last 3 these, 10,000 students qualify each year mathematics such as algebra, geometry, years, and has never placed lower than to participate in the AIME. From this number theory and combinatorics sixth place since 2000, Dunbar said. group, approximately 500 students will The IMO is a six-problem, 42-point “It’s a pleasure to work with the be invited to take the USAMO. math competition held over two days. very best of the U.S.,” Dunbar said. The AMC contests are multiple- More than 90 nations compete in this The AMC is dedicated to the choice examinations intended for annual event, which is the oldest of the goal of strengthening the mathemati- everyone from the average student at a International Science Olympiads. At cal capabilities of youth in the U.S., typical school who enjoys mathemat- the 53rd IMO in Argentina in 2012, and thereby identifi es, recognizes and ics to the very best student at the most Team USA placed third overall with rewards excellence in mathematics specialized school. Students who score team member Bobby Shen (Dulles High through a series of national contests: 20 or better on the AMC 8 are invited School in Sugar Land, Texas) earning the the American Mathematics Contest to take the next set of contests, the third-best score among all 548 individu- 8 (AMC 8) for students in grades 6, 7 AMC 10/AMC 12. AMC 12 students als competing in the contest. and 8; AMC 10 for students in grades who rank in the top 5 percent nation- “I encourage all Nebraska math 9 and 10; AMC 12 for students in ally will qualify for the AIME. AMC alums to get their children, grandchil- grades 11 and 12; American Invitational 10 students who rank in the top 2.5 dren and students involved with one Mathematics Examination (AIME) percent nationally also will qualify for of these contests through their school. for top scoring students on the AMC the AIME. Teachers will welcome this opportu- 10 and AMC 12; and the United States The USAMO and the United nity to expose their students to a great of America Mathematical Olympiad States of America Junior Mathematical mathematical problem-solving activity (USAMO). Olympiad (USAJMO), are each a six- that is ‘grown’ in Nebraska and ex- The AMC’s invitation-only sum- question, two-day, nine-hour essay/ ported nationally and internationally,” mer program, the Mathematical Olym- proof examination. Approximately Dunbar said.

10 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends

21 11 2012 Fall www.math.unl.edu/friends

bers who have established exceptional exceptional established have who bers $5,000 annual stipend. annual $5,000

homological conjectures. homological

renewable appointment and carries a a carries and appointment renewable which recognizes UNL faculty mem- faculty UNL recognizes which

D-modules, and questions related to to related questions and D-modules,

tice. The professorship is a fi ve-year ve-year fi a is professorship The tice. awarded a Willa Cather Professorship, Professorship, Cather Willa a awarded

their arithmetic behaviors, algebraic algebraic behaviors, arithmetic their

instructional activities and/or prac- and/or activities instructional points of view.” Iyengar was recently recently was Iyengar view.” of points

ants in positive characteristic and and characteristic positive in ants

excellence and national visibility for for visibility national and excellence learn new techniques and develop new new develop and techniques new learn

varieties, singularities and their invari- their and singularities varieties,

and extraordinary levels of teaching teaching of levels extraordinary and is at a stage where I fi nd the need to to need the nd fi I where stage a at is

applications to topology of algebraic algebraic of topology to applications

rank who demonstrate sustained sustained demonstrate who rank special year,” he said. “My research research “My said. he year,” special

is interested in local cohomology and and cohomology local in interested is

to faculty holding the full professor professor full the holding faculty to doubtedly develop at MSRI during the the during MSRI at develop doubtedly

cally, he he cally, specifi More geometry. gebraic

ship, established in 2008, is awarded awarded is 2008, in established ship, research atmosphere that will un- will that atmosphere research

include commutative algebra and al- and algebra commutative include

Weaver or Aaron Douglas professor- Douglas Aaron or Weaver take maximum advantage of the lively lively the of advantage maximum take

at Ann Arbor. His areas of specialty specialty of areas His Arbor. Ann at

is in algebraic coding theory. The John John The theory. coding algebraic in is tion theory. “My principal goal is to to is goal principal “My theory. tion

work at the University of Michigan Michigan of University the at work

Douglas professor. Her research focus focus research Her professor. Douglas algebraic geometry and representa- and geometry algebraic

recently completed his postdoctoral postdoctoral his completed recently

of mathematics, was named Aaron Aaron named was mathematics, of parallel program in non-commutative non-commutative in program parallel

from the University of Minnesota and and Minnesota of University the from

, professor and chair chair and professor , Judy Walker Judy gebra. Equally interesting, he said, is a a is said, he interesting, Equally gebra.

in mathematics mathematics in

yearlong program in commutative al- commutative in program yearlong

received his Ph.D. Ph.D. his received

Calif., where he has helped organize a a organize helped has he where Calif.,

University Communications University – braic geometry, geometry, braic

Research Institute (MSRI), in Berkeley, Berkeley, in (MSRI), Institute Research

students upon returning to UNL.” to returning upon students algebra and alge- and algebra

will be at the Mathematical Sciences Sciences Mathematical the at be will

my experience with my colleagues and and colleagues my with experience my in commutative commutative in

During the next academic year, he he year, academic next the During

spring,” Radu said. “I plan to share share to plan “I said. Radu spring,” assistant professor professor assistant

focuses on commutative algebra. algebra. commutative on focuses

ing me as a scholar for Ireland next next Ireland for scholar a as me ing Wenliang Zhang, Zhang, Wenliang

ics and sciences. Iyengar’s research research Iyengar’s sciences. and ics

the Fulbright Foundation for select- for Foundation Fulbright the

Zhang

frontiers of research in mathemat- in research of frontiers

ment and I am extremely grateful to to grateful extremely am I and ment

foundation that works to advance the the advance to works that foundation Wenliang Wenliang opportunity for my career develop- career my for opportunity

based Simons Foundation, a private private a Foundation, Simons based its early stages. “This is an excellent excellent an is “This stages. early its

distinction comes from the New York- New the from comes distinction

a mathematical point of view is still in in still is view of point mathematical a

streams or rivers. or streams

Fellow in Mathematics. The research research The Mathematics. in Fellow

understanding of these systems from from systems these of understanding

population spread and persistence in in persistence and spread population

ematics, has been named a Simons Simons a named been has ematics,

models for suspension bridges. The The bridges. suspension for models

population dynamics, especially on on especially dynamics, population

, professor of math- of professor , Srikanth Iyengar Srikanth

order wave equations that appear as as appear that equations wave order

research is mainly focused on spatial spatial on focused mainly is research

Their work will also focus on fourth fourth on focus also will work Their

tional analysis for models. Her current current Her models. for analysis tional

behavior of the system in the long run. run. long the in system the of behavior

CAREER grants from the NSF. NSF. the from grants CAREER well as mathematical and computa- and mathematical as well

how this degree of error affects the the affects error of degree this how

and compete more effectively for for effectively more compete and tion dynamics, and epidemiology, as as epidemiology, and dynamics, tion

goal of stability theory is to establish establish to is theory stability of goal

ulty initiate their research programs programs research their initiate ulty phenomena in spatial ecology, popula- ecology, spatial in phenomena

comes with a degree of error. The The error. of degree a with comes

is designed to help early career fac- career early help to designed is equations and difference equations) for for equations) difference and equations

that is collected and used for analysis analysis for used and collected is that

from Nebraska EPSCoR. That program program That EPSCoR. Nebraska from ordinary/partial/functional differential differential ordinary/partial/functional

fact that all experimental information information experimental all that fact

also was selected for a FIRST Award Award FIRST a for selected was also

priate mathematical models (mainly (mainly models mathematical priate

applied mathematicians due to the the to due mathematicians applied

work theory and neural coding. Curto Curto coding. neural and theory work

includes the establishment of appro- of establishment the includes

great importance to engineers and and engineers to importance great

on the interface between neural net- neural between interface the on

nonlinear dynamics and biology. This This biology. and dynamics nonlinear

solutions. The study of instability is of of is instability of study The solutions.

mathematical neuroscience, focusing focusing neuroscience, mathematical

Her research work is the conjoining of of conjoining the is work research Her

ity and existence and uniqueness of of uniqueness and existence and ity

begins this fall, to pursue research in in research pursue to fall, this begins

cal systems and mathematical biology. biology. mathematical and systems cal

bolic differential equations: instabil- equations: differential bolic

her yearlong fellowship period, which which period, fellowship yearlong her

matics with the main focus on dynami- on focus main the with matics

areas of hyper- of areas

the grant period. Curto plans to use use to plans Curto period. grant the

has research interest in applied mathe- applied in interest research has Petronela Radu Petronela

will examine two two examine will

who can advise and mentor them over over them mentor and advise can who

the University of Alberta, Canada. Jin Jin Canada. Alberta, of University the

equations. They They equations.

paired with a senior faculty member member faculty senior a with paired

completed a postdoctoral fellowship at at fellowship postdoctoral a completed

of nonlinear wave wave nonlinear of

the fellowship year. Fellows also are are also Fellows year. fellowship the

Newfoundland, Canada. She recently recently She Canada. Newfoundland,

expert in the fi eld eld fi the in expert

scholarly research and writing during during writing and research scholarly

received from Memorial University of of University Memorial from received

Karageorgis, an an Karageorgis,

fi elds of arts and sciences to pursue pursue to sciences and arts of elds fi

Her Ph.D. in applied mathematics was was mathematics applied in Ph.D. Her

with Paschalis Paschalis with

eradicating racial disparities in core core in disparities racial eradicating

University, People’s Republic of China. China. of Republic People’s University,

Dublin, Ireland, Ireland, Dublin,

tenure-track faculty committed to to committed faculty tenure-track

China Normal Normal China

Trinity College in in College Trinity

ties. It is designed to assist talented talented assist to designed is It ties.

from Southwest Southwest from

spring of 2013 at at 2013 of spring

science, social science and humani- and science social science,

in mathematics mathematics in

will teach and conduct research in the the in research conduct and teach will

faculty each year across 17 fi elds of of elds fi 17 across year each faculty

master’s degrees degrees master’s

a Fulbright scholar for 2012-13. She She 2012-13. for scholar Fulbright a

The award is granted to 20 junior junior 20 to granted is award The

bachelor’s and and bachelor’s

of mathematics, has been selected as as selected been has mathematics, of

National Fellowship Foundation. Foundation. Fellowship National

tained both her her both tained

, associate professor professor associate , Petronela Radu Petronela

Fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson Wilson Woodrow the from Fellowship sor Yu Jin ob- Jin Yu sor

Junior Faculty Career Enhancement Enhancement Career Faculty Junior Assistant Profes- Assistant

of mathematics, has been awarded a a awarded been has mathematics, of creative activity. creative

Yu Jin Yu

, assistant professor professor assistant , records of distinguished scholarship or or scholarship distinguished of records Carina Curto Carina

NEW FACULTY NEW AWARDS

s w e N News y t l u c a Faculty

{ F FFacultyaculty NewsNews {NEW POSTDOCTORAL FACULTY Chad Giusti Adam Fuller Mitchel Keller Giusti received Fuller received a Keller obtained his B.S. and B.A. in mathemat- his B.S. in Ph.D. from the ics from the Uni- Mathematics from the University of versity of Dublin’s North Dakota Oregon, working Trinity College in State University, with Dev Sinha Ireland. He com- in Fargo, N.D. on the topology pleted his M.A.S. He went on to of spaces of knots. at the Univer- receive a Ph.D. He was a visiting sity of Cambridge, in Mathematics assistant professor United Kingdom from the Georgia at Willamette University from 2010-12. and his Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics at Institute of Technology in Atlanta. Giusti is interested in applications of the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Keller’s areas of interest include recent advances in pure mathemat- Canada. Fuller’s research is in Opera- combinatorics, with a particular ics to problems in neuroscience. In tor Theory and Operator Algebras. In interest in the combinatorics of particular, he is interested in how the particular he works on dilation theory partially ordered sets. His research topological properties and symmetries of representations, semicrossed product includes connections to computer of a data set inform and restrict the algebras and the nonself-adjoint alge- science through online algorithms and structure of a network which encodes bras arising from graphs and k-graphs. commutative algebra in the form of it. He also maintains an active interest Fuller began his postdoctoral work at Stanley depth for monomial ideals. in pure mathematics, with ongoing UNL in August 2012 as the Marilyn M. work in group cohomology and topol- Hitz Research Assistant Professor. ogy of embedding spaces.

RETIREMENT a test for projectivity over group rings LIST OF FACULTY HONORS of fi nite groups by restrictions to Leo Chouinard, associate professor, elementary abelian subgroups, which Lucho Avramov, 2012 AMS Fellow; retired after the Spring 2012 semester was a fundamentally new insight Carina Curto, Woodrow Wilson following 36 years of service and is into group cohomology. Even today, Career Enhancement Fellowship for now professor results and ideas from that paper Junior Faculty Award and EPSCoR emeritus. Choui- are routinely used in cutting-edge First Award and UNL College of Arts nard received research. Chouinard was also a dedi- and Sciences Academic Star; Allan his Ph.D. in 1975 cated teacher. In the last decade, Leo Donsig, Associate Editor, Ameri- from Princeton was well known for teaching Contem- can Mathematical Monthly; Susan University under porary Mathematics (Math 203) and Hermiller, AMS representative on the supervision of Calculus III (Math 208). He devised a the AMS-ASA-AWM-IMS-MAA-NCTM- John C. Moore, clever algebraic method for evaluat- SIAM Committee on Women in the and came to UNL ing multiple integrals, which he used Mathematical Sciences; in 1976 after very successfully in the classroom. He Srikanth Iyengar, Willa Cather being an instruc- described this method in a 2003 pa- Professor of Mathematics and Simons tor at the University of Kansas. His per, “Iterated Integrals: An Algebraic Fellow; Christine Kelley, College primary research interest was the ap- Approach,” which appeared in the of Arts & Sciences Distinguished plication of homological techniques to International Journal of Mathematical Teaching Award; Jim Lewis, 2012 the study of algebraic structures, but Education in Science and Technology. AMS Fellow; David Manderscheid, he also wrote papers in linear control, He served as one of the department’s 2012 AMS Fellow; Petronela Radu, graph theory, and combinatorics. representatives on the Faculty Senate awarded tenure and promotion to A striking aspect of his work is the for more than 12 years, and was its Associate Professor and received a range of algebraic subjects to which parlimentarian in 2009; served on the Fulbright Award at Trinity College in he has contributed some key result Academic Rights and Responsibilities Dublin, Ireland; Brigitte Tenhum- --- from commutative algebra to group Panel for nine years; and is a former berg, awarded tenure and promotion representations. Chouinard’s 1976 pa- Chair of the UNL Employee Benefi ts to Associate Professor; Judy Walker, per, “Projectivity and relative projectiv- Commmittee. He also served on the Aaron Douglas Professor of Math- ity over group rings,” in the Journal Technology Advisory Committee for ematics and 2012 AMS Fellow; Roger of Pure and Applied Algebra, is a 29 years, from 1983 until last spring. Wiegand, 2012 AMS Fellow; Sylvia classic. In that paper, Leo introduced – David Pitts Wiegand, 2012 AMS Fellow.

12 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends AAlumnilumni NNewsews { Carlin reaps rewards of biostats work t’s important to have good taste, ac- Icording to University of Minnesota Professor Bradley P. Carlin. Good taste in mathematical problems, that is. For Carlin, a statistician who graduated magna cum laude from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in math- ematics and a focus in actuarial sci- ence, learning while at UNL how to ask COURTESY PHOTO questions that have not yet been asked or still need to be solved, i.e. having a UNL alumna Amy Bouska, who loves to travel, is pictured here in South Africa. “good taste in problems,” he said, has been an asset to him in his career. After completing his bachelor’s Bouska builds exciting degree at UNL, Carlin studied statistics at the University of Connecticut, career in casualty risk where he earned his Master of Sci- ttending a lecture can change the Watson). She worked in their Bermuda ence and a Ph.D. Acourse of your career. Just ask offi ce for four years, then Washing- in Statistics in Amy Bouska. ton, D.C., and fi nally Minneapolis, 1989. He went on While a mathematics instructor at becoming a principal (partner) and a to Carnegie Mel- Virginia Tech, Bouska was persuaded member of the management team. lon University in by a colleague to come and listen to a Bouska, FCAS, MAAA, special- a two-year visiting presentation by an actuary from Trav- ized in manmade catastrophes, such assistant profes- Bradley Carlin elers Insurance. The speaker asked: as pollution and lead paint. She and a sor position and How do you fi gure out the insurance friend built the fi rst model for these then was a visiting research associate rate for the Brooklyn Bridge, when it’s situations, reaching outside of the in- at Cambridge University in the United the only bridge like it in the world? surance world to use engineering and Kingdom. “I thought, that is the coolest legal data. They had to factor in issues Since May 2010, Carlin has been question ever. I came out knowing that such as past court decisions in states the department chair in the Division was what I wanted to do,” said Bouska, regarding these claims, how much of Biostatistics at the School of Public a 1969 graduate of the University of companies can afford to pay based on Health at Minnesota and Mayo Profes- Nebraska-Lincoln with a major in their size and history, and how many sor in Public Health, but he has taught mathematics and a minor in econom- polluted sites are still to be found. at the university since 1991. ics. Just like that, her successful career “Then you build the giant model Carlin discovered there were many as a casualty actuary began. that struggled to run, even on the “good problems” to answer in the In 1979, Bouska went to work for fastest PCs of the day because of all health fi eld during his Ph.D. study. At Aetna. She then moved to Nationwide, of the coverage scenarios that had to the University of Minnesota, Carlin where she led their fi rst commercial be calculated. Nowadays, of course, has balanced his time between clini- lines actuarial department and became it would take just a fraction of that,” cal trials work and epidemiological one of the fi rst two female offi cers in Bouska said. “Anyone who says actu- studies. Some of the problems that the insurance operations. In 1987, she arial science is boring hasn’t worked Carlin worked on in past years include: joined Tillinghast, a large consult- very hard at it.” asthma prevention, breast cancer treat- ing actuarial practice (now Towers See BOUSKA on Page 14 See CARLIN on Page 15 www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 13 AAlumnilumni NNewsews

BOUSKA From Page 13 “I truly enjoyed being an actu- {ary,” Bouska added. “Who would have thought shy little old me would become a consultant and could give a talk at Lloyd’s of London? Well, I guess teaching solved that.” In 2006, Bouska took early retire- ment. She volunteers for the Casualty Actuarial Society, having been on the Board of Directors and Vice President International. She was also a delegate to the International Actuarial Associa- tion for seven years, which took her all over the world, “to Rio, India, Rome, Cyprus, while working with wonderful people. Travel is a reward unto itself,” said Bouska, who has also lived in Germany and Israel. Luckily for Bouska, she grew up in a household where math is just what women did. Her mother was a middle school math teacher, and Bouska was determined to be a math professor. She earned her master’s degree in mathematics from Duke University in 1971, completed her doctoral orals, and went to Virginia Tech to work on her dissertation. After deciding not to fi nish her degree, she became a full-time math instructor while work- ing on a second master’s degree in statistics. Disheartened by increasing class sizes, she was looking for a new career opportunity, took the advice of a colleague and went to hear the fateful talk by Travelers. Bouska remembers from her time at UNL how incredibly approachable COURTESY PHOTOS the mathematics professors were. She Amy Bouska made this COMMUTE sweatshirt as an undergraduate at UNL. grew close to Professors Donald Miller and Hubert Schneider, and has kept college education what you put into it.” for a seat on the Cresco City Council in contact with Walter Mientka and Her advice to college math majors against an incumbent who had been David Skoug. Once, while representing comes from a hiring perspective: “We on the council for almost 20 years – Tillinghast at a Math Olympiad dinner assume that people are technically and she won. She may not be dealing in Washington, DC, she even ran into competent, and that they know Excel with catastrophic risk, but, as Bouska Mientka. and Word. But, what makes a huge dif- described, “trying to maintain a level She also made lifelong friends from UNL, who get together every ference is when people can speak and of services on a budget that grows fi ve years for a reunion. They called write profi ciently. If you can’t convey slower than our costs” is a problem she themselves The Abelian Group. your thoughts to people, you aren’t go- is prepared to try to solve. “Math, in general, gives you a way ing to get very far. Once you get your “I had only been back in town for of looking at the world logically and required mathematics courses done, two years, but I won, so I was really skills for working through problems. take the hardest English composition surprised,” she said. It breaks down huge problems and and public speaking courses you can Life is full of surprises, as Bouska’s gives you confi dence. Having good fi nd for electives. Communication is career illustrates, but, as she said, interactions with professors gives you critical no matter what you are doing.” “math opens doors and provides a confi dence too,” Bouska said. “I tell high Now back in Iowa, Bouska has great way of understanding the world.” school students that you get out of your found another career. In 2009, she ran – Lindsay Augustyn

14 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends AAlumnilumni NNewsews {

CARLIN From Page 13 ment, AIDS research and alcoholism. The heart of his current work is to use mathematical analysis to uncover links where they exist between behaviors and illnesses. “This work is tremendously rewarding,” Carlin said. “It makes me feel as though I am making a differ- ence.” Although Carlin has written or co-authored more than 130 articles and six books, he is most proud of the Ph.D. students whom he has men- tored. As chair, Carlin said his greatest joy and responsibility is in the students to whom he is mentoring and teach- ing life skills and “survival skills as a COURTESY PHOTOS researcher.” Two of his former stu- Brad Carlin, who also minored in music at UNL, is now the coordinator and trom- dents, who he notes have gone on to bonist for the Minnesotans for Nebraskans pep band. do great things, are Brian Hobbs, an assistant professor of Biostatistics at of UNL, who earned her bachelor’s the University of Texas MD Anderson degree in mathematics and a focus in Cancer Center in Houston, and Laura actuarial science in 1985, and is cur- Hatfi eld, an assistant professor of rently a Research Investigator for the Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical Medica Research Institute), both have School. moved out of pure mathematics into Carlin has been a Ph.D. thesis health economics and biostatistics, advisor for 14 graduated students, and respectively, they are a case of two suc- by 2014, will have mentored a total of cessful graduates who came out of the 17 doctoral students. math program at UNL and completed He attributes his success to having doctoral programs, a testament to the outstanding mentors of his own at Caroline and Brad Carlin met at UNL, education they received at UNL. Study UNL, such as mathematics Professors where they were both math majors. at UNL laid a strong foundation for Allan Peterson and Gordon Woodward Carlin to study statistics in Hartford, and Professor Emeritus Dave Skoug. students are taught math – but not Conn., at what he describes as the one of the best programs in the country. He cites UNL’s Warren Luckner, David necessarily how to become a teacher. When asked what advice he would P. Hayes Memorial Chair in Actuarial He said he learned most of what he give to current UNL undergraduate Science and Director of Actuarial knows about how to teach from his and graduate students, Carlin said, Science, as a major formative force as gifted professors at UNL. “Try to stay focused and take advan- well. The open door policy of faculty While at UNL, Carlin earned a tage of the great educational op- and their accessibility to even un- Regents Scholarship, allowing him to dergraduate students were of pivotal portunity you have been given. Make focus on not only his coursework but importance for Carlin in those early yourself a schedule and stick to it.” He also to indulge in his love of music. years. The encouragement of these added that the key to his success can Carlin minored in music while at UNL professors whom he came to deeply be distilled to not being afraid to work and has carried this love of music with respect allowed him to persevere hard. Among his greatest attributes, he through challenging coursework. Car- him; he credits music as what helped said, has been a knack for setting goals lin considers them as mentors not only him balance the rigors of mathemati- and relentlessly pursuing them. in matters of mathematics, but also in cal study. Carlin’s current musical With all of the distractions for terms of the supportive advice they of- activities include working as contem- students today, such as cell phones and fered on life and career decisions. porary music coordinator for Good the Internet, he offered this metaphor Classes that Carlin cited as par- Samaritan United Methodist Church for surviving coursework to students: ticularly formative were Real Analysis in Edina, Minn., coordinator and “Avoid the chips and junk food on with Woodward and Calculus with trombonist for the Minnesotans for the Internet and stick to the meat and Peterson. Also, “I learned a lot about Nebraska pep band, and keyboardist potatoes – the things that fi ll you up teaching from these professors,” Carlin for the band Bacon’s Rebellion. instead of the things that leave you said. Although he and his wife, Caro- hungry a short time later.” As a mathematician, Carlin said line Carlin, Ph.D. (also an alumna – Stephanie Vendetti www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 15 AAlumnilumni NNewsews

We’d like to hear from you! UNL Department {Class Notes Send us your news online of Mathematics George Bayer (BS ’69) is a CPA and Johnny Henderson (Ph.D. ’81) is a on designing methods for estimating recently moved to North Platte, Neb. Distinguished Professor of Mathemat- large-scale evolutionary histories, He earned his master’s degree in ics at Baylor University, since 2002, while her current focus is on RNA accounting in 1973. George currently in the research area of differential secondary structure prediction. When assists individuals with issues con- equations. He previously held posi- she’s not doing research or advising cerning HUD funds. tions at the University of Missouri- students, she is usually dancing. She Rolla (1981-84) and Auburn University is a former member of Austin Clas- John Boyer (BS ’69) professor (1984-02). He recently was selected sical Ballet and current member of emeritus, retired from the department for membership in the inaugural class D’AIR Aerial Dance Theater Company of statistics at Kansas State University of Fellows of the American Mathemat- in Atlanta. in July 2012. He was on the faculty ical Society. for 31 years, including 7 ½ years as Ellen Veomett (BS ’02), an as- department head. Boyer was named a Drew Proud (BS ’12) now lives in sistant professor of mathematics Fellow of the American Statistical As- Boston, working as a fi xed income at St. Mary’s College in California, sociation in 1995 and was a recipient analyst at Advantage Data. has written an article in the October of the ASA Founders’ Award in 2006. 2012 issue of Notices of the AMS Boyer earned his MS (‘72) and Ph.D. Ryan Sanford (MS ’03) is in the about her experience as an IMMERSE (‘76) from Michigan State University 333rd Fighter Squadron and is an early-career faculty member at UNL in Statistics. Evaluator Pilot in the F-15E, teaching in the summer of 2010, while she was others to fl y the Strike Eagle. Sanford teaching at Cal State University East David Brown (Ph.D. ’71, MS ’67) is has been accepted in the USAF Test Bay in Hayward, Calif. She describes retired from Boeing Aircraft. He would Pilot School at Edwards AFB where he how she took her experience teaching like to get in contact with other gradu- will fl y up to 35 aircraft and will earn a summer IMMERSE course and has ate students from 1965-71. Brown, an MS in Flight Test Engineering. Ryan adapted it into a “regular” course at whose Ph.D. was in Commutative and his wife, Erica, have three chil- her own institution. Read the AMS Rings, earned his B.S. in Mathematics dren. Erica also earned her master’s article at: http://www.ams.org/notic- from North Texas State University in degree from UNL in 2003. es/201209/rtx120901237p.pdf or go 1964. to www.math.unl.edu/friends for a full Mohsin Soliman (BS ’99) is a Gen- story about Veomett and IMMERSE. Brian Buhrman (MS ’76, BS ’70) is eral Surgeon specializing in Minimally now retired after teaching mathemat- Invasive (Laparoscopic) Surgery for St. Daniel Williams (BS ’08) is a gradu- ics for 38 years, including more than Joseph’s Hospital/Carondelet Surgical ate student at the University of Roch- 30 years at Iowa Western Community Associates in Kansas City. Soliman ester, The Institute of Optics, earning College. He has good memories of earned his M.D. from UNMC in 2005 a master’s degree in technical entre- his time at UNL, everything from a and was a surgical research fellow at preneurship and management. modern algebra class by John Meakin Harvard Medical School from 1999- with no book, just his class notes, to 2001. He is married to Sara (Kuhn) Barbara Zach (BS ’01) is Execu- playing on an intramural basketball Soliman, RN, BSN. They are die-hard tive Director of Lincoln’s Symphony team with Jim Lewis. Husker football fans and enjoy spend- Orchestra. She joined the orchestra ing time with their bulldog, Dozer. staff in 2001 as Operations/Personnel Dan Dvorak (BS ’04) earned his juris Manager & Music Librarian, taking doctor from the University of Iowa and Shel Swenson (BS ’01) earned responsibility for all details of concert is now an associate attorney at Faegre her Ph.D. in mathematics from The production, and was appointed execu- Baker Daniels LLP in Minneapolis. University of Texas at Austin in 2009. tive director in 2005. Zach serves as She is now a postdoctoral fellow in chairman of the Downtown Rotary Daniel Edwards (BS ’89) is a the School of Mathematics at the music committee and is the Vice Weather Offi cer for the United States Georgia Institute of Technology where President of Membership for Nebras- Air Force and was promoted to Colonel she works with Christine Heitsch and kans for the Arts. She was a recipient in December 2010. Edwards earned her students on problems in math- of the Lincoln Business Journal’s “40 his M.S. in Atmospheric Science from ematical and computational biology. Under 40” award, a fi nalist for Lin- Colorado State University in 1997. Specifi cally, she is interested in using coln’s Non-Profi t Executive of the Year discrete mathematics to help answer Award, and received the Governor’s Taylor Faulkner (BS ’02) earned questions in molecular biology. Her Award for Emerging Leader in 2010. his MBA from Rice University in 2008 Ph.D. and initial postdoctoral work, Zach graduated from UNL with dual and now works for ExxonMobil as a both with Tandy Warnow at The degrees in mathematics and piano controller. University of Texas at Austin, focused performance.

16 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends SStudenttudent NNewsews { Slama earns Fulbright 2011-12 UNDERGRADUATE fter graduating from the Uni- AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS versity of Nebraska–Lincoln in A Chair’s Prize Awarded to the graduating August, Mallory Slama began her next senior with strongest mathematics record adventure: she moved to the Czech Adam Azzam Republic to teach English for a year with a Fulbright Scholarship from the Graduated with Honors from Honors U.S. Department of State. Program: Kevin Ahrendt, Lisa Amen, Kyle Slama, who graduated with Bunkers, David Foote, Maxwell Gregoire, Collin McAcy, Jordan Wiebe, Kamara undergraduate degrees in secondary Wright math education and mathematics with a minor in Czech, also hopes to get Senior Honors Thesis and Graduated involved with the math department with Distinction (directed by): where she is teaching this fall. Kevin Ahrendt (Allan Peterson), Lisa Amen (Tom Marley), Brittany Bunker (David Slama, of Tabor, S.D., did her UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS Logan and John Janovy), Chuck Larrieu student teaching at North Star High Mallory Slama began her Fulbright (Susan Hermiller and Mark Brittenham), School in Lincoln. In the past, she Scholarship in Czech Republic this fall. Michael Trogdon (George Avalos), Jordan worked at the Math Resource Center Wiebe (Hermiller and Brittenham) at UNL. sented a civic commitment to educa- “That (working at the Math Re- tion as a contribution an individual Putnam Participants (Mentor: Mikil Foss) source Center) was the most worth- makes to the UNL – and now a Czech while experience I have had at UNL,” Adam Azzam, Kyle Bunkers, Steve Emmel, Republic – community,” Rogers said. Alex Estes, Han Gao, Ryan Gunderson, she said. “Working there is what got More than anything, though, Ryan King, Chaoyu Liu, Katie McKeon, me interested in becoming a teacher.” Slama said she is excited to just spend Evan Nash Her time in the Czech Republic time in the Czech Republic, since it is will mark her second academic-related where her ancestors were from. Slama UCARE Awards for Math Majors trip to the Central European country. said Tabor is a strong Czech-American Lisa Amen (Math, Tom Marley), Brittany Bunker (Math/Biology, David Logan Her fi rst was in July 2011 when she community that surrounded her life in participated in a study-abroad pro- and John Janovy), Chuck Larrieu (Math, Czech culture. Susan Hermiller), Michael Trogdon (Math, gram with the university, and received “It has been a dream of mine for George Avalos) her Teach English as Foreign Language years to live in the Czech Republic for certifi cation. at least a year,” Slama said. Special Scholarships Awards “One can’t spend time with Mal- The Fulbright Program, estab- (over $1,000 per year) lory without seeing, almost imme- lished in 1946 and funded by the U.S. Note: 55 scholarships of $1,000 or more were awarded for 2012-13 academic year. diately, that she’s fi ercely intellectual Department of State, is designed to and committed to culture as a site foster understanding between the Dean H and Floreen G Eastman for learning, inquiry and possibility,” United States and other countries. The Memorial new freshmen scholars said Erica Rogers, a graduate teaching U.S. Student Fulbright program gives (for Nebraska high school graduates) assistant for the English Department recent graduates, graduate students Michael Aksamit, Aaron Calderon, Pierce Dageforde, Amariah Fischer, Timothy Roll- at UNL. and young professionals the oppor- ing, Kyle Seagren Rogers fi rst met Slama in her tunity to conduct research, study or “Writing and Communities” course, teach in one of the 155 countries that Irwin Dubinsky Memorial Scholar where Slama established herself the program operates. The Fulbright Corbin Groothuis more as a colleague rather than just a program is the fl agship international student. She was enthusiastic through- Joel Stebbins Fund (available to all) education program sponsored by the Susan Cooper and Karly Williams out the course and brought different U.S. government. About 8,000 grants perspectives to the table with her study are awarded annually, and about 1,600 Rennemann/Luebbers (out of state) abroad experience, making a lasting of those grants are awarded to U.S. Emily Krumbach impression on her teacher. Rogers said students. Slama is the fi fth Fulbright Slama was an inviting and charismatic Winchester Fund (available to all) student announced at UNL in spring Nikolas Bravo student who brought an undeniable 2012. intellect to the classroom. - Haley Whisennand, Honors Program / Fulbright Scholar “In many ways, her work repre- University Communications Mallory Slama www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 17 SStudenttudent NNewsews

Celikbas, Ela (University of Missouri- Haymaker Degrees Columbia) The projective line over the integers, prime spectra of two-dimensional { quotients of mixed power series-polynomial rings, fi ber products and connected sums of receives Bachelor’s degrees local rings, Sylvia Wiegand and Mark Walker 2012: Kevin Ahrendt, Lisa Amen, Adam Azzam, Kyle Bunkers, David Foote, Eager, Eric (University of Wisconsin-La presidential Maxwell Gregoire, Peter Hansen, Charles Crosse) Modeling and Mathematical Larrieu, Robert Lefferts, Yuchen Ling, Xing Analysis of Plant Models in Ecology, Lu, Collin McAcy, James Owens, Kuan Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhumberg fellowship Phang, Zion Schell, John Stetson, Kyle Tobin, Alexandra Toftul, Michael Trogdon, Goodrich, Christopher (Omaha Creighton atie Haymaker, a doctoral student Jordan Wiebe, Kamara Wright Prep Academy) An Analysis of Nonlocal Kin the UNL Department of Math- Boundary Value Problems of Fractional and ematics, was one of three University of 2011 (omitted from last newsletter): Integer Order, Allan Peterson Nebraska students to receive a 2012- Messan Amevor, Dichele Jackson, Philip Onyeforo, Timothy Marti, Benjamin 2013 Presidential Graduate Fellowship Guo, Yanqiu (Postdoctoral Fellow, Hoffman from UNL in Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel) August 2012. Systems of nonlinear wave equations with damping and supercritical sources, The annual Master’s degrees Mohammad Rammaha fellowships honor 2012: Sarah Behrens, Michael Brown, a select group of Johnson, Brian (Florida Gulf Coast Christina Edholm, Tony Hoffman, Anne NU graduate stu- University) Commutative rings graded by Kerian, Tahma Kuck, Haydee Lindo, dents on the basis abelian groups, Tom Marley Julie Lodes, Jeremy Long, Jason Lutz, of high scholastic Lisa Moats, Emily Ognacevic, Caitlyn Johnson, Katherine (Florida Gulf Coast performance and Parmelee, Julia St. Goar, Peder Thompson, University) The Weak Discrepancy and personal accom- Jason Vitosh, Amber Vlasnik Katie Haymaker plishment. Fellows Linear Extension Diameter of Grids and receive a stipend 2011 (omitted from last newsletter): Other Posets, Jamie Radcliffe Philip Gipson, Jared Ruiz, Caleb Sweetser that allows them to pursue their stud- Morrison, Katherine (University of ies fulltime. Northern Colorado) Equivalence and Haymaker, of Hellertown, Penn., 2012 Doctorates Duality for Network Coding, Judy Walker studies coding theory, which originat- ed with the need to send information Al-yousef, Khulud (King Faisal University, Stolee, Derrick (University of Illinois at reliably and effi ciently over a com- Saudi Arabia) Boundary Value Problems Urbana-Champaign) Combinatorics Using munication or storage channel. Her for Discrete Fractional Equations, Lynn Computational Methods, Stephen Hartke dissertation research includes the use Erbe and Allan Peterson and Vinod Variyam of mathematical structures to design codes for fl ash memories and write- once memories. Haymaker is also interested in graph-based codes and 2011-12 GRADUATE PROGRAM AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS their applications. In fall 2011, she spent two months University of Nebraska Presidential Emeritus Faculty Fellowship at a thematic program on coding Fellowship Melanie DeVries (Bill Leavitt Award), theory at a technical institute in Laus- Derrick Stolee Tom Clark (Lloyd Jackson Award), Philip anne, Switzerland. She also has served Gipson, Ashley Johnson Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate on the organizing committee for the Student Chancellor’s Doctoral Fellowship Nebraska Conference for Undergradu- Tom Clark, Ben Nolting Rachel Kirsch ate Women in Mathematics. This winter, she received the G.C. Grace Chisholm Young and William Othmer Graduate Fellowship Young and W.H. Young Award for Henry Young Award Ethan Twisdale Katie Haymaker scholarship in the UNL math depart- GAANN Fellowships ment. She graduated with honors in Outstanding Qualifying Exam Simone Catsimanes, Melanie DeVries, mathematics from Bryn Mawr College Haydee Lindo Katie Haymaker, Jason Lutz, John Myers, in 2007. Charles Tomlinson, Brittney Turner Derrick Stolee, who graduated Walter Mientka Teaching Award Nora Youngs MCTP Trainees with his Ph.D. in mathematics in May Advanced (Fall) - Katie Johnson, Katie 2012 from UNL, earned a University Outstanding First-Year Student Award Morrison; Advanced (Spring) - Tom Clark, of Nebraska Presidential Fellowship in Michael Brown Amanda Croll, Joe Geisbauer; First-Year: 2011-12. Douglas Dailey, Sandra James

18 Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends Where has your Mathematics { { T-shirt been? (Left) Bret Harpster, a math teacher at Waverly High School in Nebraska, and a 1980 UNL graduate, is pictured at the north rim of the Grand Canyon in July 2012.

(Right) Amy Bouska (see article on Page 13) wore her math T-shirt to the post offi ce in Dubrovnik, Croatia, last fall. The International Actuarial Association was meeting in Zagreb. Amy said Dubrovnik was really beautiful “and the ice cream was particularly delicious!”

(Left) Professor Jim Lewis and his wife, Doris, attended events of the 2012 London Olympics in July and are pictured outside the London Olympic Stadium.

Send us photos wearing your math T-shirt to: [email protected]

www.math.unl.edu/friends Fall 2012 19 DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS

203 Avery Hall Lincoln, NE 68588-0130

Math News is a newsletter published for the UNL Department of Math News is produced and edited by Lindsay Augustyn and Stephanie Vendetti of the Mathematics community. To receive Math News via email, please UNL Center for Science, Mathematics and Computer Education. register online. Comments regarding newsletter content should be The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does not discriminate based on gender, age, sent to Judy Walker ([email protected]), Chair, UNL Depart- disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin, ment of Mathematics, 203 Avery Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0130. or sexual orientation.

Fall 2012 www.math.unl.edu/friends