Galloping Bubbles Earn APS Gallery of Fluid Motion Award for UNC Researchers

The Department of Mathematics is delighted to announce that Professor Pedro Saenz, alongside Jian Hui Guan, Saiful I. Tamim, Connor W. Magoon (UNC), and Howard A. Stone (Princeton), has been honored with the Gallery of Fluid Motion Award at the recent American Physical Society (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting. Their award-winning video and description illustrating symmetry breaking in galloping bubbles can be viewed here.

Established in 1987, the APS Gallery of Fluid Motion celebrates the intersection of science and art, showcasing visually stunning and scientifically profound visualizations of fluid dynamics. Recognized entries are selected by a panel of experts for their aesthetic and scientific merits, making this one of the most coveted honors in the field.

Congratulations to Professor Saenz and the entire team on this outstanding achievement!

Luke Conners Honored with 2024 ICCM GTA Silver Award in Mathematics

The Department of Mathematics is proud to announce that PhD student Luke Conners was awarded the 2024 ICCM GTA Silver Award for his paper, “Row-column mirror symmetry for colored torus knot homology.”

This honor is awarded by the International Congress of Chinese Mathematicians (ICCM) and highlights outstanding PhD research contributions, recognizing emerging leaders in mathematics. Luke’s innovative work exemplifies the high caliber of scholarship in our department.

Luke will be officially honored at the ICCM2024 Award Ceremony this January in Shanghai.

Please join us in congratulating Luke on this extraordinary achievement!

A Well-Deserved Honor: Professor Yaiza Canzani Named AMS Fellow

The Department of Mathematics at UNC-Chapel Hill is thrilled to announce that Professor and Director of Graduate Studies Yaiza Canzani has been named to the 2025 Class of Fellows of the American Mathematical Society (AMS).

The AMS Fellows program highlights individuals who have made significant impacts in the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and application of mathematics. Professor Canzani’s selection is a testament to her excellence as a researcher, mentor, and leader. Her work not only elevates the field but also inspires students and colleagues within the department and beyond.

In announcing this year’s class, AMS President Bryna Kra stated: “I am delighted to congratulate the 2025 Class of AMS Fellows, recognized for their outstanding contributions to the mathematical sciences and their extraordinary service to the profession. This year’s class was selected from a large and excellent pool of candidates, highlighting the many ways that individuals advance our profession. I look forward to working with them in service to our community.” For more information about the AMS Fellows program, including the full list of 2025 Fellows, check out the link here.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Yaiza for this well-deserved recognition. Her dedication to advancing mathematics, combined with her invaluable contributions to the success of our students and the department, exemplifies the very best of our profession.

UNC Mathematics Awarded GAANN Grant, Strengthening Graduate Pathways to Success

We are thrilled to announce that the UNC Department of Mathematics has been awarded a 2024 GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) grant, one of only about 60 grants nationwide this year. The GAANN program, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, provides vital support to academic departments to offer graduate fellowships for students who demonstrate both financial need and academic excellence, helping them pursue the highest degree in their field.

For 2024, GAANN projects focus on areas of critical national need, including:

• Computer and Information Sciences
• Education
• Engineering
• Biological and Life Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physical Sciences
• Psychology

This three-year grant will enable the Department of Mathematics to provide enhanced fellowship support, empowering our talented graduate students to contribute to research and education.

A special and heartfelt thanks goes to Professor Yaiza Canzani, whose tireless dedication and forward-thinking vision were instrumental in securing this grant. She took on the challenge of writing the proposal on behalf of the department months before stepping into her current role as Director of Graduate Studies. Her commitment and drive have positioned our program for lasting impact, strengthening our ability to support the next generation of mathematicians. Thank you, Yaiza, for your incredible leadership!

Phi Beta Kappa Initiates 23 UNC Math Majors into Its Historic Ranks

We are very proud to announce that the following 23 mathematics majors and/or double majors were initiated on October 30, 2024 into the Alpha of North Carolina Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most honored college honorary society:

• Agrima Awasthi
• William Cameron Cash
• Jackson Thomas Collie
• Yiyang Fan
• Ruide Fu
• Gabriela Karina Giulumian
• Wangchen He
• Xiaolong Huang
• Torry Li
• Luojia Liu
• Nicholas Owen Mann
• Patrick Steven Mccaw
• Anh Duc Nguyen
• Jonah Alexander Prober
• Michael Steven Rutigliano
• Malaika Chirag Shroff
• Joseph Christopher Stellman
• Neba Venkatesh
• Ethan J. Wood
• Derek Yuyang Yao
• Derek Yuyang Yao
• Joseph Michael Yordy
• Tingan Zhu

Phi Beta Kappa was established by five students at the College of William & Mary during the American Revolution, driven by their shared motto, “Love of Learning is the Guide to Life.” In the midst of war, this began as a secret debating society, but over the next two centuries, it evolved into a vital institution. Phi Beta Kappa persists in celebrating individuals who demonstrate excellence through a comprehensive exploration of the arts and sciences during their undergraduate years. Its distinguished membership includes 17 U.S. Presidents, 38 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and over 130 Nobel Laureates.

Congratulations everyone!

Graduate Student Aaron Jacobson Wins Third Place at 2024 Data Science Day

The Department of Mathematics proudly celebrates graduate student Aaron Jacobson, who earned third place in the poster section at the 2024 Data Science Day, hosted by the School of Data Science and Society on Thursday, September 26th.

Aaron’s poster, titled “Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Brain Functional Connectome,” summarizes a year-long research project funded by an SDSS seed grant. During this time, the team explored non-Euclidean geometry to uncover patterns with brain structure and functional connectomes.

This research focuses on developing mathematical models and algorithms for analyzing the spatial and temporal dynamics of brain connectivity. The goal is to improve our understanding of neurological processes such as cognitive control and gain insights into neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

The collaboration between the Department of Mathematics with Caroline Moosmüller, Shahar Kovalsky, and Aaron Jacobson, the Department of Computer Science with Martin Styner, and the Department of Psychiatry with Guorong Wu and Tingting Dan is a testament to the innovative interdisciplinary research taking place at UNC-Chapel Hill and to the advancement in the field of brain connectivity analysis.

Congratulations to Aaron on his poster work and the entire team for their inspiring research! Click here to view the full poster.

M. Gregory Forest Receives 2024 Thomas Jefferson Award for Exemplary Scholarship and Service

The Department of Mathematics is proud to announce that Prof. M. Gregory Forest, Grant Dahlstrom Distinguished Professor and Director of the Center for Computational and Industrial Applied Mathematics (CCIAM), has been named the recipient of the 2024 Thomas Jefferson Award by the Office of Faculty Governance.

Established in 1961, the Thomas Jefferson Award recognizes individuals who, through their personal influence and excellence in teaching, writing, and scholarship, have most closely embodied the ideals and objectives of Thomas Jefferson. These ideals include the values of democracy, public service, and the pursuit of knowledge, all of which Prof. Forest has consistently demonstrated in his academic and professional endeavors.

Prof. Forest will be presented with the award at the December 13th joint meeting of the General Faculty and Faculty Council, where the university will celebrate this well-deserved recognition.

Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding achievement. His contributions to the Department of Mathematics, CCIAM, and the academic community exemplify the highest standards of scholarship and service.

Be sure to check back for the awardee’s remarks to be found later on the Office of Faculty Governance’s Awards page.

Beyond Textbooks: How Prof. Green and Ph.D. Student Menzel Enhance Quantitative Learning

The Fall 2024 edition of Carolina Arts & Sciences magazine highlighted the collaboration between Prof. Linda Green and Ph.D. student Connor Menzel from the Mathematics Department. Their joint efforts have enriched the course “Reasoning with Data: Navigating a Quantitative World,” allowing students to move beyond textbook problems and apply quantitative analysis to real-world scenarios.

Prof. Green, who helped develop the course, engaged students with data analysis scenarios drawn from contemporary issues such as finance, gerrymandering, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This real-world focus aims to equip students with the analytical skills necessary to thrive in today’s data-driven landscape. She emphasizes the importance of transcending textbook problems to expose students to situations where not all the information is readily available. The course encourages students to think critically and analyze data effectively.

The partnership between Green and Menzel, fostered through the Graduate Research Consultant program, has made the course even more dynamic. For example, one of the final project options created by Menzel challenges students to analyze computer code to determine the most likely creator of Bitcoin. Such innovative projects were made possible by the addition of a graduate research consultant, enriching the learning experience for all students involved.

For more insights and details about this inspiring collaboration and the course, check out the full article in the latest edition of Carolina Arts & Sciences magazine.

Shaping Futures: Jason Metcalfe Earns Coveted 2024 Faculty Mentoring Award

The Department of Mathematics is thrilled to announce that Professor Jason Metcalfe, current chair of the department, has been awarded a prestigious 2024 Faculty Mentoring Award by the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council. This distinguished award, announced by the UNC Office of the Provost, recognizes faculty members who go above and beyond in their roles as mentors, shaping the future of academic excellence at UNC-Chapel Hill.

As a dedicated mentor, Jason has made a lasting impact on his colleagues and students, providing invaluable guidance that spans research, teaching, and service. His leadership in developing innovative mentoring models has been instrumental in fostering a supportive and collaborative environment within the department, helping faculty navigate the complexities of academic life and inspiring the next generation of mathematicians.

This award reflects Jason’s extraordinary commitment to nurturing talent and fostering growth, both within the mathematics department and across the broader academic community. His mentorship not only guides professional development but also cultivates a space where intellectual curiosity and potential thrives.

On behalf of the entire department, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jason for this well-deserved honor. We also join the Provost’s Office in expressing our gratitude to the Carolina Women’s Leadership Council and the Center for Faculty Excellence for their continued support of this important award.

Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement and the profound impact Jason’s mentorship has had—and will continue to have—on shaping the future of our department and the wider university community!

UNC to Host Third Triangle Computational and Applied Mathematics Symposium

The Department of Mathematics is excited to announce that it will host the third Triangle Computational and Applied Mathematics Symposium (TriCAMS) from October 26-27. This annual event, which began in 2022 at NCSU, brings together a diverse and vibrant community of researchers, educators, and industry professionals from the Research Triangle and the surrounding southeast Atlantic region.

The keynote outside speaker for this year’s symposium will be Mike Shelley of New York University and the Flatiron Institute, whose groundbreaking research has applications in various areas of science and engineering. Alongside Shelley, there will be four plenary talks that highlight cutting-edge research from across the Triangle, as well as key contributions from Shelley and his colleagues at the Flatiron Institute.

TriCAMS will feature several opportunities for scholars of all levels to engage, with a Lightning Talk session and an accompanying poster session where graduate students and postdocs are especially encouraged to participate. Prizes will be awarded for the best poster presentations.

The symposium will focus on fostering collaboration and networking, emphasizing the integration of scholars across academia, government, and industry. The Research Triangle and surrounding regions are home to numerous institutions and companies that work in applied and computational mathematics, and TriCAMS aims to be a catalyst for future research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and outreach.

We invite all those involved in computational and applied mathematics, from faculty and researchers to students and industry professionals, to register at the TriCAMS website and either attend or contribute to this exciting event!