AWM Research Symposium

Advances in Applied Algebra and Algebraic Statistics

This special session features recent developments in applied algebra, applied algebraic geometry, and algebraic statistics.

Organizers:
Bella Finkel, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Analysis, computational methods and data science in multiphysics problems

The study of multiphysics problems has made steady progress over the past decade, driven by advancements in analysis, computational methods, and data science techniques. Women researchers, in particular, have made disproportionately impactful contributions to this field. This special session celebrates both the groundbreaking research in this domain and the achievements of women who have significantly advanced the discipline.

Organizers:
Wendy Di, Argonne National Laboratory
Qin Li, UW-Madison
Min Wang, University of Houston
Yunan Yang, Cornell University
Lu Zhang, Rice University

Applied Geometric Analysis

This special session will bring together some researchers to present their recent results and discuss further developments of applied & geometric analysis covering animal shaping-modal analysis-motion visualization in connection with certain of harmonic analysis-partial differential equations-mathematical physics.

Organizers:
Goong Chen, Texas A&M University
Ming Mei, Champlain College St-Lambert & McGill University
Jie Xiao, Memorial University

Category theory, algebras, and representation theory

This special session will explore current developments and interdisciplinary applications in category theory, algebras, and representation theory, bringing together researchers to present their latest findings. The session will focus on topics ranging from the structure of higher preprojective algebras to modular representations and continuous representations of reductive p-adic groups. It aims to foster collaboration and discussion among mathematicians in these interrelated fields. This session is designed for both researchers deeply involved in these topics and those interested in exploring their broader implications in mathematics and related disciplines.

Organizers:
Charlotte Aten, University of Colorado, Boulder
Layla Sorkatti,  Southern Illinois University

Combinatorics and Graph Theory

This section will include recent research on topics in graph theory and related areas of finite combinatorics. A strong component will be edge conditions for long cycles and hamiltonicity in graphs. The other areas are related to coloring in graphs and relationships between block designs and graphs.

Organizers:
Gabriela Araujo-Pardo, Math. Institute. National University of Mexico (UNAM)
Linda Lesniak, Western Michigan University

Control Problems in PDE-Modeled Systems

Many real-world systems are most accurately modeled by nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs), which pose significant challenges in both modeling and control. Researchers have devoted substantial efforts to tackling control problems such as stability analysis, stabilization, and controllability and observability, leading to important advances. This special session will highlight some of the latest developments in these areas.

Topics to be covered include optimal control of multi-agent systems, backstepping-based control of Korteweg-de Vries equations, and optimal control of nonlinear and large-scale energy systems. Presentations will also focus on cutting-edge research in lithium-ion battery technology, including electrode and electrolyte observers, adaptive estimation of battery temperatures, and fault detection. Additionally, dynamic consensus in multi-agent systems will be explored.

This session brings together innovative research at the intersection of control theory and real-world applications, offering new insights and solutions for complex systems.

Organizers:
Shuxia Tang, Texas Tech University

Curves and Abelian Varieties in Characteristic p

In this session, we wish to connect early-career researchers who work on curves, abelian varieties and Drinfeld modules in characteristic p. These closely interrelated topics lie at the heart of arithmetic geometry and bear intimate connections to the Langlands program, the Kudla-Rapoport program, the Schottky problem and the study of rational points on varieties.

In recent years, this research area has experienced a surge of activity. Along with rapid advancements in the field, a pivotal event was the Arizona Winter School of 2024, which revolved around abelian varieties and featured lecture series by Valentijn Karemaker and Rachel Pries about moduli of abelian varieties in characteristic p and the Torelli locus, respectively. This sparked the interest of many early-career researchers, and several research projects on the subject began at the Arizona Winter School. However, many feel that a community for these researchers is still lacking.

We propose a session to provide a platform for early-career researchers to get to know each other or reconnect, learn more about the subject and current research in it, present their own research in the area, and hopefully foster lasting networks and collaborations.

Organizers:
Deewang Bhamidipati, University of California, Santa Cruz
Steven Groen, Lehigh University
Sandra Nair, Colorado State University

Early Career Researchers in Mathematical Biology

The field of mathematical biology analyzes biological phenomena using techniques such as deterministic, stochastic, probabilistic, and computational modeling. Models are used to describe wide ranging applications such as cellular physiology, fluid mechanics, antibody kinetics, and social structures.

Irrespective of the underlying mathematical techniques, applied models must strike a balance of accuracy and simplicity to produce meaningful results. To achieve this, tools such as asymptotic analysis, parameter estimation, coupling systems together, and data fitting are employed to refine models.

Driven by the growing challenges in healthcare and the explosion of available data, current research has applied strategies such as sensitivity analysis and machine learning to estimate parameters and validate models. Once validated, these models can inform identification of parameters and sources that can be used to control variables as well as develop large-scale predictions, patient-specific recommendations, and clinical software. Such approaches are limited by the current understanding of biology or physiology, data storage challenges, and privacy concerns, and thus, there are many open questions remaining.

Our session is designed to highlight recent progress on problems in mathematical biology utilizing the techniques described above made by early career researchers from a variety of backgrounds and current positions.

Organizers:
Prajakta Bedekar, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Rayanne Luke, George Mason University
Sarah Strikwerda, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Early Career Women in Differential Equations and Applications

This session is specifically designed for early-career women in the field of differential equations and their applications. Mastering differential equations is essential, as they provide a powerful framework for modelling and analysing dynamic systems across various scientific disciplines like physics, engineering, biology, economics, and more; essentially, many real-world phenomena can be described by differential equations, enabling us to mathematically represent and solve complex problems involving motion, population growth, circuit behaviour, and more. The topics of this session include but are not limited to ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations, dynamic equations, numerical analysis, fractional Laplacian, mathematical control, mathematical biology. The primary objective of this session is to facilitate the exchange of ideas across diverse application areas and to foster enhanced collaboration among early career mathematicians specializing in differential equations, broadly defined.

Organizers:
Shalmali Bandyopadhyay, The University of Tennessee at Martin
Thialita Nascimento, Iowa State University

EDGE Special Session

The EDGE Special Sessions will consist of a series of talks from participants and affiliates of the EDGE Program. EDGE is ‘designed to strengthen the ability of women and gender non-conforming students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups to successfully complete graduate programs in the mathematical sciences’ and provide support throughout their careers. The EDGE Program has hosted this session since 2015. The 2025 EDGE Special Sessions will feature EDGE Program participants who are in a critical transition stage of their mathematical career such as advanced graduate students and early career researchers. The talks will cover a wide variety of mathematics disciplines. The EDGE Session we propose is not a topical research session, but rather has talks in a variety of areas allowing for a more inclusive environment. Due to this diversity in research talks, speakers are tasked with creating an accessible presentation for a broader audience. Accessible talks at conferences have several benefits; they engage early-career students and expose them to a broad range of mathematical topics. In addition to this, they encourage conversations between experts in different fields, providing the opportunity for interdisciplinary collaborations. The skill of accessibly communicating research is valuable in any career inside and outside of academia, so we push our speakers to do so when presenting in the EDGE Session.

Organizers:
Keisha Cook, Clemson University
Sofia Rose Martinez Alberga, Purdue University
Quiyana Murphy, Virginia Tech

Geometric and Topological Aspects of Mathematical Physics and Representation Theory

Geometric and topological aspects of mathematical physics and representation theory have been an active field of research for the last several decades, with important applications in combinatorial and geometric representation theory, Lie theory, algebraic geometry, low-dimensional topology and topological quantum field theory, number theory, combinatorics, and theoretical physics. Our purpose for this special session is to bring together the juniors researchers in the areas of mathematical physics and representation theory, additionally those in category theory, geometric representation theory, and related fields, to celebrate and share their contributions in the area, as well as discuss open problems and their progress. We also hope that this event can help initiate and sustain collaborations among the junior mathematicians and create connections to further advance their professional careers.

Organizers:
Mee Seong Im, Johns Hopkins University
Xin Jin, Boston College
Xinchun Ma, University of Chicago

Group, Geometry and Dynamics

The goal of this special session on Groups, Geometry, and Dynamics to exhibit the research of early-career women working at the intersection of the fields of group theory, geometry, and dynamical systems. Each area is extremely active, and there has been considerable progress in recent years coming from the interaction between them. This has led to many new theories in geometric group theory and geometric topology. The session will include speakers from a diverse range of institutions to build community and encourage future collaborations among the participants.

Organizers:
Carolyn Abbott, Brandeis University
Tullia Dymarz, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Yandi Wu, Rice University

Groups, Representation Theory, and their related structures

This session will focus on various topics in group theory and representation theory. This will serve as an opportunity to showcase the research of various women in the field and highlight their contributions to the field. Our goal for this session is to bring together various researchers in these fields to build a supportive community and help young researchers make connections. In particular, we also hope to encourage more gender representation in these fields and believe that by showcasing these various speakers we can encourage a new generation of young researchers to join these fields. We expect that the topics of these talks will broadly cover various aspects of group theory and representation theory.

Organizers:
Jennifer Guerrero, UC Santa Cruz
Nariel Monteiro, UC Santa Cruz

Homological Methods in Commutative Algebra

The aim of this special session is to showcase the use of homological methods in commutative algebra in a safe, welcoming environment. We will gather a diverse group of experts to highlight recent developments in the field. We aim to foster networking opportunities for both junior and senior researchers of all backgrounds. Topics may include, but are not limited to, free resolutions, Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity, multigraded rings, geometry of syzygies, and classes of rings defined homologically. The talks will also feature connections to related fields such as algebraic geometry, algebraic combinatorics, and algebraic number theory.

Organizers:
Caitlin Davis, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Boyana Martinova, University of Wisconsin – Madison

Innovative Mathematical Solutions: Bridging Data, Models, and Real-World Challenges

This special session brings together four dynamic speakers to explore cutting-edge numerical and analytical methods for solving real-world problems. Our distinguished panel will discuss advanced techniques for building mathematical models and analyzing complex data sets. These approaches enable the development of approximate solutions to multifaceted challenges, fostering innovation across disciplines to address critical issues in healthcare, finance, environmental sustainability, and social justice. The session will also highlight advanced mathematical methods for understanding fluid dynamics in complex systems. Fluid behavior, a phenomenon encountered in daily life and various engineering and scientific applications, plays a critical role in optimizing processes in pipelines, heat exchangers, nuclear reactors, and petroleum production. Insights gained from these studies can refine operations, improve efficiency, and solve practical challenges. By examining the synergy between numerical methods, mathematical analysis, and real-world applications, this event sheds light on the transformative power of mathematics in solving today’s pressing challenges and advancing progress across diverse industries.

Organizers:
Himali Gammanpila, Eastern Kentucky University

Logic Across Mathematics

From Hilbert’s Tenth Problem, which tells us that there is no effective way to determine whether a Diophantine equation has an integer solution, to Saharon Shelah’s classification theory, which stratifies first-order theories by means of combinatorial phenomena, to the hierarchy of consistency strengths arising in set theory, the central concepts of mathematical logic have been used to formalize and calibrate mathematical questions. In this session, we will have talks from different areas of mathematical logic, including set theory, model theory, and computability theory, that will not only treat logic as a subfield of mathematics unto itself but also address its applications to other areas. Our session will conclude with a discussion of the personal and professional issues logicians face as members of a relatively small subfield within the mathematical sciences.

Organizers:
Johanna Franklin, Hofstra University
Rehana Patel, Wesleyan University
Lynn Scow, California State University, San Bernardino

Math for All Special Session

The Math for All Special Session and Discussion would consist of 1 session of 4 research talks and 1 round table discussion. The speakers for the research talks will be previous participants of Math for All, from different career stages and from both math and math education. There will be 4 20-minute research talks, where speakers will also give a brief overview of their career path. The round table discussion would happen after the research session, and it will provide space for attendees to discuss the math topics from the research session and create meaningful connections between participants. Reflection questions will be given in small groups, to facilitate conversation. The Math for All ethical conduct agreement will be shared out loud.

The research session is unique in both combines different research topics and, through introducing the career path of the speaker, allows the audience to connect with the speaker in meaningful ways. The unifying element of the session is that speakers will be previous participants of the Math for All conference, which centers both excellent mathematical content and creating a welcoming and safe conference environment for all. Our goals in sponsoring this session are to provide the invited speakers with the space to present their mathematical research in a more general conference setting, to provide a meeting point for past Math For All attendees to reconnect, and to create a familiar and welcoming space for all attendees.

Organizers:
Robyn Brooks, University of Utah
Padi Fuster Aguilera, University of Colorado at Boulder
Swati Patel, Oregon State University

Mathematics, Modeling, and Art

Mathematics captures the elegance of the world through its models and methods, offering unique insights into natural and engineered systems. This special session explores the dynamic intersection of mathematics, modeling, and art, featuring research contributions from talented women in numerical methods, biophysical modeling, fluid dynamics, PDEs, computer graphics, and the aesthetic dimensions of their results. By showcasing diverse and innovative approaches, the session celebrates the beauty, creativity, and interdisciplinary reach of mathematical research. It aims to foster an inclusive environment that sparks curiosity, encourages collaboration across disciplines, and amplifies the voices of women in mathematics and science. We also seek to inspire the next generation of mathematicians to embrace both traditional and unconventional pathways, broadening the impact and perception of mathematical research. This session promises to engage researchers working in related areas and cultivate a vibrant dialogue at the nexus of mathematics, modeling, and art.

Organizers:
Danyun He, Flatiron Institute
Jiayin Lu, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Christiana Mavroyiakoumou, New York University (NYU)
Yue Sun, University of Wisconsin–Madison

Non-commutative algebras, tensor categories, and diagrams

Tensor category structures appear in a wide variety of mathematical and physical contexts, such as representation theory of braid groups, quantum groups, conformal field theory, Hopf algebras, low dimensional topology, and condensed matter physics. In many of these contexts all examples, or the nicest examples, form fusion categories which have an elegant diagrammatic formulation. Thus complex calculations can sometimes be turned into simple pictures. These diagrammatic structures have been observed and axiomatized in different contexts (planar algebras, string diagrams, and tensor networks are some examples), but the graphical language for tensor categories has emerged as the best unifying framework for such models. The interplay between the algebraic theory of tensor categories and the interesting examples that arise from physical scenarios is a fruitful source of interesting problems in the field. In this Special Session, we aim to bring together researchers whose work involves the exploration of categorical structures in different contexts, and consequently the proposed speakers study tensor categories, Hopf algebras, modular categories, subfactors, diagrammatics, and representation theory.

Organizers:
Monique Müller, Federal University of São João del-Rei (Brazil)/Indiana University Bloomington
Emily Peters, Loyola University Chicago
Julia Plavnik, Indiana University Bloomington
Abigail Watkins, Indiana University Bloomington

Nonlinear Constraints: A Catalyst for Creativity in Analysis and its Applications

Research in analysis and its applications where the underlying function space is linear can be particularly challenging to adapt to problems with non-linear constraints. Alternatively, we may impose and exploit nonlinearity to solve some problems in these fields. Consider convexity for instance: On the one hand, results in restriction theory and decoupling become much more interesting when we assume our hypersurfaces have positive Gaussian curvature. Similarly, in optimization theory, convexity makes solving optimization problems easier and more reliable. On the other hand, recent work to understand approximation and interpolation of convex functions uses deep analytical tools. Even though non-linear constraints can limit the utility of known techniques, these problems prove tractable under and motivate new ideas. One beauty in studying problems with nonlinear constraints in analysis, partial differential equations, and applied math is that solutions often build on techniques which require substantial study but also utilize geometric intuition and creativity. Each speaker in this session will explain their new research through this lens, detailing (1) why their nonlinear constraint is interesting (2) how they build on fundamental research in their field, (3) how their solution connects to undergraduate and graduate analysis coursework, and (4) how their approach requires and inspires creativity and/or geometric intuition.

Organizers:
Paige Bright, University of British Columbia
Marjorie Drake, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Vinh Nguyen, Michigan State University

Number Theory at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions

In this session we will highlight the work of number theorists from small liberal arts colleges and other undergraduate institutions. Number theory is a broad subject, and the session will feature talks from a diverse, yet cohesive, group of researchers to share their recent results. Some areas that we plan to include are arithmetic dynamics, modular forms, and number theory of elliptic curves. While the techniques and trends vary throughout the different areas of number theory, if we can share our ideas in a common space we may be able to find overlapping ideas and illuminate new approaches to problems. Talks will be geared towards a general number theory audience and will feature work that bridges areas of number theory or number theory and other areas of mathematics. The session will provide an opportunity to showcase work done with undergraduates as well as with collaborators at undergraduate and non-undergraduate focused institutions.

Additionally, we plan to include a round-table discussion focused on establishing a more robust connection between number theorists at PUIs. This idea emerged in response to informal discussions held a similar session at the AWM symposium in Atlanta in 2023. The goal of the roundtable is to establish a format of communication and community and may lead to a research community or other such group.

Organizers:
Kelly O’Connor, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Leah Sturman, Southern Connecticut State University
Bella Tobin, Agnes Scott College

Recent Advances in Numerical Methods for PDEs

This special session will focus on recent advances in numerical methods for PDEs, which play a critical role in modeling and predicting a variety of important phenomena, from fluid mechanics to bioengineering, finance to geophysics. Since obtaining analytical solutions for these types of PDEs is often impossible, numerical solvers are essential for approximating solutions. While ensuring the high accuracy of these approximations is crucial, achieving this efficiently and as quickly as possible is ideal. This session will cover a range of topics, including various discretization techniques, splitting methods for multiphysics problems, and solvers for both linear and nonlinear algebraic systems.

Organizers:
Duygu Vargun, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Yunhui He, University of Houston

Recent Developments in Control Theory of Infinite Dimensional Systems

The proposed special session will showcase recent work in control and optimization in differential equations, and will bring together junior and expert women in the field. The main topics of the session include, but are not limited to, nonlinear control, optimal control, controllability, observability stabilization, optimal transport, bilinear control, time delay systems, and analysis and control of interactive systems.

Organizers:
Lorena Bociu, NC State University
Irena Lasiecka, The University of Memphis

Rethinking Number Theory

The Rethinking Number Theory (RNT) Community is committed to fostering an inclusive and engaging environment where number theory is both accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Our mission is to cultivate a collaborative research culture that uplifts and values all participants. Through RNT, we also aim to reflect critically on various aspects of our professional journeys, including graduate and postdoctoral experiences, research seminars, hiring processes, conferences, grant applications, and other facets of academic life.

In recent years, number theory has seen remarkable progress across diverse areas. To build on this momentum, we propose a special session dedicated to sharing insights and experiences from number theory research and related fields, such as automorphic forms, elliptic curves, cryptography, number field enumeration, and L-functions, among others. This session will provide a platform for meaningful discussions and the exchange of ideas within the broader number theory community.

Organizers:
Swati LNU, University of South Carolina
Deewang Bhamidipati, UC Santa Cruz
Shilpi Mandal, Emory University

Topics in Algebraic Geometry

This session will feature presentations on research in algebraic geometry by members and friends of the WIAG (Women and gender-expansive Individuals in Algebraic Geometry) network.

Organizers:
Julie Rana, Lawrence University
Ursula Whitcher, Math Reviews

Valuations of Sequences

This special session will focus on p-adic valuations of sequences, which measure divisibility properties of sequences generated by polynomials, rational functions, and other contexts. Results are often expressed in terms of p-adic valuation trees. Talks on related topics in number theory are also welcome.

This session is sponsored by the American Mathematical Society.

Organizers:
Jane Long, Stephen F. Austin State University

WIGA: Graph Labeling and Graph Structures

This special session will include talks by members of the AWM research network WIGA (Women in Graph Theory and Applications) and participants in the 2024 AIM workshop Graph Theory: structural properties, labelings, and connections to applications that supported the second WIGA workshop. These research talks will include recent results on various types of graph labelings and structural graph properties.

Organizers:
Katherine Benson, University of Wisconsin-Stout
Christine Kelley, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Alison Marr, Southwestern University

Women and Gender Minorities in Symplectic and Contact Geometry and Topology (WiSCons) in Madison

WiSCons in Madison is a special session for and by women and gender minorities in symplectic and contact geometry and topology (WiSCon), as a part of the WiSCon research network. The workshop will build on the successes of the inaugural WiSCon Conference that took place at ICERM in 2019, previous special sessions at the JMM for women and gender minorities in symplectic and contact topology in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024. One goal of this session is to provide an academic and supportive space for early-career researchers on the job market and women and gender minority Ph.D. candidates in the field. More specifically, we hope to facilitate and foster effective collaborative and mentoring relationships with mathematicians across various institutions in symplectic and contact geometry and topology. In addition, the special session aims to connect and uncover diverse research directions within geometry, topology, dynamics, and mathematical physics at large.

Organizers:
Bahar Acu, Pitzer College and Claremont Graduate University
Catherine Cannizzo, University of California, Berkeley
Sierra Knavel, Georgia Institute of Technology
Morgan Weiler, University of California, Riverside

Women in Quantum Computing (WIQC)

Quantum computing is an emerging field of research connecting mathematics, physics, and computer science. Today, we are seeing the need to understand and learn how quantum computing works, how to use it, how it can answer some of our most difficult questions, and how it can benefit and protect us. However, the demand for fundamental mathematical research in quantum computing has surged due to the immediate need for precise models that characterize quantum algorithms and error correction techniques.

By addressing challenges in scalability, noise reduction, and quantum entanglement, these mathematical foundations are critical for advancing both hardware and software in quantum computers.

In addition, quantum algorithms and computing and has many perplexing facets such as scale-ability, solve-ability, analytical results, numerical schemes, applications, etc. These hurdles are still at its infancy, and the race to fault-tolerant quantum computing is at full speed. By fault-tolerant quantum computing, we mean computing while maintaining general computing efficiency in the presence of errors during a given computation. Our speakers will give talks accessible to those with or without a quantum background. This special session proposes to highlight recent progress on some of the many sides of quantum computing.

Organizers:
Sarah Chehade, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Elaine Wong, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Women Leading at the Intersection of Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, and Biology

This session highlights women researchers’ innovative contributions at the intersection of mathematics, statistics, data science, and biology. Covering topics such as dynamical systems, mathematical biology, stochastic modeling, computational frameworks, and the integration of social justice into science, the talks showcase how advanced mathematical and computational tools address pressing challenges in public health, ecology, epidemiology, and medicine. The session emphasizes the societal impact of these methods, particularly in enhancing healthcare equity and informing solutions for real-world biological and medical problems. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and bridging theoretical and applied research, this session supports AWM’s mission to promote diversity and equity in STEM while providing a platform for early-career women researchers to share their impactful work in mathematical sciences and its transformative applications in biology and medicine.

Organizers:
Arnaja Mitra, University of Maryland
Nisha Yadav, Clemson University