Department of Mathematics, WUSTL - Talk List, Fall 2008

A list of lectures, seminars, colloquia, and other events hosted by
the Department of Mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis  

Fall 2008 Seminars Schedule

Mondays

Graduate-Organized Talks Seminar

Time: 3:00-4:00pm *
Location: Cupples I, Room 199

Host: Larry Lin

Analysis Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm *
Location: Cupples I, Room 199

Host: Professor John McCarthy

Algebraic Geometry Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:30pm *
Location: Cupples I, Room 111

Host: Professor Mohan Kumar

Tuesdays

Symplectic Geometry and Topology Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm *
Location: Cupples I, Room 216

Host: Professor Xiang Tang

Statistics Seminar

Time: 4:30-5:30pm *
Location: Cupples I, Room 199

Host: Professor Jimin Ding
Statistics Seminar Schedule

Wednesdays

Graduate Student Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm, pizza *
Location: Cupples I, Room 199

Host: Professor Steven Krantz

Thursdays

Topology Seminar

Time: 10:00-11:00am *
Location: Cupples I, Room 199

Host: Professor Rachel Roberts

Combinatorics and Group Theory Seminar

Time: 3:30-4:30pm *
Location: Eads, Room 209

Host: Jonathan Browder

Fridays

Wavelet Seminar

Time: 3:30-4:30pm *
Location: Cupples I, Room 199

Host: Professor Guido Weiss

* Times may vary, please consult the schedule below for details:

NOVEMBER 2008

Monday, November 3

Analysis Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. John McCarthy

Speaker: Assistant Professor Raphaël Ponge
Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto
Title: Asymptotic inequalities for the Kohn-Rossi cohomology groups
Abstract: The aim of this talk is to present an analogue in CR geometry of Demailly's holomorphic Morse inequalities. More precisely, we shall present asymptotic inequalities for the Kohn-Rossi cohomology groups with coefficients in large powers of a line bundle. A potential application is an extension of the Grauert-Riemenschneider criterion to noncompact complex manifolds. This is part of a joint project with George Marinescu (University of Cologne, Germany).

Monday, November 3

Algebraic Geometry Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 111
Host: Prof. Mohan Kumar

Speaker: Wei Deng
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Kollar's exercises

Tuesday, November 4

Symplectic Geometry Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 216
Host: Assist. Prof. Xiang Tang

Speaker: Professor Quo-Shin Chi
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Symplectic blowup
Abstract: Continuation of last week's talk.

Tuesday, November 4

Statistics Seminar

Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

Speaker: Andrew Womack
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Bayesian models for Nonparametric Survival Analysis
Abstract: From Ibrahim, Chen, and Simla's book, Bayesian Survival Analysis.

Wednesday, November 5

Graduate Student Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Professor John Shareshian
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: The cyclic sieving phenomenon
Abstract: Let G be a cyclic group of finite order n acting on a finite set X. Let P(q) be a polynomial with integer coefficients. The triple (G,X,P) exhibits the cyclic sieving phenomenon if whenever g in G has order d, the number of elements of X fixed by g is obtained by substituting a primitive d^th root of 1 for q in P. This phenomenon, first observed when n=2 by John Stembridge and first studied closely for arbitrary n by Vic Reiner, Dennis Stanton and Dennis White, is surprisingly common in combinatorics. I will discuss my joint work with Michelle Wachs, in which we provide additional examples and try to find a common explanation for many examples.

Monday, November 10

Graduate-Organized Talks Seminar

Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Larry Lin

Speaker: Safdar Quddus
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Trees et al
Abstract: We shall talk first few chapters of the book [Trees] by Jean-Pierre Serre, Trees(Springer Verlag). Maybe few words about HNN extension theorem. No prerequisite required.

Monday, November 10

Algebraic Geometry Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 111
Host: Prof. Mohan Kumar

Speaker: Professor A. Prabhakar Rao
Department of Mathematics, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Title: Vector Bundles on Projective Spaces

Tuesday, November 11

Symplectic Geometry Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 216
Host: Assist. Prof. Xiang Tang

Speaker: Visiting Assistant Professor Jae-Hyouk Lee
Department of Mathematics, University of Missouri, St. Louis
Title: The Connected Sums on Symplectic Manifolds
Abstract: We introduce the general obstructions to get a symplectic structure on a manifold and discuss the construction of Symplectic manifolds via the connected sum.

Tuesday, November 11

Statistics Seminar

Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

Speaker: Xiao Huang
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Analysis of Correlated Failure Time Data
Abstract: Chapter 10 in The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data in Kalbfleisch and Prentice's book

Wednesday, November 12

Graduate Student Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Professor Al Baernstein
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: The isoperimetric inequality and rearrangement of functions
Abstract: The classical isoperimetric inequality asserts that among all simple closed curves in the plane of fixed length, the maximal enclosed area is achieved when the curve is a circle. In this talk I will show how the isoperimetric and related inequalities can be proved using the theory of " rearrangement of functions ".

Thursday, November 13

Colloquium

Time: Tea: 4:00-4:30pm
Talk: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Edward Wilson

Speaker: Professor Javier Soria
Department of Mathematics, University of Barcelona
Title: Hardy's Inequalities and Function Spaces
Abstract: We will review the origins of the classical Hardy's inequality (1920), and study some recent developments in the theory of weighted inequalities for the Hardy operator, with applications to normability properties of Function Spaces.

Friday, November 14

Wavelet Seminar

Time:3:00-4:00pm
Location:
Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Edward Wilson

Speaker: Professor María J. Carro
Department of Mathematics, University of Barcelona
Title: Boundedness of operators at the extreme points
Abstract: There are many operators for which the boundedness on an open set (p_0, p_1) is known to be true but the result on p_0 or p_1 is either unknown or known to be false.
The purpose of this talk is to present a method using interpolation theory which can be used to obtain some end-point estimates for such operators.
This tecnique is known as Extrapolation Theory and it has its origin in 1951 with Yano's Theorem.

Monday, November 17

Graduate-Organized Talks Seminar

Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Larry Lin

Speaker: Jasmine Ng
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Quadratic Reciprocity
Abstract: Given an integer b and a prime p, we say b is a quadratic residue mod p if there exists x such that x^2 is congruent to b (mod p). If we fix an integer b, we can ask the question, "for which primes p is b a quadratic residue mod p?" The answer lies in the Law of Quadratic Reciprocity. In this talk, we will discuss the motivations for the Law of Q.R. and several applications of it.

Monday, November 17

Analysis Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. John McCarthy

Speaker: Professor Al Baernstein
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Inequalities for integral means of polynomials
Abstract: Link to Abstract

Monday, November 17

Algebraic Geometry Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 111
Host: Prof. Mohan Kumar

Speaker: Professor Mohan Kumar
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: The Noether-Lefschetz Theorem

Monday, November 17

Math Club

Time: 5:15-6:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. John McCarthy

Speaker: Andrew Soffer
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Infinitely many proofs that there are infinitely many primes

Tuesday, November 18

Statistics Seminar

Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

CANCELLED. Rescheduled. See Tueday, November 25.
Speaker: Ruibin Xi
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Modeling and Analysis of Recurrent Event Data
Abstract: Chapter 9 in The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data by Kalbfleisch and Prentice.

Wednesday, November 19

Graduate Student Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Professor Richard Rochberg
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: What is a Corona Theorem?
Abstract: The Corona Conjecture is a very attractive simple conjecture involving ideas from algebra, analysis, and geometry. Lennart Carleson's Corona Theorem resolved the conjecture in 1962. In his work on the problem Carleson introduced some of the most fundamental tools of modern harmonic analysis.
I will develop enough background to give a precise formulation of the conjecture in both of its classical forms. I will then speak very informally about how and why the conjecture and related questions continue to be so influential in function theory and operator theory.

Thursday, November 20

Colloquium

Time: Tea: 4:00-4:30pm
Talk: 4:30-5:30pm
Location:
Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Renato Feres

Speaker: Professor Alberto Candel
Department of Mathematics, California State University, Northridge
Title: Dynamics in Gromov-Hausdorff spaces
Abstract: Gromov has shown that the classical concept of Hausdorff distance between closed subsets of metric spaces can actually be extended to a distance between metric spaces. This extension created the so called Gromov-Hausdorff spaces.
This talk describes the structure of the dynamical systems present in the Gromov-Hausdorff space of pointed metric spaces: one which arises from the interaction of two topologies on metric spaces; the other which results from the natural flow given by similarities of metric spaces.
This talk is based on work in collaboration with J. Alvarez Lopez.

Friday, November 21

Minor Oral

Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Location:
Cupples I, Room 199
Hosts: Prof. Mohan Kumar, Assist. Prof. Roya Beheshti

Speaker: Sara Gharahbeigi
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Characterization of the projective space

Monday, November 24

Graduate-Organized Talks Seminar

Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Larry Lin

Speaker: James Gill
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Integrability of maps of finite distortion in the plane
Abstract: Sometimes in math, you get something unexpected "for free". For instance, harmonic functions are infinitely differentiable even though second derivatives are only used in their definition. In fact, one can even define them without assuming differentiability. I will discuss maps of finite distortion, a class which includes the quasiconformal maps, and the integrability that is provided "for free".

Monday, November 24

Analysis Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. John McCarthy

Speaker: Nic Sedlock
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Truncated Toeplitz operators and invertibility
Abstract: This talk will discuss truncated Toeplitz operators acting on model spaces, and give necessary and sufficient conditions for a TTO with holomorphic symbol to be invertible in certain model spaces, which is similar to the related result for the Hardy space of the disc.

Monday, November 24

Algebraic Geometry Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 111
Host: Prof. Mohan Kumar

Speaker: Professor A. Prabhakar Rao
Department of Mathematics, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Title: Vector Bundles on Projective Spaces

Monday, November 24

Math Club

Time: 5:15-6:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. John McCarthy

Speaker: Professor Al Baernstein
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: You might go home again: Recurrence and transience of symmetric random walks in the first three dimensions
Abstract: Link to Abstract

Tuesday, November 25

Colloquium

Time: 2:30-3:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Rachel Roberts

CANCELLED. Rescheduled. See Monday, December 15.
Speaker: Professor Maggy Tomova
Department of Mathematics, University of Iowa
Title: Thin position for knots
Abstract: In preparation for the holiday season we will discuss how knots keep themselves in shape. This talk will be accessible to a general audience and will include lots of pictures. Audience participation will be encouraged.

Tuesday, November 25

Seminar

Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Rachel Roberts

CANCELLED. Rescheduled. See Monday, December 15.
Speaker: Professor Maggy Tomova
Department of Mathematics, University of Iowa
Title: Heegaard splittings and bridge surfaces
Abstract: A Heegaard splitting is a decomposition of the manifold into two simple pieces. A bridge surface similarly decomposes a knot complement into two easy to understand pieces. I will talk about the similarities and differences between these two objects and explain the extensions of some classical results about Heegaard splittings to bridge surfaces.

Tuesday, November 25

Statistics Seminar

Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

Speaker: Ruibin Xi
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Modeling and Analysis of Recurrent Event Data
Abstract: Chapter 9 in The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data by Kalbfleisch and Prentice.

DECEMBER 2008

Monday, December 1

Graduate-Organized Talks Seminar

Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Larry Lin

Speaker: Michael Deutsch
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Calc 3000
Abstract: In this very elementary talk, you will finally be convinced (if you're not already) that the manifold theory you did (or are now doing) in the geometry qual truly and beautifully is a generalization of the analytic geometry you did back in Calc 3.

Monday, December 1

Analysis Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. John McCarthy

Speaker: Chauvenet Lecturer Geir Arne Hjelle
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Finite Boundary Interpolation
Abstract: Given distinct points z_1, ..., z_n, and points w_1, ..., w_n all on the unit circle, we want to find functions that interpolate z_i -> w_i. This problem is surprinsingly different from the regular Pick problem (all points in the unit disk). For instance, there is always a solution, and the solution is never unique. In fact, there are always infintely many solutions with Blaschke products of degree n-1.
We will discuss these well known results, and then talk about how to classify different problems, and maybe find "best" solutions to certain classes of problems.

Tuesday, December 2

Statistics Seminar

Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

CANCELLED. Rescheduled. See Tuesday, December 9
Speaker: Research Assistant Professor Yan Yan
Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine
Title: Competing Risks and Multistate Models in Survival Analysis
Abstract: Chapter 8 in Kalbfleish and Prentice's book, The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data.

Wednesday, December 3

Graduate Student Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Professor Quo-Shin Chi
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: The Eightfold Way
Abstract: Buddha teaches one to transcend the human sufferings and future states of rebirth to reach nirvana by practicing the eightfold way. In this talk, I will talk about The Eightfold Way, the sculpture by Helaman Ferguson standing in front of MSRI, which is the artist's Euclidean rendition of the celebrated Klein quartic curve of genus 3, that achieves the maximum symmetry of automorphisms (168 in number) on a surface of genus 3. I hope at the end of the talk folks can be convinced why to us mathematicians, we can reach the ultimate enlightenment when we, as we mimic monk's chants "Nan Woo, Nan Woo, ...", complete the eightfold turn of the dharma wheel.

Thursday, December 4

Minor Oral

Time: 3:00-4:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Baili Min
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Divisors and the Riemann Roch Theorem
Abstract: For a compact Riemann surface M, we can define divisors on it which form a group and they can be partially ordered. Consequently each non-zero meromorphic function on M determines a divisor, and so does each non-zero meromorphic differential. Now given an arbitrary divisor D, we have two vector spaces: L(D), space of meromorphic functions whose divisors are greater or equal to D, and \Omega(D), space of abelian differentials whose divisors are greater or equal to D. Then Riemann-Roch Theorem states a relation between the dimension of L(D^(-1)) and dimension of \Omega(D) in terms of the degree of D and the genus of M. This theorem is very important in the theory of Riemann surfaces.

Thursday, December 4

Colloquium

Time: Tea: 4:00-4:30pm
Talk: 4:30-5:30pm
Location:
Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

Speaker: Assistant Professor Scott Holan
Department of Statistics, University of Missouri-Columbia
Title: Hierarchical Bayesian Markov Switching Models with Application to Predicting Spawning Success of Shovelnose Sturgeon
Abstract: The timing of spawning in fish is tightly linked to environmental factors; however, these factors are not very well understood for many species. Specifically, little information is available to guide recruitment efforts for endangered species such as the sturgeon. Therefore, we propose a Bayesian hierarchical model for predicting spawning success of the shovelnose sturgeon, which uses both biological and behavioral (longitudinal) data. In particular, we use data produced from a tracking study conducted in the Lower Missouri River. The data produced from this study consist of biological variables associated with readiness to spawn along with longitudinal behavioral data collected using telemetry and archival data storage tags. These high frequency data are complex both biologically and in the underlying behavioral process. To accommodate such complexity we developed a hierarchical linear regression model that uses an eigenvalue predictor, derived from the transition probability matrix of a two-state Markov switching model with GARCH dynamics. Finally, in order to minimize the computational burden associated with estimation of this model, a parallel computing approach is proposed.
This is joint work with:
Ginger M. Davis – University of Virginia
Mark L. Wildhaber, Aaron J. DeLonay, Diana M. Papoulias and Janice Bryan – USGS

Friday, December 5

Thesis Defence

Time: 11:00-12:00pm
Location:
Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Bennett Standeven
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: The Role of First Order Logic in Complex Analysis of Several Variables
Abstract: Over any complex variety $V$, there may be defined an algebra of locally holomorphic functions $\OO(V)$. The first-order properties of these algebras remain largely unstudied, although \cite{BHRFOCI} is an extensive study of such algebras in one complex variable.
Just as the algebra of germs at a point plays an important role in the study of multivariable complex analysis, the first-order theory of this algebra should play an important role in a study of the first-order theories of other holomorphic function algebras.
We will focus on an axiomatic characterization of the theory, carried as far as a proof of the Ruckert Nullstellensatz based on the axioms. Several related results, including the Weierstrass theorems and the theory of dimensions of ideals, will also be covered.
The use of first-order logic to prove such results makes it possible to define algorithms to construct the entities guaranteed by the theorems, and to place explicit bounds on their size or complexity.

Monday, December 8

Graduate-Organized Talks Seminar

Time: 3:30-4:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Larry Lin

Speaker: Brian Maurizi
Senior Quantitative Analyst, Ameren Energy
Title: The Economic Dispatch of Power Plants
Abstract: A classic problem in applied mathematics is that of how to optimally dispatch electric power plants. Put more simply, if X megawatts of electricity are needed, and you have plants P_1, ..., P_n available, how much should each plant generate? The complexity arises because the "cost function" for a power plant is in general not linear; it's harder to get more power out of a plant when it's already producing at close to its maximum, versus getting more power out of a plant that is producing at its minimum. In an ideal case, this is a highly constrained quadratic programming problem, and the real world is far from ideal....

Tuesday, December 9

Statistics Seminar

Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

Speaker: Research Assistant Professor Yan Yan
Division of Biostatistics, Washington University School of Medicine
Title: Competing Risks and Multistate Models in Survival Analysis
Abstract: Chapter 8 in Kalbfleish and Prentice's book, The Statistical Analysis of Failure Time Data.

Wednesday, December 10

Graduate Student Seminar

Time: 4:00-5:00pm, pizza
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Professor Edward Wilson
Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis
Title: Application of Zak Transforms to Abelian Group Representations
Abstract: Much of harmonic analysis on groups revolves around diagonalizing a commuting family of unitary operators. For representations of discrete abelian groups, Zak transforms achieve the desired diagonalization in an especially nice way and are elementary in the sense that they rely only on the properties of Fourier series.

Monday, December 15

Colloquium

Time: 12:00-1:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Rachel Roberts

Speaker: Professor Maggy Tomova
Department of Mathematics, University of Iowa
Title: Thin position for knots
Abstract: In preparation for the holiday season we will discuss how knots keep themselves in shape. This talk will be accessible to a general audience and will include lots of pictures. Audience participation will be encouraged.

Monday, December 15

Seminar

Time: 1:00-2:00pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Rachel Roberts

Speaker: Professor Maggy Tomova
Department of Mathematics, University of Iowa
Title: Heegaard splittings and bridge surfaces
Abstract: A Heegaard splitting is a decomposition of the manifold into two simple pieces. A bridge surface similarly decomposes a knot complement into two easy to understand pieces. I will talk about the similarities and differences between these two objects and explain the extensions of some classical results about Heegaard splittings to bridge surfaces.

 

Spring 2009 Seminars Schedule

 

FEBRUARY 2009

Thursday, February 5

Colloquium

Time: Tea: 4:00-4:30pm
Talk: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Rachel Roberts

Speaker: Assistant Professor Josh Sabloff
Department of Mathematics, Haverford College
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA

Thursday, February 19

Colloquium

Time: Tea: 4:00-4:30pm
Talk: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Prof. Steven Krantz

Speaker: Assistant Professor Svitlana Mayboroda
Department of Mathematics, Purdue University
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA

APRIL 2009

Thursday, April 2

Colloquium

Time: Tea: 4:00-4:30pm
Talk: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Cupples I, Room 199
Host: Assist. Prof. Jimin Ding

Speaker: Assistant Professor Shuangge Ma
Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University
Title: TBA
Abstract: TBA

Thursday, April 2

Loeb Undergraduate Mathematics Lecture

Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: TBA
Host: Prof. Ronald Freiwald

Speaker: Professor Ravi Vakil
Department of Mathematics, Stanford University
Title: The Mathematics of Doodling

 

 

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Last Updated 12/01/08


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