Congratulations Graduates 2013
Dear Alumni and Friend of the Department of Mathematics;
As academic year 2013 comes to a close it is our pleasure to CONGRATULATE the graduates of 2013. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have had such an outstanding group of undergraduate and graduate students this year. We are grateful for the support and participation of the graduate’s parents, extended family and friends in their success.
Along the way many of our student’s extraordinary efforts were recognized by awards, scholarships and fellowships. In this edition of “By the Numb3rs” we hope that you take the time to review the awards, take a look at the photos from our graduation event and find a way to stay in touch.
Please sign up to “By the Numb3rs” and keep us involved in your future plans. Contact us by email at math@pitt.edu And don’t forget to check out our new website at http://mathematics.pitt.edu/
We are privileged to have been a part of our student’s journey. Our hope is that they continue to experience great success in their future.
Sincerely yours,
Ivan Yotov, Chair
The Thomas C. Hales Distinguished Research Award
In 2013 there were two, Thomas C. Hales Distinguished Research Award Recipients…
Dr. Zhuomin Liu
Dr. Alexey Solovyev
This award is presented annually for the best doctoral dissertation defended by a graduate student in Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh during the previous year. The prize is made possible by a gift from the Beckham Foundation.
Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship Award
The 2013 Andrew Mellon Predoctoral Fellowship Award Recipients in Mathematics are…
Krzystof (Chris) Kapulkin
Jacob Mirra
Aziz Takhirov
Applicants for this award are accepted by invitation only. Potential candidates are nominated by their departments, within the University of Pittsburgh, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. These fellowships are awarded to students of exceptional promise and ability either when they first enroll in the PhD program or when they have advanced to the dissertation stage. They carry a stipend plus remission of tuition. No service is required.
Elizabeth Baranger Excellence in Teaching Award
The Elizabeth Baranger Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient in Mathematics is…
Corinne Brucato
The Arts & Sciences GSO Elizabeth Baranger Teaching Awards acknowledge excellence in graduate student teaching across the Arts & Sciences. Awards are presented to students nominated by faculty, fellow graduate students, and undergraduates, in each of the Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Humanities. The award, which is given in April, is named after Elizabeth Baranger, former Dean and, later, Vice-Provost for Graduate Studies.
The purpose of the teaching award is to:
• Recognize and reward outstanding teaching by graduate students at Pitt
• Make teaching by graduate students more visible and valued on campus
• Raise the standards of the teaching by graduate students
• Contribute to or spark discussions about what constitutes good teaching by graduate students on campus
• Help graduate students prepare professionally for teaching careers
Department of Mathematics TA Teaching Excellence Awards
The 2013 Department of Mathematics TA Teaching Excellence Award Recipients in Mathematics are…
Tom Everest
Aaron Greenspan
Award(s) acknowledge excellence in graduate student teaching at the University of Pittsburgh Mathematics Department. Awards are presented to students nominated by the Mathematics faculty committee.
Graduate Expo 2013
The Graduate Expo 2013 Award Recipient in Mathematics is…
Woden Kusner
The Grad Expo is an all day event where Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences graduate students from a variety of disciplines present papers and posters to their fellow students, faculty, and other members of the Pitt community. This event provides the opportunity for graduate students to gain experience in presenting their research as well as fostering interdisciplinary communication amongst the departments and programs within the School of Arts and Sciences. It is an opportunity for students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines to be exposed to practices and concepts which, while possibly foreign to their field, might nevertheless enrich their work and certainly their academic experience at The University of Pittsburgh.
M. M. Culver Memorial Prize
The 2013 M. M. Culver Prize Award Recipients are…
Siqi Chen
Boning Hao
David R. Hornbeck
Zhedi Liu
Jason Morrow
Jonathan C. Weisberg
Andrew P. Weis
Dr. Montgomery M. Culver was a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh, from 1924 to 1950. His professional interests included Finite Groups, Number Theory, and Ordinary Differential Equations. Dr. Culver came to his office early in the day and stayed late… hundreds of students, both undergraduate and graduate, found him to be a truly great teacher and understanding friend.
Shortly after his death, the Department of Mathematics organized the M.M. Culver Memorial Fund. The Culver Prize was first awarded at Scholars Day ceremonies in 1952 and awards have been given annually since that time.
The Dr. Beverly K. Michael Math Education Award
The 2013 Dr. Beverly K. Michael Math Education Award Recipient is…
Anna M. Rakers
This award is presented to a student who is a junior or senior University of Pittsburgh Mathematics major who is planning to be a high school math teacher. The award is made by the Mathematics Department Undergraduate Committee to a student with at least a 3.0 GPA who has demonstrated both exemplary mathematics and teaching skills.
John O. Blumberg Memorial Scholarship
The 2013 John O. Blumberg Memorial Scholarship Award Recipient in Mathematics is…
Jason Morrow
Dr. John O. Blumberg was a faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Mathematics for 30 years. This award was established in his memory by his wife Amy Blumberg, and his son and daughter-in-law. The scholarship is awarded to a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Mathematics based on GPA, general attitude and performance. Finalists are judged by essay outlining their future aspirations in the field of Mathematics.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
Two of our seniors have received the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the workforce in the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The GRFP provides support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research.
Elizabeth O’Reilly, senior mathematics major, will use her award to pursue her research in geometric analysis.
Carsen Stringer, senior mathematics major, will use his award to pursue his studies in mathematical biology.