Upcoming MAMS Seminar Series
Fall 2026
10/14/2026, Wed. 2-3 pm in Sears 548
Speaker: Ian Ruohoniemi (U. Minnesota)
Title: Minimal Configurations for Interaction Energies on the Circle and other Tori
Abstract: The classic (real) Komlos conjecture asks whether there exists an absolute constant K such that, given any n vectors v_1,…, v_n inside the m-dimensional Euclidean ball, regardless of how large m, n are, there is always a selection of signs s_1,…,s_n, |s_k|=1, guaranteeing
|| s_1v_1 +…+ s_n v_n ||< K, where ||(x_i)|| = max |x_i| is the supremum norm.
Nestor Guillen and I proved constructively that if the s_k’s are allowed to take not just the values of +/-1 but any unit modulus complex number, then the above inequality holds for a finite, explicit constant K=K_{C} (https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.15071). Our paper generalizes the recent work of Bansal and Jiang on the classic Beck-Fiala and Komlos conjectures, which we approach from the formalism of Burkholder and the Bellman function method from probability and harmonic analysis. Shortly after our preprint became public, other researchers posted an LLM-generated algorithmic proof of the classic Komlós conjecture that builds on our work. I’ll discuss these results and explain how new LLM-based tools did or didn’t help us.
10/7/2026, Wed. 2-3 pm in Sears 548
Speaker: Vlad Kobzar (OSU)
Title: Constructive proofs of the classic and complex Komlós conjectures
Abstract:
9/30/2026, Wed. 2-3 pm in Sears 548
Speaker: Mark Meckes (CWRU)
Title: Complexities of probability distributions on metric spaces
Abstract: I will introduce and discuss some properties of a family of “complexities” for probability measures on metric spaces, which can be thought of as Rényi entropies taken relative to a metric instead of a reference measure. This is based on joint work with Gautam Aishwarya, Dongbin Li, and Mokshay Madiman.
Fall 2026
Spring 2026
Fall 2026
10/13/2026, Mon. 2:30-3:30 pm in White 324
Speaker: Joe Dominic (CWRU)
Title: The Artin-Tate Homotopy of the Effective Cover of Algebraic K-Theory
Abstract: Spectral sequences are the primary computational tool in modern stable homotopy theory. Recently, the theory of spectral sequences has been revolutionized by the advent of “synthetic homotopy theory” wherein the data of a spectral sequence is repackaged as a category of modules over a certain type of commutative algebra object. These techniques have unearthed powerful connections between different areas of mathematics, in particular between stable homotopy theory and algebraic geometry. In this talk we will explore the foundational concepts present in the theory, and apply them to the novel calculation of the Artin-Tate homotopy groups of the effective cover of the real motivic spectrum representing algebraic K-theory.
10/6/2026, Tue. 2:30-3:30 pm in White 324
Speaker: Nick Gurski (CWRU)
Title: Action operads
Abstract: The original definition of an operad included an action of the symmetric groups, intended to model permuting the entries of a function. Later authors expanded the possible range of groups that could be used, first to braid groups and then ribbon braid groups. These families of groups that provide group actions on the objects of an operad are called action operads, and include symmetric, braid, ribbon braid, and cactus groups but not cyclic, dihedral, alternating, or hyperoctahedral groups. In this talk, I will try to motivate the definition of an action operad, explain some of the elementary algebra, and then give connections to the theory of clubs and monoidal categories specifically. This is joint work with Alex Corner.
9/22/2026, Mon. 2:30-3:30 pm in White 324
Speaker: Jacob Hinds (CWRU)
Title: Quillen’s Q-construction
Abstract: In Quillen’s paper Higher Algebraic K-Theory, Quillen defines the K-theory of an Exact Category and proves that this definition coincides with the K-theory of Rings. In this talk we will discuss some of the main results of this paper. We will introduce the classifying space of a category and some of its fundamental properties, and then use this along with Quillen’s Q construction to define the K-theory of an Exact Category and prove some of its basic properties. If time permits, I will discuss Devissage and Localization theorems in Abelian Categories which will together produce a long exact sequence useful to computing the K-theory of the integers.
9/8/2026, Mon. 2:30-3:30 pm in White 324
Speaker: Runhan Wang (CWRU)
Title: Introduction to group cohomology
Abstract: Group cohomology provides a natural way to study group actions through homological algebra, and it appears throughout algebra and homotopy theory. In this talk, I will introduce group cohomology and its interpretation as an Ext group, with an emphasis on how these groups can be computed using projective resolutions and extensions. I will then explain how group cohomology arises naturally in the homotopy fixed point spectral sequence. As concrete examples, I will compute the mod-2 cohomology of C_2 and, more generally, of elementary abelian 2-groups (C_2)^n.
Fall 2026
10/16/2026, Fri. 3:30 pm in KHS 119
Speaker: Jake Hinds (CWRU)
Title: String Diagrams: Intro to Math with Pictures
Abstract: Much of mathematics can be summarized as a study of the behavior of various types of processes that require inputs and produce outputs. In this talk we will explore a family of visual representations of these processes and how these representations can be used to produce meaningful results in computer science, probability, linear algebra and many more. We will walk through the necessary steps to take your given field and find a robust visual language for your processes. Of course this will eventually collide with the infamous category theory but we will bury this lead for as long as possible.
10/2/2026, Fri. 3:30 pm in KHS 119
Speaker: Yiming Chen (CWRU)
Title: Gaussian-Process Emulators for Distribution-Valued Simulator Output
Abstract: An N-body planet-formation simulator returns, at each input θ, three observable distributions rather than a scalar. I emulate this map by transforming each distribution to its quantile function, compressing the three curves with joint MFPCA (six components, 92.3% of training variance), and modelling the scores with stationary and treed Gaussian processes. Across 124 design values, the treed GP on unsmoothed scores is the best tested candidate (balanced CRPS 0.2508 vs 0.2537 for a θ-free mean-density baseline). Score smoothing does not help, and the square-root vs quantile comparison depends on the metric. Reconstruction error is about one-twelfth of prediction error, so the bottleneck is predicting scores from θ under heavy realization noise. The outputs are non-Gaussian and clustered, the signal is weak, the score surfaces are locally non-stationary, and there are several related channels. These findings motivate my research direction: generalized, multi-output, non-stationary GPs for functional, replicated simulator output.
9/18/2026, Fri. 3:30 pm in KHS 119
Speaker: Angad Singh (CWRU)
Title: Modeling neurite mechanics in growth cones
Abstract: Directed neurite outgrowth depends on the balance between cytoskeletal forcing, bending resistance, and adhesion. The work models the neurite as an inextensible planar elastic rod with tip moment and follower-force loading. Mechanical equilibrium is solved using a damped Newton method, while growth and adhesion are modeled through a grow–bend–pin framework. Simulated curvature is compared with experimental results to investigate how growth-cone mechanics can produce persistent neurite turning and looping.
9/11/2026, Fri. 3:30 pm in KHS 119
Speaker: Quinnlan Aiken (CWRU)
Title: Immersed Boundary Simulation of Fast-Firing Extrusomes
Abstract: Fast-firing extrusomes are specialized organelles that rapidly discharge their contents upon receiving an appropriate stimulus. Among these, we consider the nematocyst, the stinging organelle of jellyfish. Nematocysts present a compelling subject for computational biofluid modeling due to the extreme discharge velocities occurring at micro-length scales. In this talk, we present a fluid-structure interaction model of nematocyst discharge using the Immersed Boundary Method, implemented via the open-source, HPC-optimized IBAMR software suite. We discuss the physical motivation for modeling these dynamics within a non-Newtonian fluid and outline ongoing and future research directions in high-speed extrusome simulation.
9/4/2026, Fri. 3:30 pm in KHS 119
Speaker: Brandon Oliva (CWRU)
Title: Illumination bodies for ball-convex bodies
Abstract: We introduce illumination bodies and weighted illumination bodies in the class of n-dimensional R-ball convex bodies. These bodies may be regarded as dual counterparts of the recently introduced R-ball floating bodies. We prove that the illumination bodies are convex. We also show that a left derivative of volume gives rise to a surface area measure for ball-convex bodies, the relative surface area measure. In dimension 2, we establish an isoperimetric inequality for this relative surface area.
10/14/2026, Wed. 3-4 pm in Nord 206
Speaker:
Title:
Abstract: