IUPUI Math Competition Team places in Virginia Tech contest

We are pleased to announce that the IUPUI Math Competition Team met with success in the Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest held on November 1, 2008. 74 schools took part in the contest, which is in its 30th year, and there were 398 individual participants. Contestants at each participating school take the two and one-half hour exam on their own campus under the supervision of one of their own faculty members. Individuals compete for $750 in regional prizes for which any contestant is eligible, and $250 in local prizes for which only Virginia Tech students are eligible.

The IUPUI team consisted of senior math majors Igor Minevich and Joel Martin, and junior math major Elizabeth Sweeney. All team members did very well, and Igor placed in the 25th position overall.

The Math Competition Team is coached by Prof. Eugene Mukhin in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Congratulations to all participants on a job well done!

Dr. Boukai to Step Down as Chair

(March 24, 2009)- Prof. Benzion Boukai announced that he will be stepping down as chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at IUPUI, effective June 30, 2009. Prof. Boukai, who holds a doctorate from the State University of New York at Binghamton, has served in this position since January 1999. With 45 full-time faculty and some 30 part-time instructors serving over 13,000 students each year, Mathematical Sciences is one the largest academic units on the IUPUI campus.

"For the past ten years, our campus and the School of Science have been very lucky to have someone of Prof. Boukai's extraordinary commitment and outstanding administrative skills at the helm of a department that is central to the education mission of IUPUI," said School of Science Acting Dean Bart S. Ng. Ng noted that during Prof. Boukai's tenure as chair, the Department of Mathematical Sciences has grown in faculty and staff and in the number of students served each semester, and has expanded its course offerings and programs that now include an actuarial sciences option for its undergraduate majors and a new PhD program in biostatistics. Building on the department's traditional strengths in mathematical physics, integrable systems and dynamical systems, Boukai expanded significantly its research programs through targeted faculty hiring in several interdisciplinary areas.including mathematical neuroscience, bio-fluid dynamics, scientific computing, applied statistics, and biostatistics.

Under Boukai's leadership, the department also embarked on a number of initiatives aimed at increasing student success in mathematics. In partnership with University College, the department established the Mathematics Assistance Center (MAC). The MAC provides many beginning students with section- and coursei- specific mentoring, one-on-one tutoring and other forms of supplemental instruction. Additionally, a summer mathematics preparatory program has been implemented as well as other curricular innovations.including the incorporation of MAPLE.TA as a tool for assessing student learning in key mathematics courses.

In early 2005, Boukai led the effort to develop, jointly with the Division of Biostatistics in the IU School of Medicine, a PhD degree program in biostatistics, designed to meet the growing national need for highly trained statisticians with specialized skills in the area of health and life sciences. This new PhD program was subsequently approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education in May 2008, and is now admitting its second cohort of students for the fall 2009 semester.

Boukai also founded the IUPUI Signature Center for Mathematical Biosciences (CMB) to spearhead research and programmatic activities in biomathematics. The Center, located on the 4th floor of the Health Information and Translational Sciences Building (HITS), houses several faculty affiliates, post-doctoral fellows and graduate students working on research problems in computational neuroscience, bio-fluid dynamics as well as the modeling and analysis of proteomics and genomics data.

After stepping down as chair, Boukai plans on returning to full-time teaching and research, and will continue to assist in departmental administration by serving as director of the graduate programs in biostatistics and statistics, and acting director of the CMB. He especially looks forward to continuing his research in mathematical statistics and applications of sequential methodologies, and his service as Associate Editor of Sequential Analysis.

As successor to Prof. Boukai, Acting Dean Bart Ng has appointed Prof. Zhongmin "James" Shen as chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, effective July 1, 2009.

Dr. Shen Appointed Chair

(March 24, 2009)- IUPUI School of Science Acting Dean Bart S. Ng has announced the appointment o f mathematics professor Zhongmin "James" Shen as the next chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Shen will succeed Prof. Benzion Boukai who is stepping down after 10 years of outstanding service as chair. Prof. Shen will assume the position on July 1, 2009.

"Prof. Shen's outstanding research record as a differential geometer and his significant service contributions to the U. S. mathematical community makes him an ideal leader for the department," said Ng. "I look forward to working with him to further develop Mathematical Sciences, already a very strong department, into one of distinction at the national level."

"I am very pleased to become the next chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences," said Shen. "I want to work with other units on campus to promote interdisciplinary research and to continue to strengthen the undergraduate and graduate programs in the department."

Shen received his doctorate degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1990. Before joining the IUPUI faculty in 1993, Shen held visiting appointments at the Mathematical Science Research Institute, Berkeley, and at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. From 2005 to 2007, Shen took a leave of absence from IUPUI and served as Program Director for Geometric Analysis at the National Science Foundation in Washington, DC.

A highly prolific researcher, Shen is the author of four research monographs and nearly 70 papers in top journals. He is also a member of the editorial boards of several leading mathematics journals, including Differential Geometry and Its Applications. Shen is especially well known for his pioneering research in Finsler geometry. Together with his collaborator, the late C. C. Chern, Shen has played a decisive role in the revival and the explosive growth of research activities in this area during the past decade. A highly sought after speaker, he has given over 100 invited talks in many countries around the world, including Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Iran, Japan and Romania. Additionally, Shen holds honorary appointments at several leading universities in China, including the K. P. Chao professorship at Zhejiang University and a guest professorship at the University of Science and Technology.

Jeff Watt Named Distinguished University Teacher

(March 19, 2009) - The Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America has awarded Jeffrey X. Watt with the 2009 Distinguished University Teaching of Mathematics Award, the organization's highest honor for a math educator. The designation recognizes Watt's stellar record of teaching excellence and his contributions to promoting mathematics teaching and learning at IUPUI and across the state.

"Dr. Watt is an enthusiastic and innovative educator," said Benzion Boukai, professor and chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences. "He is an exceptionally talented instructor, judged by many to be one of the best in our department and the School of Science. He is a model educator who personifies all that we aspire our best mathematics teachers be."

Watt's work at IUPUI has resulted in improved student placement, improved counseling and better analysis of educational best practices. According to his faculty peers, he is at the forefront o f initiative after initiative to improve learning.

Watt is associate chair and associate professor of mathematical sciences in the School of Scienc e. He holds degrees in geophysics, mathematics and math education, receiving his Ph.D. from Indiana University.

He serves as a university consultant on K-12 mathematics for the Indiana Department of Education, and he works with the American Diploma Project to set learning outcome standards for high school algebra and graduation requirements.

IUPUI Math Contest Offers Cash Prizes for Area High School Students

(March 30, 2009) - In a triangle, the length of one side a is equal to one third of the sum of the lengths of the other two sides b and c. Show that the angle opposite side a is the smallest.

Would you try to solve this math problem for $500? Area high school students will.

The Department of Mathematical Sciences in the School of Science at IUPUI is hosting the 12th annual High School Mathematics Contest for high school students in central Indiana. Contestants are presented with four mathematics problems and one short essay relating to an application of mathematics to game theory. IUPUI mathematics professors created the questions and will judge all the entries. Student submissions will be judged based on elegance of the solution as well as accuracy of the answer.

Prizes include one $500 first-place prize, five $200 second-place prizes and 10 $100 third-place prizes. Additionally, students who earn a cash prize will also receive a $2,500 renewable scholarship to attend full-time the School of Science at IUPUI. Honorable mention students will receive a gift, and all entrants earn a certificate.

For more information about the contest, including the questions and instructions for entering, visit the Math Department website at www.math.iupui.edu/news/contest. The contest deadline is April 17, 2009.

Math Department Awards & Scholarships

The Department of Mathematical Sciences at IUPUI announced the following awards and scholarships at the March Faculty Meeting:

Faculty:

Prestigious External Recognition Award (PEAR): Michael Misiurewicz

Trustees Teaching Award: Evgeny Mukhin

Full-Time Lecturer Teaching Award: Joan Rainey

Associate Faculty Award: Patty Slipher

Bernie Morrel Teaching Award for FT Faculty: Rodrigo Perez

Bernie Morrel Teaching Award for Lecturers: Elizabeth Its

Staff:

Outstanding Women Faculty and Staff Leaders (Outstanding New Staff Member): Andrea Brian

Academic Advising Award (FT Faculty or Staff): Andrea Brian

Students:

Barry Goldwater Scholarship Nomination: Liz Sweeney and Bill Karr

School of Science Chancellor's Scholar : Igor Minevich

Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Undergraduate. Research: Igor Minevich

IUPUI's Top 100: Igor Minevich, Ronald Roberts, Liz Sweeney, and Alexa Winsky

Teaching Assistant Award: Stephen Chamblee

John D. Barnwell Award: Tyler Foxworthy

Frank G. Lambertus Award: Brett McFall

Outstanding Advanced Graduate Student Award (Post Quals): Matt McBride

Outstanding Beginning Graduate Student Award (Pre Quals or Masters): Milind Dasai

Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award: Stephen Chamblee

Anna K. Suter Outstanding Undergraduate Achievement Award (Senior Math Major): Igor Minevich

Outstanding Senior Pure Math Major Award: Igor Minevich

Outstanding Senior Actuarial Science Major Award: Matt Tiley and Geoff Seidl

Outstanding Senior Mathematics Education Major Award: Ben Pankop

Outstanding MAC Mentor and Tutor Award: Sarah Batic

Undergraduate Math Major Spirit Award: Kevin Lis and Rohonda Adamson

Anna K. Suter Scholarship for Continuing (Sophomore, Junior, Senior) Students: Liz Sweeney, Bill Karr, Kossi Fokle, Dahao Zheng, Yeonjoo Yoo and Joshua McDonald

Yuri Abramovich Memorial Scholarship: Liz Sweeney and Bill Karr

Anna K. Suter Scholarship for Beginning (Freshman) Students: Daniel Murphy, Benjamin Roberts, Ryan Robinson and Alexander Stufflebeam

Outstanding SPAN Student Award: Michael Jokl

Igor Minevich Awarded National Security Agency Internship

"It is a very pleasant place to work. Everybody is nice, goes by their first name, and the whole atmosphere is very friendly and informal. You are not allowed to talk or write about work outside of work, so you simply cannot work more than allowed, which means you will have free time outside of work, no matter what you do. This prevents very devoted people from working too hard; I am such a person, so I found this to be a really good aspect of working here. Another good aspect is that you get to manage your own time: come in whenever you want to, and leave whenever you want to, as long as you work at least 80 hours in a (two-week) pay period. You can also accumulate credit hours (up to 24 at any one time) which you can use as you like to take time off of work, plus annual and sick leave. You can usually publish anything you like after working here, too, but you must go through a pre-publication process if what you are publishing is at all related to the research you do here. Plus, it's good money. I have absolutely no moral issues with working here and completely understand the necessity for all the policies implemented; to me they seem quite reasonable. I highly recommend having an internship here and coming to work here, even if you do not stay for very long, just to experience it."

Igor is happy to have had the opportunity to partake in this internship and looks forward to applying for the Graduate Math Program internship with the NSA for next summer. In the Fall of 2009, he will start work on a Ph.D. in mathematics at Brown University.

Statistics in Pharmaceutica Research

E. Mukhin Awarded NSF Grant

In September 2009, E. Mukhin was awarded a National Science Foundation grant DMS-0900984. It is a 3 year standard NSF grant. The title of the project is "Bethe algebras". Dr. Mukhin will be studying algebraic objects arising in the theory of integrable systems with applications to geometry, representation theory and combinatorics.

Dr. Rubchinsky Awarded National Institutes of Health Grant.

Dr. Rubchinsky received a research grant from the National Institutes of Health to use mathematical methods to study neurophysiology of human brain in Parkinson's disease. The use of techniques and ideas of dynamical systems theory and nonlinear time-series analysis will advance our understanding of the pathological activity of the brain in a major neurodegenerative disorder and will suggest potential treatment strategies. The grant supports a collaboration of applied mathematicians and a neurosurgeon from the Indiana University School of Medicine.