Newsletter for 2025-26

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A new beginning for a new Academic Year

Welcome to Math's new source for news.

Read the Chair's Update for Fall 2025!

Fall 2025 Highlights

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Iyer's Grant to Study Complexity of Fluid Flows

Sameer Iyer delves into the intricacies of fluid dynamics and shares his vision for broadening public engagement with the field.

Read about Iyer's research
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Life After Davis? How Puzzling!

Alumnus Kevin Christian discusses his professional pursuits in market research and his creative passion for constructing crosswords.

Read more about this alum
Roger Wets stands, presenting, in front of a projection of a rainbow parabolic surface and an array of vectors.

In Memorium: Roger J-B Wets

Our colleague Roger Wets passed away in April 2025. We reflect on the impact his life had and his vibrancy.

In Memoriam

Research Articles

The Complexity of Fluid Flow

Sameer Iyer delves into the intricacies of fluid dynamics and shares his vision for broadening public engagement with the field.

A time-lapse photo showing water from a small stream cascading around several medium to small rocks.

Predicting DNA Shapes with Language Theory

Mariel Vazquez describes recent work on predicting DNA shapes, for use in research in disease caused by mutations like cancer.

Rendered graphic of a twisted human DNA chain in flesh tones with a blue background.

Equations in the Sand

Anne Schilling reflects on the formative experiences that ignited her passion for mathematics and offers an overview of her research involving Markov chains.

Low ocean waves crawl up the beach towards two seagulls that stand in sand. The Pismo Beach pier juts out in the background.

The Math of Daily Life

Roger Casals Gutiérrez studies caustics, which are geometric optics defined as a set of points where light rays bundle together in varying intensities.

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New Faculty

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Anuj Kumar

Joining Us

Visiting Professor

KAPs

Lecturers

Students walking along a wet path lined with trees at night, the glow of Shields Library in the background.
Winter, a time for research!
Read what's new for Winter 2026

Winter 2026 Highlights

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Fast Algorithms for N-body Problems and Beyond

Abi Gopal explains the intriguing math and history behind his research in n-body problems.

Read about Gopal's research
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Research Opportunities, Calculus Challenges

Vice Chair Elena Fuchs discusses the challenges of introductory mathematics education, as well as new opportunities in undergraduate research.

Catch up on the Undergrad Program
Craig Tracy, an older man with glasses sitting outdoors at a café, wearing a dark grey collared shirt, smiling softly.

In Memoriam: Craig Tracy

In January 2026, Professor Emeritus Craig Tracy passed away. His research with Widom had wide-ranging effects, and his strength of purpose will be missed.

In Memoriam
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Collaboration and Community
Two smiling graduate students standing before a UC Davis research poster titled Cryptology: the RSA cryptosystem.

Graduate Program Updates, 2026

Adam Jacob fills us in on how the graduate program is fostering a better connected graduate community.

Click here for grad program updates 

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Graduate Group in Applied Math, 2026

Martin Fraas explains his vision of GGAM's interconnected disciplines, and a pathway towards improved post-graduate outcomes.

Read this year's news on GGAM

Spring 2026 Highlights

A student in a blue wizards hat explains mathemagical tricks to several Picnic Day goers.

Puzzles, Folds, and Bubbles Galore: Picnic Day Highlights

Gorgeous weather encouraged a great crowd for annual UC Davis Picnic Day. Our Department members delighted Picnickers with a glorious display of math in a delightful array of forms.

Read Picnic Day Highlights!

After Davis: Nonlinear Navigation

A smiling Kevin and his wife on a forest trail, on a sunny day in t-shirts and hats.

After Davis: Camera, Genetics, and Samba

Smiling man in a fedora plays a tambourine stick with an energetic samba band in blue shirts and colorful costumes. Photo (C) Ralph Arvesen.

gAWM: Fun Events and Community Building

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In Memoriam: Joshua Sumpter

Joshua, smiling with glasses in blue jacket before orange autumn leaves and a brick wall.

Diving into Math through Theater!

Emmy Noether and her contributions, and how they were celebrated through a rare theater presentation.

An actress portraying mathemetician Emmy Noether swims in a pool. The actress is portrayed in black and white, and the pool is vibrant blue.

News of Note from the Last Year

Catch up on notable awards from the last academic year.

A white watertower emblazoned with the UC Davis logo in blue stands to the right of striking autumn trees with leaves of bright red, orange, and brown.

Alum Updates

Alums have written in to tell us about their life after Davis.

A photo of a graduation ceremony, down the center aisle. Graduates in motorboards sit on each side, with a large UC Davis logo at the end, and several faculty in robes speaking to the group.

Breathing New Life into Undergrad Research

Read about the Davis Math Lab, a new undergraduate research opportunity. Plus, a highlight on recent undergrad theses.

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Several students stand with awards in hand, applauding as another is recognized. Elena Fuchs smiles, as she announces. An audience joins in by clapping.

Department Awards, June 2026

Undergraduate Awards

Congratulations to our undergraduate Department Awards recipients.

 

See all our awards

Graduate Awards

Congratulations to our graduate Department Awards recipients.

 

See all our awards

Research and Instruction Awards

Congratulations to our Department Awards recipients.

 

See all our awards

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newsletter 2025 Bruno Nachtergaele