2026

Smiling bearded man in navy sweater at a warmly lit restaurant table.

Joining Us: Andy Heeszel

  • by Marianne Waage

My name is Andy Heeszel, and I am joining as a Arthur J. Krener Math Fellow. I previously graduated with my PhD in Statistics from Ohio State in May 2026. My primary research interests are in applied probability and interacting particle systems. I have most recently been interested in stochastic epidemic models that do not have the attractiveness property and studying the outbreak size and speed of the outbreak. I also enjoy playing disc golf, watching football, running, and cooking.

Headshot photograph—smiling person with long dark curly hair with a medium blue textured background.

Joining Us: Amanda Schwartz

Amanda received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in May 2026, where she was advised by Thomas Lam. She is interested in algebraic combinatorics and connections to knot theory and is currently working on problems related to invariants of plabic links and cluster algebras.

Photograph of a smiling man with glasses in green jacket on snowy mountain peak.

Joining Us: Owen Ekblad

Owen Ekblad received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Michigan State University in June 2026. He studies mathematical quantum physics, with a particular focus on disordered systems. He was born and raised in Michigan in the Ann Arbor area, and enjoys spending time outdoors on hikes and long walks. 

Smiling woman in brown sweater standing by the Arboretum creek with trees and greenery.

Joining Us: Colleen Robichaux

Colleen Robichaux is interested in algebraic combinatorics. Her work focuses on Schubert calculus and computational complexity. She received her Ph.D. in 2022 from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under the supervision of Alexander Yong. After receiving her degree, she went on to University of California, Los Angeles where she was a Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow and NSF Postdoctoral Fellow.

Diagram showing crystal-field orbital splitting for different lattice directions with small cubes. At the right, showing a simplified 'skeletal' version with less detail.

Skeletons of Quantum Symmetries

  • by Sarah Brauner (University of Pennsylvania), Zajj Daugherty (Reed College), Sarah Mason (Wake Forest University), and Anne Schilling (University of California, Davis)
Anne Schilling collaborated on emerging research regarding ways to organize large sets of data. Read more on their work, and where it's going.
Smiling woman with curly hair and glasses in black blazer, arms crossed.

In Memoriam: Mariel Vazquez

With deep sorrow we report the news of the passing of Mariel Vazquez on July 5, 2026, at the age of 55. Mariel was an esteemed applied mathematician and an internationally recognized member of the scientific community. She was well known for applying knot theory and topology to DNA and influencing the development of the field of DNA topology. Mariel leaves behind a distinguished academic career and a trail of devoted students and collaborators.

Michael Kapovich in white shirt and glasses pointing at a large chalkboard covered with math equations

In Memoriam: Michael Kapovich

...Заколюченные параллели
Преподали нам славный урок:
Не делить с подонками хлеба,
Перед властью не падать ниц,
И не верить ни в чистое небо,
Ни в улыбки сиятельных лиц....

With scoundrels, never break your bread, 
Before no power bow your head, 
And put no trust in shifting sand, 
Nor in the smiles of high and grand.

by poet Alexander Galich

Subscribe to 2026 Content