puzzles

This year our Department once again took part in Picnic Day at UC Davis, bringing a mix of math, creativity, and hands-on fun to visitors of all ages. Our booth drew a steady crowd throughout the day, with families, students, and curious guests stopping by to explore.

I got my Bachelors of Science in Mathematics at UC Davis in 1987. I worked as an actuary on defined benefit pension plans for about 5 years, then I worked at a management consulting firm in Menlo Park called Applied Decision Analysis (ADA) for about 5 years. At ADA we did market research, market modeling, market analysis, decision analysis, and risk analysis. I started doing pricing strategy for tech companies in Silicon Valley in 1997 and I'm still at it.

Chris studies theoretical computer science, with a focus on convex optimization, on random matrices, and on connections between theoretical computer science, pure mathematics, and statistical physics (e.g. sphere packing, spin glasses). Prior to coming to Davis, he was a postdoc at Bocconi University in Milan, and he received his Ph.D. in 2022 from the University of Chicago. Chris also likes designing crossword puzzles and puzzle hunts. On his days off, he likes to enjoy nature and swim in alpine lakes.