Michael E. Gage

Michael E. Gage is a full Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Rochester. He earned his B.S. from Antioch College and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Stanford University in 1978 under Robert Osserman. He has held visiting positions at Michigan State University, University of Delaware, University of Pennsylvania, Case Western Reserve University, Institute des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques (Paris), and University of California at San Diego.

• Education:
  • B.S., Antioch College
  • Ph.D., Stanford University (1978), supervised by Robert Osserman

Prof. Gage specializes in differential geometry, focusing on curve shortening flow (mean curvature flow), isoperimetric inequalities, and eigenvalue estimates on Riemannian manifolds. His work on Gehring's conjecture and generalizations to Minkowski/Finsler geometries has applications in crystal growth, material science, and image enhancement. He has mentored graduate and undergraduate students in these research areas.

His contributions include the WeBWorK online homework system, developed with Prof. Arnold Pizer since 1996, which revolutionized STEM education through immediate student feedback. The system, supported by NSF grants, has been widely adopted and won multiple awards.

• Scientific Awards:
  • MAA Seaway Section Distinguished Teaching Award (1996-97)
  • University of Rochester Goergen Award (1997)
  • ICTCM Award for WeBWorK Innovation

Prof. Gage served as faculty advisor for the Society for Undergraduate Mathematics Students (SUMS) until 2001 and acts as the department's liaison to the Mathematics Association of America (MAA). His teaching innovations through WeBWorK have significantly impacted undergraduate mathematics education nationally.