Nickolas Castro

Nickolas Castro is an Instructor in the Department of Mathematics at Rice University, Houston, Texas. His research focuses on low-dimensional topology, particularly trisections of smooth 4-manifolds, symplectic/contact topology, and Heegaard splittings.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Mathematics (2016), University of Georgia, advised by David Gay
• Previous Roles:
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas
  • UC Davis Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Interests
Castro specializes in geometric topology, with emphasis on:

• Trisections of 4-manifolds (with/without boundary)
• Generic maps and Lefschetz fibrations on 4-manifolds
• Open book decompositions of 3-manifolds
• Heegaard splittings of 3-manifolds

Scientific Awards & Fellowships

• University of Georgia Graduate Student Excellence-in-Research Award (2017)
• UC Davis Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow

Additional Roles
Senior Scholar, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Doctoral Scholars Program (supports minority Ph.D. candidates pursuing academic careers).