Peter R. W. McNamara

Peter R. W. McNamara is a Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Bucknell University in central Pennsylvania. He received his Ph.D. from MIT in 2003 under the supervision of Richard Stanley, following undergraduate studies at Trinity College Dublin. His academic career includes postdoctoral positions at LaCIM (Université du Québec à Montréal), Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, and visiting positions at MIT, UC Berkeley, and Trinity College Dublin.

• Ph.D.: MIT (2003), Advisor: Richard Stanley
• B.A.: Trinity College Dublin

McNamara's research focuses on combinatorics, particularly algebraic and order-theoretic aspects. His work centers on symmetric and quasisymmetric functions, P-partitions, edge labellings of posets, and bijective combinatorics. He has made significant contributions to understanding positivity and equality questions in symmetric function theory and the combinatorial topology of partially ordered sets.

His recent publications demonstrate continued productivity in algebraic combinatorics, with a focus on quasisymmetric functions, P-partitions, and the structure of various posets. The publications show a consistent research trajectory with increasing collaboration and sophisticated applications of combinatorial methods to algebraic structures.

• Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence (2025)
• Simons Foundation Collaboration Grant (2012-2018)
• Charles W. and Jennifer C. Johnson Prize (2003)
• MIT Presidential Fellowship (1999-2000)

McNamara has successfully mentored numerous undergraduate researchers, including several honors thesis students who have gone on to pursue doctoral studies. His teaching portfolio at Bucknell is extensive, covering courses from calculus to advanced combinatorics and algebra. He has also been actively involved in university service, chairing multiple departmental and university committees, and organizing academic conferences including sessions at the American Mathematical Society meetings.

His professional activities include extensive conference organization, editorial reviewing for major combinatorics journals, and participation in the Mathematical Olympiad community.