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Steve ButlerView profile

Professor

• Spectral Graph Theory
• Enumerative Combinatorics
• Mathematics of Juggling
• +3 more

Steve Butler is a Professor and the Barbara J. Janson Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Iowa State University. His research focuses on spectral graph theory, combinatorics, and the mathematics of juggling. He earned his Ph.D. from UC San Diego (2008) under Fan Chung and completed an NSF Postdoc at UCLA with Benny Sudakov. Research Interests: Spectral Graph Theory: Studies eigenvalues of graph matrices, equitable partitions, and Laplacian properties. Recreational Mathematics: Explores mathematical patterns in juggling, card shuffling, and performance. Combinatorics: Investigates Eulerian numbers, distance matrices, and graph automorphisms. Scientific Awards: Barbara J. Janson Professorship (2017) LAS Early Achievement in Teaching Award (2014) Cassling Family Faculty Award (2014) MAA Iowa Section Award for Distinguished Teaching (2015) NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2011) Advising and Outreach: Butler actively collaborates with students, producing educational videos and organizing undergraduate research initiatives. He served as Iowa State's calculus coordinator (2018-2020) and contributes to outreach programs for young STEM enthusiasts.

Theo DouvropoulosView profile

Assistant Professor

• Algebraic Combinatorics
• Coxeter groups
• Artin groups
• +4 more

Theo Douvropoulos is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas. He works on Algebraic Combinatorics with a focus on Coxeter groups, Artin groups, hyperplane arrangements, poset homology, Hurwitz numbers, and Frobenius manifolds. His research bridges algebraic structures with geometric and topological phenomena. University of Texas at Dallas University of Massachusetts at Amherst (former) Brandeis University (former) University of Minnesota (PhD) His work includes generalizing Hurwitz numbers to reflection groups, studying deformations of restricted reflection arrangements, and exploring connections between W-parking spaces and noncrossing partitions. Recent projects involve spectral analysis of the W-Laplacian and its applications in Coxeter-Catalan combinatorics. Publications span topics like Lyashko-Looijenga morphisms, cyclic sieving phenomena, and matrix tree theorems for reflection groups, demonstrating interdisciplinary applications across algebra, geometry, and topology.

Alain HertzView profile

Professor

• Operations Research
• Management Science
• Combinatorial Optimization
• +6 more

Alain Hertz is a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. He is affiliated with two major research centers: Institut de valorisation des données (IVADO) and Groupe d'études et de recherche en analyse des décisions (GERAD). His expertise spans operations research, management science, and algorithm development with applications across multiple industries. Professor Hertz specializes in combinatorial optimization, graph theory, algorithms, heuristics and metaheuristics. His research bridges theoretical mathematics with practical applications in scheduling, vehicle routing, and decision support systems. Recent work explores graph-based approaches for recommender systems and chemical graph theory, demonstrating the versatility of his mathematical frameworks. His publication record shows consistent output across top journals in operations research and graph theory. Recent articles (2021-2025) focus on extremal graph theory, chemical graphs, graph coloring variants, and applications of graph theory to recommender systems. This demonstrates both theoretical depth and practical relevance in his research trajectory. Prix de la ministre de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport - Gouvernement du Québec (2011) Professor Hertz has supervised 13 doctoral students and 18 master's students, with thesis topics ranging from optimization methods for semi-supervised clustering to wind farm network design. His supervision approach emphasizes both theoretical foundations and practical applications, preparing students for careers in both academia and industry. His research has been supported by various grants enabling collaborative work with international partners. Through his affiliations with IVADO and GERAD, Professor Hertz contributes to interdisciplinary research initiatives that connect mathematical theory with real-world problems in data science, artificial intelligence, and industrial engineering.

Olivier MarchalView profile

Professor

• Mathematical Physics
• Geometry
• Integrable Systems
• +10 more

Olivier Marchal is a Mathematics Professor at the University of Saint-Étienne and a researcher at the Institut Camille Jordan. His work bridges Mathematical Physics, Geometry, Integrable Systems, and Probability Theory. Research Focus: Specializes in Random Matrix Theory using Topological Recursion, with applications in enumerative geometry, combinatorics, Toeplitz determinants, and integrable differential systems. Also explores β-ensembles, sub-Gaussianity properties, and data analysis for applied sciences (medicine, biology). Awards: Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) membership since Sept. 2022 Authorship: Authored 4 textbooks on statistics and probability. Contact: olivier.marchal@univ-st-etienne.fr

T. Kyle PetersenView profile

Professor

• Combinatorics
• Enumerative Combinatorics
• Algebraic Combinatorics
• +1 more

T. Kyle Petersen is Professor and Chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at DePaul University's College of Science and Health, where he serves as a full-time faculty member specializing in combinatorics research and education. Education history: AB, Washington University in St. Louis PhD, Brandeis University (2006), supervised by Ira Gessel Research focuses on core and specialized areas of combinatorics: Enumerative Combinatorics : Counting methods and sequence analysis Algebraic Combinatorics : Algebraic structures in discrete mathematics Topological Combinatorics : Geometric and topological approaches Recent publications (2019-2021) demonstrate broad engagement with combinatorial theory and applications—including permutation studies (Sós Permutations), probabilistic card shuffling models, geometric puzzle theory, Coxeter group analysis, and inquiry-based learning frameworks. This work consistently bridges theoretical foundations with educational innovation. Beyond research, Dr. Petersen actively contributes to pedagogical advancement through the Academy of Inquiry-Based Learning, promoting student-centered mathematics education.

Vasilisa ShramchenkoView profile

Professor

• Algebraic Geometry
• Mathematical Physics
• Integrable Systems
• +4 more

Vasilisa Shramchenko serves as Full Professor and Associate Director of Graduate Studies and Research in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Sherbrooke. Her work bridges advanced algebraic geometry with mathematical physics, focusing on structural frameworks governing complex systems. Educational background: Master of Science in Mathematics, St. Petersburg State University (2000) Ph.D. in Mathematics, Concordia University (2005) Her research program integrates Frobenius manifolds, integrable systems, and Riemann surface theory through the lens of isomonodromic deformations and Riemann-Hilbert problems. Key contributions include foundational work on Hurwitz spaces, Painlevé equations, and Eynard-Orantin topological recursion, revealing deep connections between algebraic curves, moduli spaces, and differential equations. This interdisciplinary approach extends to combinatorial enumeration and quantum field theory applications. Publication trends indicate sustained focus on algebro-geometric methods for solving nonlinear systems, with recent work emphasizing cluster algebras and superelliptic curve structures. Her output consistently appears in high-impact journals spanning mathematical physics and pure mathematics. Scientific recognition: No awards explicitly documented in source material Administrative leadership in graduate studies complements her research role, though specific grant funding or advisee information remains unreported. She actively contributes to the Algebraic and Geometric Structures Research Team and the Sherbrooke Mathematics Circle, fostering collaborative exploration of mathematical frontiers.