معرفی
Cynthia Vinzant is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Washington, College of Arts and Sciences. Her research lies at the intersection of real algebraic geometry, combinatorics, and convex optimization, with a focus on polynomials, determinants, and matroids.
- Ph.D., Mathematics, UC Berkeley, 2011
- B.A., Mathematics and Neuroscience, Oberlin College, 2007
Her research interests include real algebraic geometry, combinatorics, convex optimization, tropical geometry, and spectrahedra. She studies the algebraic and combinatorial structures underlying optimization problems and geometric objects, particularly through the lens of hyperbolic and log-concave polynomials.
Her recent publications span topics such as tropicalization of principal minors, determinantal representations, Fourier quasicrystals, and log-concave polynomials. These works demonstrate strong interdisciplinary connections across algebraic geometry, combinatorics, optimization, and mathematical physics.
- Sloan Research Fellowship (2020)
- Best Paper Award, STOC (2019)
- von Neumann Fellowship, IAS (2020–2021)
- Bernard Friedman Prize, UC Berkeley (2011)
- Rebecca Cary Orr Prize, Oberlin College (2007)
She has advised several Ph.D. students including Tracy Chin, Jonathan Niño-Cortes, Joseph Rogge, Faye Pasley Simon, Michael Ruddy, Georgy Scholten, and Abeer Al Ahmadieh. She has received significant NSF funding, including a CAREER award (2020–2025) on determinantal, hyperbolic, and log-concave polynomials. She has taught courses in tropical geometry, convex algebraic geometry, and optimization at both the University of Washington and North Carolina State University.



