Ina Petkova

Ina Petkova is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Dartmouth College, specializing in low-dimensional topology with a focus on Heegaard Floer homology and its applications to knot theory. She is affiliated with the Department of Mathematics at Dartmouth College, where she has held academic positions since joining the institution. Her research explores advanced topics such as Lagrangian cobordisms, spectral invariants, and contact structures, often involving collaborations with other researchers in the field.

Her academic trajectory includes teaching roles at Columbia University and Rice University prior to Dartmouth, where she instructed courses ranging from calculus to advanced topology. She actively mentors students, supervising PhD candidates and undergraduate researchers in projects tied to geometric topology and knot theory. Notable collaborations include work on bordered Floer homology, Khovanov homology, and Legendrian knots.

Professionally, she co-created the Dartmouth Summer Hybrid Undergraduate Research (SHUR) program, fostering student engagement in cutting-edge mathematical research. Her work often bridges theoretical concepts with computational tools, such as developing graphical calculators for Legendrian knots and analyzing causal structures in spacetimes through knot invariants.

Outside academia, Petkova is an avid ice hockey player and golfer, having participated in international tournaments and local marathons. These activities complement her academic life, reflecting a balance between rigorous scholarship and community involvement.