Lia Bronsard

Lia Bronsard is a Professor in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at McMaster University. She holds a PhD from New York University (1988) under Robert V. Kohn and has held positions at Brown University, the Institute for Advanced Study, and Carnegie Mellon University before joining McMaster in 1992. She served as President of the Canadian Mathematical Society (2014–2016) and is a Fellow of the CMS (2018). Her research focuses on geometric flows, applied mathematics, and calculus of variations, with notable contributions to interface dynamics, vortices in superfluids, and superconductivity models. She has been a plenary speaker at major conferences, including SIAM (2016) and the Mathematical Congress of the Americas (2017).

Education:

• Bacc., Université de Montréal (1983)
• M.S. & Ph.D., New York University (1988)

Research Interests: Bronsard applies geometric flows to study reaction-diffusion systems, pattern formation, and grain boundaries. Her work on vortices in superconductors and liquid crystals has advanced understanding of phase transitions and material science. Key topics include Ginzburg-Landau models, isoperimetric problems, and nonlinear partial differential equations.

Awards & Editorial Roles:

• 2010 Krieger–Nelson Prize
• Editorial Board Member: Nonlinear Analysis, Mathematics in Science and Industry, and Canadian Applied Math Quarterly

Teaching & Academic Leadership: Bronsard teaches advanced courses in analysis and applied mathematics, including Real Analysis II, Functional Analysis, and graduate-level topics. Her academic leadership includes editorial roles and national society presidencies.