Martha Precup

Martha Precup is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Washington University in St. Louis. Her primary research interests lie in algebraic geometry, combinatorics, and representation theory, with a focus on using Lie theory to strengthen connections between these fields. Precup earned her PhD from the University of Notre Dame in 2013 and has held postdoctoral positions at Northwestern University and Baylor University. She currently leads research supported by an NSF CAREER grant and an NSF grant, focusing on Hessenberg varieties, symmetric functions, and combinatorial representation theory.

Her work explores geometric objects like Hessenberg varieties, which are subvarieties of flag varieties, and their relationships to combinatorial structures such as tableaux and graphs. Recent projects include analyzing components of Springer fibers, studying K-orbit closures, and investigating connections to the Stanley-Stembridge conjecture. Precup’s research often involves intricate interplay between algebraic geometry and combinatorics, with applications to representation theory and geometric topology.

Notable achievements include winning the NSF CAREER award in 2023, recognized for her innovative work integrating research and education. She advises PhD students and contributes to initiatives like the Combinatorics Seminar and Women in Math at WashU. Her publications span prestigious journals such as Annales de l’Institut Fourier, Transformation Groups, and La Matematica, with a focus on geometric and combinatorial properties of algebraic varieties.

Current projects include extending the generalized Springer correspondence and exploring torus fixed point sets in Hessenberg varieties. Precup collaborates widely, with co-authors including Megumi Harada, Julianna Tymoczko, and others, advancing the understanding of Hessenberg varieties and their role in modern mathematics.