Mircea Petrache

Mircea Petrache is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Mathematics, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. His research focuses on geometric deep learning, compositional learning, optimal transport, calculus of variations, and geometric measure theory, with applications to large point configurations and mathematical analysis. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from ETH Zürich (2013) and an MSc from Scuola Normale Superiore (2008).

Education:

• PhD in Mathematics, ETH Zürich, 2013
• MSc in Mathematics, Scuola Normale Superiore, 2008

Research Interests: Petrache explores the interplay between geometric principles and machine learning, particularly in equivariant networks and compositional systems. His work on optimal transport and calculus of variations addresses energy minimization and crystallization problems in materials science. Recent projects include symmetry-based structured matrices and topological pseudodistances for data analysis.

Grants: Fondecyt Regular Grant (2021–2025) on rigidity and uniformity in large point configurations.

Events & Organization: Co-organized workshops such as 'Theoretical and Mathematical Aspects of Deep Learning' (2022) and 'Calculus of Variations: A New Generation' (2024). Active in conferences including NeurIPS, ICIAM, and AIM workshops on discrete geometry.