Nadia Lafrenière

Nadia Lafrenière is an Assistant Professor with a limited-term appointment at Concordia University. She holds a Ph.D. in Combinatorial Mathematics from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), under the supervision of Franco Saliola. Previously, she was a John Wesley Young Research Instructor at Dartmouth College. Her research focuses on algebraic combinatorics, particularly spectral properties of combinatorial structures, card shuffling dynamics, and dynamical algebraic systems. She is also deeply engaged in mathematics outreach, designing activities for diverse audiences through radio shows, walking tours, and educational workshops.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Combinatorial Mathematics (2019), UQAM
• M.Sc. in Complexité palindromique des mots et des arbres (2016), UQAM

Research Interests:
Her work explores spectral properties of random walks, combinatorial actions on permutations, and homomesy in dynamical systems. She has contributed to studies on interval-closed sets, toggle groups, and Markov chain mixing times. Her methods bridge algebraic combinatorics with probability theory, often involving eigenvalue analysis and poset theory.

Outreach Contributions:
Lafrenière co-hosted the French radio show L’oeuf ou la poule, presenting monthly math segments for four years. She co-created Maths in the city walking tours in Montreal, Chicago, and Trois-Rivières, using urban landscapes to illustrate mathematical concepts. For schools, she offers workshops on Braess’s paradox, magic tricks, and mathematical problem-solving, tailored for K-12 audiences.

Grants & Collaborations:
Supported by the Institut des Sciences Mathématiques, she delivers talks on applied combinatorics (e.g., traffic modeling, relationship optimization). Her collaborations span North America, with co-authors like Joel Brewster Lewis, Jessica Striker, and Rosa Orellana.

Labs & Future Work:
Her research continues to investigate combinatorial dynamics, particularly homomesy phenomena and eigensystem analysis of shuffle operators. She actively promotes mathematics through accessible public engagement initiatives.