Rebecca Anne Hedwig Waldecker

Rebecca Waldecker is a Professor for Algebra at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, affiliated with the Institute of Mathematics and Faculty of Natural Sciences II. Her career spans roles at the University of Birmingham and collaborations with institutions like the University of Western Australia and the SwissMAP Research Station.

• PhD in Mathematics (2007) and Habilitation (2014) from Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
• Diplom in Mathematics, Statistics, and Econometrics (2003)

Her research focuses on finite group theory, permutation groups, and computational algebra, emphasizing symmetry applications in mathematics and beyond. She explores the classification of finite simple groups, local methods, and algorithm development using directed graphs and backtracking. Recent projects include the history of group theory and the "Big Mathematics?" initiative analyzing the CFSG (Classification of Finite Simple Groups) timeline (1950s-1980s).

Her 15 most recent publications (2012-2023) highlight trends in permutation group algorithms, symmetry in Riemann surfaces, and historical analysis of group theory. Key subfields include fixity constraints, automorphism groups, and computational methods via GAP and graph theory.

Scientific awards include the

• Cheryl Praeger Visiting Research Fellowship (2017)
• DFG, VolkswagenStiftung, and Mercator grants

She supervises students like Patrick Salfeld and Paula Hähndel and collaborates with researchers such as Chris Jefferson and Barbara Baumeister. Lab activities involve projects like "Exploring Graph Backtracking" and workshops on mathematical history.