معرفی
Thomas (Tom) Needham is an Associate Professor of Mathematics at Florida State University, where his work bridges pure geometry and topology with modern data-science challenges.
Research Interests:
Needham’s research centers on applying geometric and topological ideas—particularly optimal transport, Riemannian and symplectic geometry, and topological data analysis—to large and complex data sets. He develops theoretical frameworks, algorithms, and computational tools that reveal shape, structure, and relationships within high-dimensional data.
- Optimal transport theory and its generalizations (Gromov-Wasserstein, unbalanced transport)
- Metric and symplectic geometry in data contexts
- Topological summaries (persistence diagrams, Reeb/Merge trees)
- Statistical shape analysis and geometric statistics
Funding & Support:
His program is currently supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation through grants DMS–2324962 and CIF–2526630; prior support includes DMS–2107808.
Laboratory & Collaboration:
Needham collaborates extensively across mathematics, computer science, statistics, and application domains such as neuroscience and imaging. While no dedicated lab name is given, his projects involve multi-institutional teams and graduate students working at the intersection of geometry, topology, and data science.
