Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Zsolt Patakfalvi is an Associate Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), holding positions in the School of Basic Sciences (SB) within the Department of Mathematics (MATH). He is affiliated with the Chair of Algebraic Geometry (CAG) and the Section of Mathematics for Engineers (SMA-ENS). Additionally, he serves as Director of SMA-GE and holds roles in academic governance bodies like the Conference of Section Directors (CDS) and SB Faculty Management. His research focuses on Algebraic Geometry, particularly in birational geometry, positive characteristic methods, moduli theory, and mixed characteristic algebra. He explores topics such as Hodge theory, singularities, and applications to arithmetic geometry. Notable contributions include work on the minimal model program, test ideals, and counterexamples to classical conjectures in positive characteristics. He supervises doctoral students in areas like algebraic geometry and commutative algebra, including Jefferson Baudin, Léo Navarro Chafloque, and Linus Rösler. His past advisees include Emelie Arvidsson and Quentin Posva. Patakfalvi’s publications frequently address foundational questions in geometry, with recent work extending into perfectoid spaces and globally-regular varieties. He coordinates courses such as 'Algebra III - Rings and Fields' and 'Perfectoid spaces' at EPFL, reflecting his commitment to both research and education. His academic service includes managing educational programs within SB-SMA and contributing to institutional decision-making through CDS membership.
Ana Cannas da Silva is a Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics at ETH Zurich (Switzerland). She specializes in Symplectic Geometry , Geometric Topology , and Geometric Analysis . Her academic work includes research on symplectic toric manifolds, folded symplectic structures, and geometric quantization, with notable publications in journals like Pure and Applied Mathematics Quarterly and Mathematical Research Letters . Research Interests Symplectic Geometry Geometric Topology Geometric Analysis Hamiltonian Group Actions Toric Manifolds Recent Academic Activities Co-organized Symplectic Geometry Seminar (2021-2023) Supervised student theses on topics like contact toric manifolds, Hamiltonian actions, and symplectic linear algebra Authored research on Dedekind sums via Atiyah-Bott-Lefschetz theory (2023) and symplectic origami (2011) Teaching Lecturer for Mathematics I (2024), covering differential calculus and linear algebra Lecturer for Mathematics II (2024), focusing on multivariable calculus and partial differential equations Co-taught seminars on symplectic/contact geometry with Bahar Acu Academic Contributions Advised 20+ MSc/BSc theses at ETH Zurich since 2012 Co-organized conferences like D-Days (2013) and LP-60 (2023) Authored outreach book: Step by Step Symmetry (2016)
Grigory Mikhalkin is a Full Professor at the University of Geneva, where he has been a faculty member since 2008. He is considered one of the founders of Tropical Geometry, a domain of algebraic geometry governed by (max,+)-calculus where geometric objects degenerate to their piecewise-linear limits. He leads the "ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY" research group at the university. Mikhalkin studied at Leningrad and Michigan State University under the supervision of Oleg Viro and Selman Akbulut. After receiving his PhD in 1993, he completed postdoctoral training at Princeton, Bonn, Toronto, Berkeley, and Harvard (1993-2000). He served as associate and then full Professor at the University of Utah before moving to the University of Toronto, eventually joining the University of Geneva in 2008. Mikhalkin's primary research areas are Geometry and Topology, with a particular focus on Tropical Geometry. His work bridges algebraic geometry with combinatorial structures, exploring how complex geometric objects can be understood through their piecewise-linear tropical counterparts. This approach has proven fruitful in solving problems in enumerative geometry and has connections to mathematical physics through the study of sandpile models and self-organized criticality. His research group actively explores the connections between tropical geometry, symplectic geometry, and real algebraic geometry, organizing regular seminars including the "Séminaire Fables Géométriques." The recent publications of Professor Mikhalkin demonstrate a strong focus on the intersection of tropical geometry with sandpile models and self-organized criticality. His work has evolved to examine tropical aspects of number theory, lattice sums, and even applications to economics through auction theory. A significant portion of his recent research explores the patterns and structures that emerge in sandpile models across various lattices and dimensions, connecting discrete mathematics with continuum limits through tropical techniques. Prize of the St. Petersburg Mathematical Society (1999) Silver Medal of the Mexican Mathematical Society (2011) Canada Research Chair (2004-2009) Friedrich-Wilhelm-Bessel Research Award of the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation (2007-2008) European Research Council Advanced Grant (2010-2015) Chair of Fondation Sciences Mathématiques de Paris (2013-2015) Mikhalkin has successfully advised several PhD students to completion, including Kristin Shaw (2011), Lionel Lang (2014), Nikita Kalinin (2015), Mikhail Shkolnikov (2017), and Johannes Josi (2018). His research has been supported by prestigious grants including the ERC Advanced Grant and the Canada Research Chair. He presented his work at the Bourbaki seminar in 2003 and was selected as a Geometry speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians in 2006, highlighting the significance of his contributions to the field. Professor Mikhalkin leads the "ALGEBRA AND GEOMETRY" research group at the University of Geneva, which includes current members Thomas Blomme, Francesca Carocci, Aloïs Demory, Gurvan Mével, and Antoine Toussaint. The group has a strong track record of postdoctoral fellows and alumni, including notable researchers such as Ivan Bazhov, Johan Bjorklund, Rémi Crétois, and others. They organize several seminars including the "Séminaire Fables Géométriques" and have historical connections to the Battelle Seminar and Tropical working group Seminar.
Philipp Martin Reiser is a Researcher at the Department of Mathematics, University of Fribourg, working in Anand Dessai's research group. He completed his PhD in 2022 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) under Professors Wilderich Tuschmann and Fernando Galaz-García. His research focuses on Riemannian geometry and geometric topology, with an emphasis on positive curvature conditions, surgery techniques, and moduli spaces of metrics. Education: PhD (2022, KIT), supervised by Tuschmann and Galaz-García. Dissertation: 'Generalized Surgery on Riemannian Manifolds of Positive Ricci Curvature.' Research interests include: Topology/geometry of manifolds with positive Ricci curvature Intermediate Ricci curvature conditions Surgery constructions preserving curvature bounds Moduli spaces of metrics Lie group actions and orbit space dynamics His recent work explores applications of the Perelman gluing theorem, twisted suspensions, and cohomogeneity one manifolds. He has presented talks on curvature surgery techniques and scalar curvature moduli spaces. Labs/Groups: Active member of the Differential Geometry group at the University of Fribourg, collaborating with international researchers like David Wraith and Fernando Galaz-García.
Felix Schlenk is a Full Professor at the Institute of Mathematics within the Faculty of Science at the University of Neuchâtel. He previously held academic positions at ULB Brussels, Leipzig University, and ETH Zurich. His research focuses on symplectic geometry, Hamiltonian dynamics, and geometric analysis. PhD in Mathematics (ETH Zurich, 2001) Diploma in Mathematics with distinction (ETH Zurich, 1995) Research Interests: Symplectic and contact geometry Embedding problems in geometric topology Hofer geometry applications to dynamical systems Volume growth in symplectic automorphisms Capacity theory in convex symplectic manifolds Publications: His work spans symplectic embeddings, convex geometry dynamics, and volume growth in Dehn--Seidel twists. Notable contributions include foundational research on 4-dimensional symplectic ellipsoids. Keywords: Mathematics, Geometry, Dynamics. Contact: Email: felix.schlenk@unine.ch | Tel: +41 32 718 28 04
Gilles Vilmart is a Senior Lecturer (Maître d'enseignement et de recherche) at the University of Geneva's Department of Mathematics since 2013. His research focuses on numerical analysis of geometric and multiscale methods for deterministic and stochastic differential equations, emphasizing geometric numerical integration and numerical homogenization. He holds a PhD (2008, double doctorate from University of Rennes 1 and Geneva) and a Habilitation (2013, ENS Rennes). Former affiliations include the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), University of Rennes 1, and INRIA Rennes. He organizes the numerical analysis seminar with Martin Gander and Bart Vandereycken, and co-founded the CAMAS Consulting platform. He is a member of Swiss mathematical society, Swiccomas, and SMAI (France). Key achievements include the Young Researcher First Prize 2013 from Brittany Region for Mathematics. His work includes developing numerical methods for stochastic and multiscale systems, with software contributions like PIROCK and multirevolution integrators. He advises PhD students and organizes workshops on numerical analysis and complex systems.
Anton Alekseev is a Full Professor at the University of Geneva, specializing in Symplectic Geometry, Moment Theory, and Mathematical Physics. He leads the Algebra and Geometry research group. Education: PhD from the Steklov Mathematical Institute. Research Focus: His work bridges symplectic geometry with quantum algebra, emphasizing geometric quantization and low-dimensional topology. He contributes to mathematical physics through structural and categorical approaches. Leadership: Deputy Director of SwissMAP (2014–present) and Co-Director of the SwissMAP Research Station (2021–present), funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Research Group: Supervises doctoral students Rea Dalipi, Valerian Montessuit, Nikolai Perry, and Muze Ren, alongside postdoctoral researchers and lecturers including Andrey Bytsko, Giovanni Canepa, Ilia Gaiur, and Elise Raphael.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
François Genoud serves as Lecturer in the Mathematics Department at EPFL's School of Basic Sciences and has directed the Centre for Mathematical Sciences (CMS) since 2018. Previously, he held Assistant Professor positions at Delft University of Technology (2015-2017) and Associate Professor at Université Libre de Bruxelles (2017-2018). His educational background includes: Undergraduate Physics studies at EPFL (2000-2005) Graduate Mathematics at EPFL (2005-2008) Postdoctoral research at University of Oxford (2009-2010), Heriot-Watt University (2010-2013), and University of Vienna (2013-2015) Genoud's research centers on nonlinear partial differential equations with emphasis on Schrödinger-type equations. His work investigates standing wave stability, blow-up dynamics, and spectral properties in critical and inhomogeneous settings. He employs variational methods, bifurcation theory, and spectral analysis to address problems in mathematical physics and fluid dynamics, particularly focusing on mass-critical phenomena and delta-potential interactions. Current teaching includes Advanced Analysis I and specialized courses on Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2024-2013) reveals consistent focus on dispersive PDEs, with 80% addressing Schrödinger equations. Key trends include minimal-mass blow-up solutions (2018, 2023), stability under delta potentials (2016, 2019), and geometric approaches to orbital stability (2015). His work bridges abstract analysis with physical applications in quantum graphs and liquid crystals. Genoud actively contributes to academic governance as Member of EPFL's Section Directors' Conference and Interface EPFL-Gymnases committee, overseeing mathematics education initiatives. The Centre for Mathematical Sciences under his direction develops preparatory mathematics courses for EPFL students.
Prof. Frank Kutzschebauch is a Professor at the Mathematical Institute (MAI) of the University of Bern. His research focuses on complex analysis, algebraic geometry, and holomorphic automorphisms, with a strong emphasis on the geometry of Stein manifolds, density properties, and equivariant Oka theory. He has contributed significantly to understanding group actions on complex manifolds and factorization methods in holomorphic settings. His work bridges geometric analysis, algebraic structures, and invariant theory, with applications to affine algebraic geometry and symplectic topology. Key research interests include the algebraic density property, holomorphic automorphism groups, and the linearization of group actions. He has pioneered studies on Danielewski surfaces and the Andersén-Lempert theory, advancing understanding of flexible varieties and infinite transitivity in affine geometry. His recent work explores applications of Oka principles to equivariant mappings and the interplay between complex geometry and real-analytic structures. Prof. Kutzschebauch is also involved in educational innovation, leading initiatives like the Online Self-Assessment system in mathematics at the University of Bern. His academic service includes roles in institute management and editorial work for mathematical journals.
Paul Biran is a Full Professor at the Department of Mathematics, ETH Zurich, specializing in symplectic topology and algebraic geometry. He has held academic positions at both Tel-Aviv University and Stanford University. Research focuses on symplectic and algebraic geometry, with significant contributions to symplectic topology. Recognized with prestigious awards including the Erdos Prize and European Mathematical Society Prize. Email: paul.biran@math.ethz.ch
Dr. Jonathan Lorand is a Lecturer at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zürich , where he teaches Applied Category Theory for Engineering I and II . He is affiliated with the Frazzoli Group at the Institute for Dynamic Systems and Control, focusing on systemic thinking through category theory and its applications in engineering and interdisciplinary domains. Lecturer at ETH Zürich Affiliated with Frazzoli Group Co-author of a textbook on applied category theory Member of CODEWIND and Demos Institute boards Research Interests His work bridges applied category theory with practical systems modeling and optimization. Key areas include monotone co-design theory for engineering systems, duality involutions in categorical frameworks, and geometric representation theory. He has contributed to understanding isotropic structures in symplectic and Poisson geometry, as well as categorification techniques for negative information and resource management. Publications & Collaboration His publications span pure and applied mathematics, including work with collaborators like Andrea Censi, Eugene Frazzoli, and Alan Weinstein. He is co-developing a textbook and learning resources for practitioners in applied category theory.
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in LausanneSwitzerland
Anna Lachowska serves as a Lecturer in the Section of Mathematics (SMA-ENS) and as a Scientist at the Chair of Analytic Number Theory (TAN) within the Mathematics Institute at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), School of Basic Sciences. Her office is located at MA B3 445, Station 8, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland, where she maintains active research and teaching responsibilities. Dr. Lachowska's research focuses on representation theory with particular emphasis on quantum groups at roots of unity. Her work bridges pure mathematics and mathematical physics, exploring the intricate structures of small quantum groups and their centers. She has made significant contributions to understanding the representation theory of quantum groups in singular blocks and principal blocks, with applications to geometric representation theory and mathematical physics. Her publication record shows a consistent trajectory of research in quantum algebra since the early 2000s, with recent work (2021-2023) focusing on derived centers, affine Springer fibers, and tensor powers of representations. These publications appear in prestigious journals including Selecta Mathematica, Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society, and International Mathematics Research Notices, demonstrating the high impact of her work in the mathematical community. As an educator, Dr. Lachowska has taught a wide range of courses from foundational mathematics to specialized topics. She co-authored the book Beautiful, Simple, Exact, Crazy: Mathematics in the Real World (Yale University Press, 2015) with A. Khare, which aims to make mathematical concepts accessible to students outside the sciences. Her teaching portfolio includes Analysis I & II, Algebra, Representation Theory, Coxeter Groups, and Reflection Groups. Dr. Lachowska has been invited to speak at notable institutions including the Simons Center for Geometry and Physics (2022), Münster University (2021), and Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (2019), reflecting her standing in the international mathematics community. Beyond her academic work, she maintains an active interest in art, documenting her experiences at major exhibitions across European museums.
University of Applied Sciences and Arts LucerneSwitzerland
Michael Bächtold is a Lecturer at the Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture (HSLU), affiliated with the Institute of Natural and Humanities Sciences (ING). He holds a Diplom in Mathematics (ETH Zurich, 2005) and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Zurich and Università degli Studi di Salerno (2009). He completed an SNF Postdoc at Université Paris Diderot in 2010. His research focuses on Differential Geometry , Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations , Mathematical Optimization , Probability and Bayesian Statistics , and the History of Mathematics . His publications explore geometric structures in PDEs, Ricci-flat metrics, and jet space analysis. He has received notable awards, including the Humboldt-Medaille (1990) and the Pólya Prize (2005) . His work bridges pure mathematics with applied topics, emphasizing geometric and analytical methods.
Ilia Gaiur serves as a Research Fellow at the University of Geneva within Anton Alekseev's research group, focusing on advanced mathematical connections between geometry and differential equations. His work specifically targets the derivation of geometrical structures from the De-Rham framework of the Riemann-Hilbert correspondence, a fundamental relationship linking differential equations to monodromy representations. His research portfolio prominently features Geometry and Differential Equations as core disciplines, with specialized investigations into Riemann-Hilbert Correspondence structures, Integrability systems, and Poisson Geometry frameworks. This work contributes to theoretical mathematics through the exploration of geometric interpretations in differential equation solutions and symplectic structures. As an active member of Anton Alekseev's research team at the University of Geneva, Gaiur participates in collaborative projects examining deep mathematical structures at the intersection of geometry, topology, and mathematical physics, though specific laboratory facilities or team compositions are not detailed in available sources.
