Math Dept 2026-27 Newsletter 2
Monday, 21 September 2026
Past newsletters can now be reached via the department website.
[Click on “About” and then “News and Events”].
Newsletter is sent out when there is something new.
Please send entries by the end of the workweek–Ed.
MEETINGS AND SEMINARS IN THE DEPARTMENT
MONDAYS
Seminar on Topological Semigroups
Time TBA
On May 4 Neil Hindman spoke about “Cartesian Products of semigroups, FC, and SFC”
Contact coordinator for zoom invite.
Coordinator Dennis Davenport
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Data Science Seminar
Faculty and Graduate Students are invited to present their research at the Data Science Seminar. This includes research in other areas that involves data science.
Contact coordinator for more information.
Co-ordinator: Edmund Ameyaw
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Algebra and Combinatorics Seminar
Combinatorics & Algebra Seminar which had been running for a number of years at George Washington University will now be a joint venture between the GW and Howard math departments. The organizers of the seminar are Joel Lewis & Robert Won (GW) and Sam Hopkins & Minh-Tam Trinh (Howard). The talks will take place 4-5pm on Mondays, in Rome Hall 459 at GWU.
The first talk will be given by Robert Won on next Monday September 21.
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TUESDAYS
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Math 300: Mathematics Graduate Seminar
This is a series of talks on research topics by faculty aimed at Graduate Students.
On April 14, Joon Ha talked about “Understanding Diabetes through Mathematical Models”. On April 21, Ahmet Yildirim spoke about “A Memory Based Quantitative Framework for Postmortem Interval Estimation with Uncertainty Bounds.”
Co-ordinator Dennis Davenport
AI, combinatorics, and number theory seminar
Alternate Tuesdays 2 to 3pm.
On Sep 29, Matilde Lalin of the Universite de Montreal will be the speaker.
This is organized by Angelica Babei as part of her NSF grant.
Contact organizer for zoom link.
WEDNESDAYS
Math Club meetings
TBA
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Math Biology Seminar
Wednesdays
Coordinators: Katie Gurski, Yeona Kang, Joon Ha, Sayomi Kamimoto, Chris Kim
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SIAM undergraduate research seminar
On April 8 Madison Simmons spoke.
Title: Validation of Real-World Treatment Comparative Effectiveness in Membranous Nephropathy using MENTOR Trial Data
More information : Contact Jillian Alexander
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THURSDAYS
Number Theory Seminar
Seminars are on Thursdays, 3.15 to 4.15pm.
On Sep 3, Angelica Babei spoke about noncongruence modular form and their computation.
Contact coordinators for zoom link.
Coordinators: Angelica Babei and Sankar Sitaraman
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FRIDAYS
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Friday Chill Math (problem session)
Jermaine McDermott is organizing informal problem sessions for students interested in exams such as the Putnam exam.
Fridays 1.30 to 3 pm, room 203.
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Graduate Students Seminar
Seminar meets fridays 2.30 to 3.30pm.
Contact person: Toni Smith
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Mathematics Department Colloquium
Fridays, 4.10 to 5pm. Room 109.
On Friday Sep 25, Olga Bernardi of the University of Padua will be the speaker.
Topic TBA.
On fridays Sep 11 and Sep 18, we had moderated in-person discussions on AI and Math (see articles below) led by Angelica Babei, Dennis Davenport, and Bourama Toni.
The colloquium schedule and past videos are available at this website: https://deleo.website/HU/colloquium.html
TALKS AND WORKSHOPS OUTSIDE DEPARTMENT
1. (Thanks to Talitha Washington) From Theory to Technology: Mathematicians in AI
This AWM virtual seminar, is happening on Friday, September 25th, 2026, from 4:00 pm-5:30 pm ET and will feature a panel of three experts working in artificial intelligence.
This seminar is part of their Communicating Employment Opportunities series intended to connect AWM Student Chapter Members with working mathematicians but open to anyone interested. The series answers questions about the day-to-day lives of mathematicians working in various sectors.
2. (Thanks to Dennis Davenport) UDC Sixth annual teaching and learning conference
At UDC, Nov 19. Abstracts deadline Sep 25. More Information
3. (Thanks to Talitha Washington) STATFEST 2026, Sep 17 and 24.
This workshop is free to register. It is aimed at under-represented student groups who might be interested in a career in Statistics.
4. (Thanks to Dennis Davenport) NAM undergraduate MATHFEST 2026
Sep 24-26, Winston-Salem University. Registration is closed now.
5. (Thanks to Talitha Washington) Shenandoah Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics (SUMS) conference
Saturday, Nov 7 at James Madison University.
6. (Thanks to Sam Hopkins) Towson University Undergraduate Research Conference
The Department of Mathematics at Towson University will host the 15th Regional Undergraduate Mathematics Research Conference. The conference will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10 am until 5:30 pm on Towson University campus, which is located in the North Baltimore area (registration starts at 9:30 am). We invite undergraduate students (at all levels of their studies in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, and Mathematics Education) to present at the conference. Students can present results of completed original research in mathematical sciences or give an expository talk or give a talk about research projects in progress. They can also just attend the conference.
7. Mid-atlantic Algebra, Geometry and Combinatorics (MAAGC) workshop
Register by September 23 to receive full consideration for funding for travel and housing.
When: Friday to Sunday, October 23-25, 2026
Where: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA
In previous newsletters:
Free webinars on grant proposal process, data science, etc.,
Fifth International Conference on Enumerative Combinatorics and Applications
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. (Thanks to Bourama Toni) The mathematics department sends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Nandi Leslie on her appointment to the Howard University Board of Trustees. Dr. Leslie is a graduate of our department and daughter of Joshua Leslie, our former Chair and colleague. She is an internationally recognised mathematician and currently principal technical fellow at RTX, leading groundbreaking research on AI, ML, and cybersecurity.
2. Katie Gursky (co-PI) and Yeona Kang (PI) were awarded an NSF grant titled "Modeling HIV Drug Resistance Through a Biochemical-Immunological Lens"
They also have a new paper:
K.F. Gurski, Y. Kang, Y. And Ma, A Darwinian model for the evolution of drug resistance to long-acting PrEP during an early HIV infection, PLOS One, 21(8): e0355833 (2026).
3. Inaugural doctoral regalia meetup
During black history month the museum of African-American history and culture will host a doctoral regalia meetup. On Saturday feb 7 recent doctoral graduates from all disciplines are invited for a group photo and walk through the museum.
In previous newsletters
Videos from “Journeys of Black Mathematicians”
AMS Special Session organized by Ahmet Yildirim
SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
(from various sources)
1. (Thanks to Dennis Davenport)
Positions at Clark Atlanta University
Open faculty positions in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Clark Atlanta University, including Lecturer and tenure-track Assistant Professor positions beginning Fall 2026.
The department is chaired by Howard University graduate Dr. Lakeshia Legette Jones.
2. Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science (MPSDS)
Applications for the Michigan Program in Survey and Data Science (MPSDS) 2027 master’s and PhD cohort are now open. Virtual Information sessions on Oct 9 and Nov 9.
3. Environmental Management Scholarship Program for STEM Students
Program for undergraduates, in US DOE office of environmental management. Application due Nov 1.
4. DOE Fellowships
(a) U.S Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation's (CMEI)
Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO) funds research, development and demonstration (RD&D) to enable the use of bioenergy, hydrogen, and fuel cells in applications across multiple sectors.
Their fellowship information.
(b) Science Education and Internship Program (SEIP): Engineering, Environmental, and Physical Sciences Fellow
This one-year fellowship opportunity, with the possibility of extension, is open to current and recent graduates interested in engineering, environmental remediation, and the physical sciences. Fellows will contribute to one of the nation’s largest environmental cleanup and revitalization efforts at the Y-12 National Security Complex and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. More Information
5. AMS Fellowships
Four AMS research fellowships are now accepting applications through September 30. These opportunities are open to U.S.-based career mathematicians. More information and Application
Stefan Bergman Fellowship: $25,000; for research in real/complex analysis or PDEs.
Joan and Joseph Birman Fellowship for the Advancement of Women Scholars: $75,000; midcareer fellowship to advance women in mathematics.
AMS Centennial Fellowship: $75,000; supports outstanding mathematicians’ research.
Claytor-Gilmer Fellowship: $75,000; supports excellence in research and the participation/success of Black mathematicians.
In previous newsletters
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) positions
and several internship opportunities.
INTERESTING ARTICLES AND WEBSITES
During the past two fridays, we had discussions in the department about the promise and perils of AI in mathematics. Here are a few related articles.
a) (Thanks to Sam Hopkins) Statement by Fields Medallists
This statement, titled “A Severe Misalignment of AI in Mathematics,” is signed by 25 Fields medallists. They state that the goals of the AI companies and the mathematical community are not aligned.
b) If math is more than proof, we need to better celebrate the rest of it
This guest post on Terry Tao's blog by Grant Sanderson (creator of 3Blue3Brown) charts a possible reconfiguration of graduate research and professional research by giving more weight to explainers and expository articles and videos by mathematicians and graduate students.
c). Scientific American article on AI, mathematics, and the environment
This article discusses the effect of AI on mathematics as well as society and the environment.