News About Students
(Page 1 of 3)		 OLDER>>  

Honors Project

Colleen Boucher, WS'22, completed an Honor Project in Mathematics this year. The project, which was advised by Professor Joseph Rusinko, was titled, "Beyond Place Cells: Using Algebraic Geometry to Determine Underlying Structure of Receptive Fields Associated with Sensory Neurons." An Honors project, which requires two semesters of work, involves a written exam, a long Honors thesis, and an oral exam by a panel of three examiners.

Colleen will be enrolled in the PhD program in Neuroscience at Penn State University this Fall.

Here is the abstract for her Honors thesis: "In 2014, John O’Keefe was jointly awarded a Nobel Prize for his 1971 discovery of place cells, neurons in the hippocampus that fire dependent on your position in your surrounding environment. Each place cell has a representative receptive field—the area in which the place cell fires when occupied by the organism—which, because of its overlapping structures, can provide us with information about an individual’s surroundings. Given a collection of firing patterns from place cells, tools from algebraic geometry can be used to uncover the overlapping relationships in the receptive field. The visualization of these overlapping structures gives insight into how signals of the brain contribute to the individual’s perception of their surroundings. For example, in mice exploring the area of a cage, their receptive field is minimally visualized in a two- or three-dimensionally embedded representation.

"In my honors thesis, I am proposing a pipeline to test actual neuronal recordings within established theoretical frameworks to uncover the computation of perception by the brain. Adaptation of this general pipeline will bridge a connection between theoretical models of computational receptive field work with actual sensory system experimentation. Taking electrophysiology data from open-source data sets, the dimensionality of a receptive field representation may lend itself to insight on the represented physical dimension that an individual may process and perceive different senses in. Obtaining the represented physical dimension of different senses allows us to better understand how the brain processes information to produce our perception of the world."

Posted 1 June 2022

Math Intern and Teaching Fellows

The Math Intern for the academic year 2021–22 is Connor Parrow. The Math Intern offers help to students in introductory and intermediate level math courses. Connor is a 2021 graduate of William Smith College who majored in mathematics. She also had a second major in biology. Connor was awarded the Robert L. Beinert Prize, which is given to a Hobart and William Smith Colleges senior for excellence in Mathematics.

Help is also available from Teaching Fellows — current students who can provide assistance in introductory courses.

The Mathematics Teaching Fellows for the Fall 2021 semester include math majors Aarushi Agarwal, Colleen Boucher, Meryem Boumalak, Jonathan Garcia, and David Corrales Marco. Allie Low, who graduated last year but is continuing at HWS in the Masters program in Education, is also working as a Teaching Fellow.

And for Computer Science, the Teaching Fellows for the Fall are computer science majors Kidus Ayele, Lindsey Crowell, Taylor Muenzberg, Nick Plants, Reagan Wolf, and Alex Zaykowski.

Posted 26 September 2021

Summer REU Students Win Awards

For the third time, the Department hosted a Natural Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Mathematics in the summer of 2021. Ten students came from colleges and universities around the country to live and work on our campus for nine weeks. The students experienced researching closely with a faculty member and a team of peers, practiced and honed their mathematical writing and presenting skills, participated in a colloquium series of invited speakers, and traveled to graduate schools (Cornell and the Rochester Institute of Technology) to learn about specific programs and the graduate experience in mathematics more generally. This summer the students worked with Prof. Jennifer Biermann in algebraic combinatorics, Prof. Jonathan Forde in mathematical virology, Prof. Yan Hao in neuron networks, and Prof. Erika L.C. King in graph theory.

At the end of the nine weeks, the students remained on campus to attend the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) conference MathFest, which was held virtually. Each of the four research groups gave a virtual talk. Their talks were among nearly one hundred undergraduate talks at the conference. Both Prof. Hao and Prof. Biermann’s groups won MAA Outstanding Student Paper Session Presentation Awards, and Prof. Forde’s group won The Andersen Prize, awarded in memory of Janet Andersen by the Special Interest Group of the MAA for Mathematical and Computational Biology, and recognizing an outstanding presentation and work in areas related to mathematical biology.

Pictured here are Professors Biermann, Forde, King, and Hao, in the front row, with their students at their end-of-the-program celebration at Seneca Lake.

Posted 31 August 2021

Departmental Student Prizes for 2021

The Department selects students to receive a variety of prizes for excellence in Mathematics and Computer Science. Full descriptions of the prizes and lists of past recipients can be found on the department's Prize Page. Here are the recipients for 2021:

  • The Robert Beinert Prize, awarded to a a graduating Senior for excellence in Mathematics, to Connor Parrow.
  • The John S. Klein Prize, awarded to a graduating Senior to recognize excellence in Computer Science, to Albright Dwarka and Mitchell Spring.
  • The Catherine Adele Rippey '35 Prize, awarded to a William Smith Senior to recognize excellence in Mathematics, to Alexandra Low.
  • The Glenn M. Lee Prize, awarded to the Hobart Senior who has been most proficient in mathematics and athletics, to Garrett McGowan.
  • The Abigail Mosey Book Prize, awarded to a Hobart or William Smith Senior for generosity in helping others to learn and appreciate mathematical ideas, to Alexandra Low, and Connor Parrow.
  • The William Ross Proctor Prize, awarded to the William Smith Sophomore who has achieved the highest rank in mathematics in her first two years at the Colleges, to Aarushi Agarwal, and Grace Bott.
  • The Irving Bentsen Prize, awarded to the second year student at Hobart College who has the most outstanding record in mathematics and computer science, to Kidus Asmare Ayele and Andrew Barsky.

Several Mathematics and Computer Science prize recipients also received other awards, including: the William A. Howe II ’15 Award in Education to Alexandra Low; the Outstanding Biology Student Prize to Connor Parrow; and the Sutherland Prize in Natural Sciences to Albright Dwarka

Posted 7 April 2021

ΦΒΚ 2021

The HWS chapter of ΦΒΚ, Zeta of New York, has announced the list of new student members for 2021. ΦΒΚ is a national honor society with chapters at 290 colleges an universities. According to its web site, "Since 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has championed education in the arts and sciences, fostered freedom of thought, and recognized academic excellence." The students selected for membership this year include three mathematics majors in the class of 2021:

  • Alexandra Low
  • Garrett McGowan
  • Connor Parrow

Posted 4 April 2021

Department Student Prizes, 2020

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science selects students to receive a variety of academic prizes. Full descriptions of the prizes and lists of past recipients can be found on the department's Prize Page. Here is the list of recipients for 2020:
  • The Robert Beinert Prize, awarded to a a graduating Senior for excellence in Mathematics, to Hugh (Nick) Mckenny and Kaitlyn Geraghty.
  • The John S. Klein Prize, awarded to a graduating Senior to recognize excellence in Computer Science, to Max Brodheim.
  • The Catherine Adele Rippey '35 Prize, awarded to a William Smith Senior to recognize excellence in Mathematics, to Kaitlyn Geraghty.
  • The Glenn M. Lee Prize, awarded to the Hobart Senior who has been most proficient in mathematics and athletics, to Andrew Koonz and Peter Thibodeau.
  • The Abigail Mosey Book Prize, awarded to a Hobart or William Smith Senior for generosity in helping others to learn and appreciate mathematical ideas, to Hugh (Nick) Mckenny, and Cody Roberts.
  • The William Ross Proctor Prize, awarded to the William Smith Sophomore who has achieved the highest rank in mathematics in her first two years at the Colleges, to Julia Bellamy, and Colleen Boucher.
  • The Irving Bentsen Prize, awarded to the second year student at Hobart College who has the most outstanding record in mathematics and computer science, to Dimosthenis Chrysochoou.

In addition to the departmental prizes, several graduating mathematics students were elected to the national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, by the local chapter of that organization: Math major Jesse Maltese and math minors Kelsey Pierce and Angus Pratt. Nick Mckenny was elected last year as a Junior.

Posted 9 May 2020

Math Intern for 2019–20: Sam LeGro

Sam LeGro is serving as the Department's Math Intern for the academic year 2019–20. Sam is a 2019 graduate of Hobart College, with a major in mathematics. As Math Intern, he is available afternoons and evenings, Sunday through Thursday, to offer help to students in introductory Math courses, including Elementary Functions and Calculus I and II.

Posted 30 September 2019

Professors Bring REU Program to HWS

In 2018, Professor Rusinko, together with Professors Forde and King, won a grant to run a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in mathematics at HWS. The REU runs for nine weeks each summer with ten students, at least eight of which are from other institutions across the country. In the summer of 2018, mathematics major Nick Mckenny ’20 participated in the REU and this summer mathematics major Connor Parrow ’21 is participating. The majority of the mathematics faculty in the department will be participating as research mentors at some point over the course of the grant. During the summer of 2018, Professor Rusinko lead research in mathematical phylogenetics, Professor Biermann lead research in algebraic combinatorics, Professor Gassert lead research in number theory, and Professor King lead research in graph theory. This summer, Professor Rusinko again is leading research in mathematical phylogenetics, Professor Bell is leading research in graph theory, and Professor Forde is leading research in mathematical virology. Students experience researching closely with a faculty member and a team of peers, practice and hone their mathematical writing and presenting skills, participate in a colloquium series of invited speakers, and travel to graduate schools to learn about specific programs and the graduate experience in mathematics. Below is a picture of the Summer 2018 group at the final dinner and poster session.

Posted 2 July 2019

DeBrine Earns AMS Trjitzinsky Award

In September 2018, the AMS made $3,000 awards to each of seven students across the country through the Waldemar J. Trjitzinsky Memorial Fund, which is made possible by a bequest from the estate of Waldemar J., Barbara G., and Juliette Trjitzinsky. One of the seven students was our very own mathematics major Hadley DeBrine '20. In addition to her mathematics major, Hadley also has a studio art minor. She has a deep appreciation for mathematics and loves applying mathematical concepts to all aspects of her life such as in her art classes. Her professors have been impressed with her ability to understand the subtleties of proof, and believe she has a knack for unpacking abstract ideas. For more information on the award, check out the AMS announcement here.

Posted 5 June 2019

Student Prizes for 2019

Every year, the department awards several academic prizes to students. This year's prize recipients were:
  • The Robert Beinert Prize, awarded to a a graduating Senior for excellence in Mathematics, to Qingyi Lu.
  • The John S. Klein Prize, awarded to a graduating Senior to recognize excellence in Computer Science, to Erika Cardenas and Camera Finn.
  • The Catherine Adele Rippey '35 Prize, awarded to a William Smith Senior to recognize excellence in Mathematics, to Qingyi Lu.
  • The Glenn M. Lee Prize, awarded to the Hobart Senior who has been most proficient in mathematics and athletics, to Russell Merchant.
  • The Abigail Mosey Book Prize, awarded to a Hobart or William Smith Senior for generosity in helping others to learn and appreciate mathematical ideas, to Read Bohanan, Taylor Mancini, and Joon (Philip) Yoo.
  • The William Ross Proctor Prize, awarded to the William Smith Sophomore who has achieved the highest rank in mathematics in her first two years at the Colleges, to Alexandra Low, Connor Parrow, and Margaret Wagner.
  • The Irving Bentsen Prize, awarded to the second year student at Hobart College who has the most outstanding record in mathematics and computer science, to Collin Urie.

For more about student prizes in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, including lists of past recipients, visit our department prizes page.

Posted 8 May 2019