Unless otherwise noted, all colloquia will be held from 3-4 pm in the Biosciences Building (BSB), room 3.03.02.
Spring 2026 Schedule
| Colloquium Date | Colloquium Presenter |
|---|---|
| February 2, 2026 | Generative Artificial Intelligence Methods for Plasma Physics Computations Dr. Diego Del Castillo Negrete February 2 abstract We report recent progress on generative artificial intelligence (AI) methods to accelerate turbulence simulation and kinetic computations of plasmas of interest to controlled nuclear fusion. These plasmas are far-from-equilibrium, strongly nonlinear systems exhibiting complex spatiotemporal multiscale dynamics that result in formidable computational challenges. For turbulence, we present the GAIT (Generative Artificial Intelligence Turbulence) framework based on the coupling of convolutional variational autoencoders, that encode precomputed turbulence data into a reduced latent space, and recurrent neural networks and decoders that generate new turbulence states [1]. Applications to plasma turbulence fluid models, exhibiting 400X acceleration, and gyrokinetic models are presented. For kinetic problems, we report progress on the use of AI methods to accelerate particle-based computations. These computations are time-consuming due to the need to follow large ensembles of particles to avoid statistical sampling errors. The physics models of interest are Fokker-Planck equations for the particle distribution function in phase space. The AI methods include Normalizing Flows and Diffusion Models [2]. Convergence analysis, along with numerical test experiments are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Applications include transport in 3D chaotic flows, and runaway electrons in magnetically confined fusion plasmas. [1] B. Clavier, D. Zarzoso, D. del-Castillo-Negrete and E. Frenod, Phys. Rev. E Letters 111, L013202 (2025); Physics of Plasmas 32 063905 (2025). |
| February 9, 2026 | Mathematical Modeling of Within-Host Dynamics of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Dr. Vitaly Ganusov February 9 abstract Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are bacteria causing disease tuberculosis (TB). Mtb has been with humans for thousands of years. Some estimates suggested that over 1 billion people died from TB over the course of human history. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a vaccine that was developed in the early 20th century as a means to prevent TB in children, and since its widespread use over 4 billion individuals have been vaccinated with BCG. We know that BCG is highly protective in children against TB but how it provides protection remains incompletely understood. In my talk I will discuss our mathematical modeling-based analyses of experimental data on Mtb dynamics in mice immunized with BCG. I will highlight how mathematics is useful at interpreting experimental data, at making predictions, and at suggesting experiments that are most informative. I will present a concept of strong inference in mathematical modeling that emphasizes the best practices of applying mathematics in life sciences. |
| February 23, 2026 | A New Waring's Problem for Quadratic and Hermitian Lattices Dr. Jingbo Liu February 23 abstract For each positive integer n, let gz(n) denote the smallest positive integer with the following property: whenever a positive definite integral quadratic form in n variables can be expressed as a sum of squares of integral linear forms, it can in fact be expressed as a sum of gz(n) such squares. In this talk, we prove that as n → ∞, the growth of gz(n) is at most an exponential of √n. We also introduce an analogous invariant gd(n) for Hermitian lattices over the ring of integers in an imaginary quadratic field E=Q(√-d), and we give an algorithm that determines the explicit value of gd(1). Finally, we discuss potential applications of this new Waring's problem to lattice-based cryptography. |
| March 16, 2026 | Magic Hamiltonian Dr. Marius Junge March 16 abstract I had to learn from experimentalists in quantum information theory that there are magic gates, which are harder to implement but can boost a cheap set of gates to a set of gates allowing to perform arbitrary quantum computation. In this talk, the magic Hamiltonian will be discussed, an analogue of magic gates in the realm of Lie algebras. Indeed, the famous Ising-Hamiltonian with magnetic field terms serves as a boost to exponentially increase the dimension of the generated Lie algebra. The aim of this talk is to illuminate the simple mathematical background, discoveries, and challenges in finding magic self-adjoint matrices which serve to improve quantum computation. This is joint work with Luke Visser and Jason Polack. |
| March 23, 2026 | LLM-Enhanced Learning: A Thought-Partner Alternative Dr. Tony Thrall March 23 abstract The emergence of LLM-based learning tools presents both opportunities and risks for data science education. Most current tools default to answer-provision, which risks undermining the deep understanding that employers increasingly demand. This presentation surveys the landscape, diagnoses the structural incentives behind the answer-provider problem, and proposes a "thought-partner" alternative grounded in five pedagogical principles. An instantiation of this approach—the EDA Companion—is currently in alpha testing. |
| March 30, 2026 | Leveraging Student Thinking: Taking Active Learning to the Next Level Dr. Jessica Gehrtz March 30 abstract At the K-12 level, there is evidence that instruction that leverages student thinking can lead to increased conceptual understanding and success for students. The ways in which instructors leverage student thinking in undergraduate STEM contexts, and what enables them to do so effectively, remains largely unexplored. We investigated how undergraduate STEM faculty use student thinking in their teaching, focusing on faculty who engage students in active learning during class. From analyzing interviews and video of a class lesson for eight undergraduate STEM instructors, we identified a group of instructors who exhibited high levels of leveraging student thinking and a group of instructors who exhibited low levels of leveraging student thinking. In this talk, I will discuss key similarities and differences between these two groups of instructors and possible explanations for why some STEM instructors are leveraging student thinking and others are not. |
| April 6, 2026 | TBD Dr. Christopher Mitchell |
| April 13, 2026 | TBD Dr. Cody Patterson |
| April 20, 2026 | Moving Forward: Fostering Quantitative Reasoning in its Absence Dr. Kevin Moore April 20 abstract A growing body of evidence suggests that students’ quantitative reasoning is critical for their success in STEM courses and fields. Quantitative reasoning supports their problem-solving abilities, their modeling processes, and their ability to use STEM ideas in everyday life. Despite its importance, common curricular approaches—particularly in mathematics—largely lack an intentional focus on quantitative reasoning. Complicating matters further, common curricular approaches to several key mathematical ideas stand in opposition to quantitative reasoning approaches. Supporting students’ quantitative reasoning thus requires giving attention to both the extant meanings students bring to the classroom and the quantitative reasoning-based meanings one intends for them to learn. In this talk, I identify one approach to addressing this issue. I also use this approach to discuss broader issues of supporting students’ quantitative reasoning, including the importance of students’ quantitative reasoning for creating productive mathematics education research settings. |
| May 1, 2026 | TBD Dr. David Papp Location: TBD |
