University of Virginia Mathematics Department
Congratulations to Our 2026 Math Graduates!
Event date: 2026/05/16
The Mathematics Department celebrated its 2025–2026 graduates at the Diploma Ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2026, held at the Rotunda’s north steps. Congratulations to all our new bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates — we wish you the very best in your next chapter!
Mathematicians Outperform AI in Solving a Combinatorics Problem
Mathematics professor Leonid Petrov , with collaborators David Anderson (Ohio State University) and Greta Panova (University of Southern California), has resolved a 10-year-old problem in algebraic combinatorics that AI-driven approaches had failed to crack. Despite recent excitement about AI as a tool for mathematical discovery, no automated system had been able to locate a counterexample to the long-standing Merzon-Smirnov conjecture on Schubert polynomials. Petrov, Anderson, and Panova disproved the conjecture by combining sharper computational methods with new theoretical insight, finding the first counterexample at n = 17, just beyond the reach of earlier exhaustive searches.
The preprint is on the arXiv: Computation and sampling for Schubert specializations. A new UVA Arts & Sciences article highlights the result and its place in the broader conversation about AI in mathematics.
Petch Chueluecha and Max Sanchez Garza Receive Outstanding Mathematics GTA Awards
Congratulations to Petch Chueluecha and Max Sanchez Garza on receiving the Outstanding Mathematics Graduate Teaching Assistant Award! This department award recognizes graduate teaching assistants for their exceptional dedication to teaching and their positive impact on students.
Mikhail Tikhonov Receives All-University Graduate Teaching Award
Congratulations to Mikhail Tikhonov on being awarded an All-University Graduate Teaching Award! This university-wide award recognizes outstanding graduate teaching assistants across all schools at the University of Virginia.
Max Sanchez Garza named Jefferson Fellow
Congratulations to Maximiliano Sanchez Garza on being named a Jefferson Fellow!
Master thesis defense: Sam Lichtman
Event date: 2026/04/29
Sam Lichtman will defend the Master thesis on Wednesday, April 29. The title is
“Time zero behavior of stochastic diffusions with multiplicative noise”.
- Date: Wednesday, April 29
- Time: 10:00 am
- Location: Kerchof 111
Everyone is invited to attend.
AWM Colloquium: Marianne Korten (Kansas State University)
Event date: 2026/04/21
“What Are Free Boundary Problems?”
On Tuesday, April 21, 2026, we are excited to host an AWM Colloquium by Professor Marianne Korten from Kansas State University, at 5:00 PM in Kerchof 111.
2026 Mathematics Diploma Ceremony
Event date: 2026/05/16
May 2026 Mathematics Diploma Ceremony
Saturday | May 16th | 2:30 – 4:00 P.M.
The Rotunda, North Steps | 1826 University Avenue | Charlottesville, VA 22904
In the case of inclement or severe weather, the ceremony will be held at Warner Hall at the same time. Check the Weather Plans site for updates.
- Fair-Weather Location: The Rotunda, North Steps
- Inclement-Weather Location: Warner Hall
- Department Contact: Malvika Rajagopal: geg7jw@virginia.edu
Please visit the Office of Major Events for the complete schedule of events for finals weekend, including the Lawn Ceremony.
Applied Mathematics Colloquium, April 9: Karen Kafadar (UVA Statistics)
Event date: 2026/04/09
“Statistical Modeling: Two real-world examples”
On Thursday, April 9, 2026, the Applied Mathematics Colloquium presents Commonwealth Professor Karen Kafadar from the Department of Statistics at the University of Virginia. The talk is at 3:45 PM in Ridley Hall, Room G008, with a pre-talk coffee break from 3:00 to 3:30 PM in Kerchof Hall 314.
16th Southeastern Lie Theory Workshop — ICM 2026 Satellite Conference
Event start date: 2026/07/17
The 16th Southeastern Lie Theory Workshop, an ICM 2026 Satellite Conference, will be held at University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA from July 17–21, 2026. The workshop is funded by the NSF and the Institute of Mathematical Sciences at UVA. Registration is free and open.
Conference website with details
Organizers: Pramod Achar (LSU), Kailash Misra (NCSU), Daniel Nakano (UGA), You Qi (UVA)
Applied Mathematics Colloquium, March 12: Jose Perea (Northeastern University)
Event date: 2026/03/12
“Topological Methods for the Analysis of Data”
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the Applied Mathematics Colloquium presents Professor Jose Perea from the Department of Mathematics and Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University. The talk is at 3:45 PM in Ridley Hall, Room G008, with a pre-talk coffee break from 3:00 to 3:30 PM in Kerchof Hall 314.