Friday September 18
Speaker: Dr. Yunus Zeytuncu ( University of Michigan - Dearborn)
Abstract: In this talk, I will share lessons from developing undergraduate research opportunities and community-building. I will discuss the growth of our undergraduate research programs, including an NSF-funded REU Site, and how our program has evolved from a primary focus on mathematical analysis to broader connections with computer science, computation, and emerging areas of mathematics.
Along the way, I will highlight selected student projects and results in spectral geometry, reinforcement learning, Gröbner bases, and discrete optimization. I will conclude with practical lessons about recruiting students, building mentoring structures, and creating programs that can evolve with students, faculty, and new mathematical directions.
AWM Speaker Series talk by Dr. Nan Cen (Saint Louis University)
Title: Optimization and Learning for Intelligent Network Control
Abstract: Intelligent network control plays a critical role in improving the performance of next-generation wireless networks in dynamic and complex environments. This talk explores how mathematical optimization and machine learning can be combined to improve network performance and adapt to changing conditions. Two networking scenarios are considered. First, for indoor wireless networks combining visible light and radio frequency (RF) communication, we formulate a joint user association and power allocation problem as a mixed-integer nonlinear optimization problem and develop a reinforcement learning approach to address it. Second, for outdoor space-air-ground integrated networks combining optical and RF communication, we formulate a routing optimization problem to minimize end-to-end communication delay and develop a graph neural network-assisted reinforcement learning approach. The talk highlights how mathematical optimization and learning-based algorithms can complement each other in addressing complex network control problems.
Time: Monday , October 26, 3:00-4:00 PM
Location: TBA
AWM Pizza and Game Night
Join us for our first welcoming event of the year! We will have games, good company, and pizza.
Time: Monday September 14, 3:00-4:00 PM
Location: Ritter Hall Lobby
SpinM is an intensive one-week summer program that brings together undergraduate students for a collaborative first research experience in mathematics. Program details can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/spinM2026