Benjamin Braun

Professor of Mathematics

Lexington, KY 40506-0027 USA

Phone: (859) 257-6810

Fax: (859) 257-4078

Email: benjamin.braun "at" uky "dot" edu

Office: 831 Patterson Office Tower

Office Hours (Fall 2026): Mondays and Wednesdays 1:00-1:50, and by appointment

Website: sites.google.com/view/braunmath

About Me

I am a Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Kentucky. My mathematical research is in geometric, algebraic, and topological combinatorics, specifically the study of integer points in rational polytopes and cones, quasi-polynomials and generating functions, integer partitions and compositions, simplicial and cell complexes arising in combinatorics, graphs and associated matrices, graded algebras and associated resolutions, Groebner bases and triangulations, and applications of combinatorics.

I also have research interests at the intersection of the humanities, social sciences, teaching and learning, and mathematics, related to topics such as active learning, using writing in mathematics courses, history of mathematics, math and social justice, critical theory (especially feminist and reader-response), and connections between mathematics education and other disciplines. I serve as a co-organizer of the University of Kentucky Mathematics Community and Ethics Working Group.

AI in Math Research Statements

AI and LLM use: I follow the first two membership commitments of the Association for Human Mathematics. Thus, I do not work with commercial AI companies, and I do not use AI or LLM tools to generate mathematical texts. I believe that writing should have human authorship.

Referee and review activities: I will only agree to referee submitted manuscripts that include a transparent disclosure regarding AI and/or LLM use/non-use. This might be a disclosure statement contained within the manuscript itself, or it might be a statement contained in the cover letter for the submission. If the AI disclosure statements make clear that the authors did most of the work, and that the AI/LLM was used for what I consider to be minimal assistance (grammar checks, literature searches, etc.), then I will consider accepting the referee or review request. I will decline to referee or review any paper that is produced with AI or LLM use that replaces human authorship and reasoning (AI-generated text, proof arguments, etc.).