Invited speakers And Colloquia

Burak Kaya received his bachelor's degree from Middle East Technical University in 2010 and his PhD at Rutgers University in 2016. Upon returning to Turkey, he briefly worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Mathematics of Middle East Technical University and has been an Assistant Professors in the same department since 2017. Having trained as a mathematical logician, his research interests are set theory and applications of its techniques to other fields such as topological dynamics, group theory and graph theory.

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Tuesday, July 4, 17:00-19:00 (GMT+3) 

Title: Descriptive graph combinatorics and automorphism groups

Abstract: In this talk, we shall cover some classical and recent results from descriptive graph combinatorics, which aims to analyze graph-theoretic results in "definable" setting via tools of descriptive set theory. The talk will consist of three parts: In the first part, we will cover the necessary background from descriptive set theory; in the second part, we are going to recall some classical results that motivate the field of descriptive graph combinatorics; in the third part, we will cover some recent results on definable automorphism groups of graphs.

Hulya Arguz is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Georgia (UGA), Athens/US. After receiving her her BSc/MSc degrees from Middle East Techincal University, she obtained another MSc degree and a PhD degree in mathematics from the University of Hamburg in Germany. Before arriving to UGA, she held postdoctoral positions at Imperial College London and at the University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France. She also held short term postdoctoral positions at the IAS School Princeton, University of Cambridge and at IST Austria. Her research is in algebraic geometry with applications in mirror symmetry.

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Tuesday, July 18, 17:00-19:00 (GMT+3)

Title: Quivers and curves in cluster varieties 

Abstract: We show a correspondence between Donaldson-Thomas invariants of a quiver Q, and the log Gromov--Witten invariants of the cluster variety, constructed from the combinatorics of Q.

Caglar Uyanik is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics and the Director of Madison Experimental Mathematics Lab at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He received his BS and MS degrees from Middle East Technical University, and PhD from University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Before arriving at Wisconsin, he was a Gibbs Assistant Professor at Yale University. His research interests are geometric group theory, geometric topology, ergodic theory and dynamics.

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Tuesday, August 1, 17:00-19:00 (GMT+3)

Title: A gentle introduction to dynamics of group actions

Abstract: I will talk about the role of dynamics in the study of infinite groups, and how it relates to geometry of low dimensional manifolds through examples. 

Dr. Aslihan Demirkaya is a Research Scientist at Amazon, contributing her expertise as a valuable member of the Amazon Devices Demand Planning Team. With a strong background in mathematics and statistics, she leverages her skills in data science and machine learning to enhance the company's demand planning processes. Dr. Demirkaya holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Kansas. Prior to her current role, she served as a Math Professor at the University of Hartford and co-authored approximately 20 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Demirkaya's passion for promoting the accessibility of data science led her to play a pivotal role in the creation of the University of Hartford's data science program. She believes in showcasing how individuals with backgrounds in mathematics can engage with and excel in the field of data science. During her tenure at an AI company in Palo Alto, she even took the initiative to teach a data science class at the University of San Francisco. While maintaining her affiliation with the University of Hartford and collaborating with eminent researchers in her previous area of expertise, differential equations, Dr. Demirkaya also devotes her time to delivering lectures and organizing seminars on machine learning and deep learning. Her dedication to sharing knowledge and advancing the field exemplifies her commitment to academic excellence and the promotion of cutting-edge technologies.

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Tuesday, August 15, 17:00-19:00 (GMT+3)

Title: Applying Math Expertise in AI during the Academia-to-Industry Transition 

Abstract: In this talk, we will explore changing careers from teaching to industry work, and how math skills play a big role in Artificial Intelligence (AI). We'll unravel the mystery of making Artificial Neural Networks, using math like linear algebra and calculus. We'll also take a close look at complex Black Box Models, understanding their pros, cons, and impact on society.