Simon Telen

Research group

I lead the Numerical Algebraic Geometry research group at the Max Planck institute for Mathematics in the Sciences in Leipzig.

My research is in computational algebraic geometry, with an emphasis on the use and development of numerical tools. Our group works on the solution of systems of polynomial equations and related problems, such as discriminant computations, tensor decomposition and algebraic optimization.

More recently, I work on problems related to positive geometry, an emerging field of mathematics inspired by theoretical particle physics and cosmology.

Recent preprints

Book on Toric Geometry

Please have a look at this draft.

I'm very happy to receive comments!

Upcoming Events

Workshop on Algebraic Geometry and Combinatorics, October 13-14, Osaka
Positive Geometry beyond Physics, October 21-23, MPI MiS Leipzig

News

Leonie Kayser successfully defended her PhD thesis and will start a postdoc in Bern. Article
Barbara Betti successfully defended her PhD thesis and started a postdoc at OvGU Magdeburg. Article
I was selected for the 2025 SIAG/AG Agnes Szanto Early Career Prize (prize lecture).
Barbara Betti won the Gustavo Mezzetti prize for her master's thesis: take a look here.
Principal Landau Determinants in Physical Review Letters. Article

Videos

Positive charts of toric varieties at ESI, Vienna. Video
Toric amplitudes and universal adjoints at ESI, Vienna. Video
Lectures on discriminants at MPI MiS Leipzig. Video
Lectures on positive geometry at CMSA Harvard. Video

Memberships

I was the diversity officer of the European Mathematical Society Young Academy, March 2023 - July 2026.

I was the scientific representative of our Max Planck Institute in the Chemistry, Physics and Technology Section of the Max Planck Society, September 2023 - September 2026.

I am a member of the SIAM activity group on Algebraic Geometry.

I am on the editorial board of Advances in Applied Mathematics.