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William College Mathematics & Statistics Blog - Science
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Colloquium Fest 2025, Monday January 27 – Mathematics & Statistics
Colloquium Fest 2025 Please join us for the 2025 Colloquium Fest hosted by the department of Mathematics & Statistics. Please find the schedule below: 9:30 - 10:10am: Ava Irons (NSB 113), 10:15 - 10:55am: Jarin Sutton (NSS 113), Munguldei Batsaikhan (NSB 015) 11:00 - 11:50am: Raymond Liu & Matthew Wu (NSB 113), Gabe Miller & Oscar Nobel (NSB 015) 1:00 - 1:40pm: Nicole Albright (NSB 113), Isaac Becker (NSB 015) 1:45 - 2:25pm: Carter Anderson (NSB 113), Rauan Kaldybayev (NSB 015) 2:30 - 3:20pm: Harrison Cross & Harry Appelt (NSB 113), David Wang & Jack Lee (NSB 015)
A Slice of Advice: Pizza & Math REUs – Mathematics & Statistics
Join us on Wednesday, January 15, from 12–1 PM in Wacheheim Room 116 for free pizza and a panel discussion about mathematics REU programs. Professors will share their experiences from the SMALL REU, offer application tips, and discuss what summer research is really like. Students of all years are welcome!
AWM Talk: Introduction to Metric Geometry and Dimension Theory, Nov. 13, 7pm-8pm, Physics 205 – Mathematics & Statistics
AWM Talk: Introduction to Metric Geometry and Dimension Theory, Liza Jacoby '22, at UC Berkeley Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7pm-8pm, Physics 205 The Association for Women in Math will be hosting our very own Liza Jacoby ('22) on Wednesday (11/13) at 7pm in Physics 205! Liza will be giving a talk titled Introduction to Metric Geometry and Dimension Theory as well as answering questions about math grad school (she is currently at UC Berkeley).
Friday Tea! October 25, 3PM – Mathematics & Statistics
Join us for a relaxing and fun Friday Tea organized by SMASAB on Friday, October 25 at 3:00 PM in the Frank Morgan Library! Tea and snacks will be provided, so come by, grab a treat, and enjoy some good conversation with others in the Williams math community. Whether you're looking to chat about math or just want to hang out, everyone is welcome! We hope to see you there!
Sign up for the Putnam Exam! – Mathematics & Statistics
The 84th William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition will be held on Saturday, December 7th. This fun and challenging math exam is split up over two blocks, 10am-1pm and 3pm-6pm. Sign up to participate here by December 5th! You can check out previous iterations of the exam here. If you need any info, please reach out to Professor Palak Arora.
Ice Cream Social, 10/29 6:30 – 8:00 Frank Morgan Library – Mathematics & Statistics
Looking for advice on what classes to take next semester? Join us at the Ice Cream Social pre-registration event on October 29 from 6:30-8:00 in the Frank Morgan Library! This is your chance to enjoy some dessert while talking to professors and other students about courses in the spring. Whether you’re undecided about your schedule or just curious to learn more, come by and get the scoop!
Math/Stat Snacks, Thursday October 17, 8pm – Mathematics & Statistics
We're excited to invite you to Math/Stat snacks today in the Math/Stat library at 8pm! Snacks will include cookies, crackers, chips, and grapes. Come by for some food, meet fellow Math/Stat students, and take a break from your studying. We hope to see you there!
Interested in Mathematics Graduate School? Wednesday October 9, 1:00 – 1:50pm – Mathematics & Statistics
Join us on Wednesday, October 9th, in Wachenheim 113 to hear from current PhD students at top schools like Columbia, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, Michigan, and more. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about their experiences and get tips on navigating the application process!
Apply to be a Math/Stat Mentor for 2024-25 – Mathematics & Statistics
The Math/Stat Mentoring Program pairs first years and sophomores interested in mathematics and statistics with junior and senior mentors who will help them navigate through their academic experience in the department. There is evidence that suggests that having such a mentor relationship is more likely to lead to academic success. We envision that mentoring pairs will meet at least once a month to discuss whatever issues are most pressing for the mentee, for example, getting help in courses, studying for midterms, selecting courses, and more. Please note that a mentor is not a tutor. Each mentee that applies by the initial deadline of Monday September 23rd at noon will be paired with at least one, but possibly more, mentors. It's possible, depending on the number of applications, that not every mentor will be paired with a mentee. We will have a training session (with pizza!) for all mentors on Tuesday evening, October 1st, at 6pm. This is a required event for all new mentors, and strongly recommended for returning mentors, but if you are absolutely unable to attend, please still apply to be a mentor and we will get you up to speed. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeNDHjhnFUubyIrGLT3g4YoHbqFEssvjnabBCj5yzM43t9KxQ/viewform
Request a Math/Stat Mentor for 2024-25 – Mathematics & Statistics
The Math/Stat Mentoring Program pairs first years and sophomores interested in mathematics and statistics with junior and senior mentors who will help them navigate through their academic experience in the department. There is evidence that suggests that having such a mentor relationship is more likely to lead to academic success. We envision that mentoring pairs will meet at least once a month to discuss whatever issues are most pressing for the mentee, for example, getting help in courses, studying for midterms, selecting courses, and more. Please note that a mentor is not a tutor. Each mentee that applies by the initial deadline of September 23rd at noon will be paired with at least one, but possibly more, mentors. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1EMHeAusowqWJGIxSb5oRHBgcpZh1dIo_XBSpd1y222A/prefill
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics – Mathematics & Statistics
The Williams College Department of Mathematics and Statistics invites applications for a one-year visiting position in mathematics, to begin fall 2025. Candidates should have earned a Ph.D. in mathematics or applied mathematics by summer of 2025. Visiting Assistant Professors are asked to teach four courses per year and make small contributions to service activities in the department. Furthermore, they will be invited to participate in almost all aspects of the department, providing a window into the experience of being a mathematician in a liberal-arts college. For example, should they wish to, a Visiting Assistant Professor could advise undergraduate student colloquia (our capstone experience for seniors) or participate in SMALL, our NSF-funded REU summer program. Our department offers a vibrant undergraduate program with majors in mathematics (including an applied mathematics emphasis) and statistics; for more information, see https://math.williams.edu. The multidisciplinary environment is a rich and collegial setting for student education and faculty research. Williams College provides the opportunity to apply for student research assistant support, an annual allocation of funds to support travel and research, and a shared computer cluster for parallel computation. Williams offers faculty participation in the college’s professional development program First3, access to a number of online NCFDD resources, and support through the newly established Rice Center for Teaching. Our department supports a thriving group of undergraduates, with sometimes over a sixth of all Williams students majoring in mathematics or statistics. We are a warm community of mathematicians and statisticians who are deeply dedicated to research, teaching, and mentoring undergraduates, and are committed to making everyone feel welcome and included. We encourage all applicants who are driven by both research and teaching to apply. Approximately one hour from the Albany, NY airport, Williams College is located in Williamstown, a thriving destination proximate to three major art museums and…
Assistant Professor of Mathematics – Mathematics & Statistics
Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Williams College The Williams College Department of Mathematics and Statistics invites applications for a tenure-track position in applied mathematics, beginning fall 2025, at the rank of assistant professor. The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, or a closely related field by the time of appointment. We are seeking candidates who are committed to inclusive undergraduate education and show evidence and/or promise of excellence in teaching students from diverse backgrounds as well as a strong research program in applied mathematics that can engage undergraduate students. Williams College is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. We strongly encourage candidates from under-represented identities and others who will contribute to the diversification and enrichment of ideas and perspectives to apply. Preference will be given to candidates whose research area complements the department’s current research areas. The candidate will join a department that actively supports interdisciplinary research and is expanding its existing applied curriculum. We welcome applications from all applied areas. The teaching load is two courses per semester and a winter term course every other January. Our department offers a vibrant undergraduate program with majors in mathematics (including an applied mathematics emphasis) and statistics; for more information, see math.williams.edu. The multidisciplinary environment is a rich and collegial setting for student education and faculty research. Williams College provides the opportunity to apply for student research assistant support, an annual allocation of funds to support travel and research, a shared computer cluster for parallel computation, a grants office, and several internal research funding opportunities. In addition, Williams College offers faculty participation in the college’s professional development program First3 and in the NCFDD Faculty Success Program, and support through the newly established Rice Center for Teaching. Please submit your application via MathJobs: https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/24857. In your application…
Assistant Professor of Statistics – Mathematics & Statistics
Assistant Professor of Statistics at Williams College The Williams College Department of Mathematics and Statistics invites applications for a tenure-track position in Statistics, beginning fall 2025, at the rank of assistant professor. The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Statistics or a closely related field by the time of appointment. We are seeking candidates who show evidence and/or promise of excellence in teaching students from diverse backgrounds and a strong research program that can engage undergraduate students. The candidate will join a vibrant group of statisticians with a wide range of interests. The department provides a rich and collegial setting for student education and faculty research. For more information on the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Statistics major, visit http://math.williams.edu/. The teaching load is two courses per semester and a winter term course every other January. The candidate will be expected to teach introductory statistics, core courses for the statistics major, and electives in their area of expertise, advise student colloquia (our capstone experience for seniors), and mentor senior thesis students. The successful candidate will establish an independent research program that results in scholarly publications. Williams College provides broad support for faculty teaching and scholarship, including a shared computer cluster for parallel computation, a new teaching center, a grants office, an annual professional development fund, and several internal research funding opportunities. Assistant Professors are also eligible to participate in the college’s comprehensive First Three professional development program (https://faculty-networks.williams.edu/first3/). Please submit your application via Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/149933. Applications consist of a cover letter addressed to the Statistics Hiring Chair, a curriculum vitae, a teaching statement, and a research statement, as well as three letters of recommendation, at least one of which should comment on your experience or potential as a teacher. In your application materials, we ask you to address…
AWM Pre-Registration Event! Thursday April 25th, 6pm – Mathematics & Statistics
AWM Pre-Registration Event! Thursday, April 25th 6 pm Frank Morgan Library Join us at FML on Thursday night at 6 pm to chat with fellow math/stat students about course offerings for next year. We will have pizza from The Log! Reach out to Trishia (tpc1) or Lizzie (eeh4) for any questions.
New England Statistical Society Statathon 2024 – Mathematics & Statistics
Dear students, It’s time again for the annual Statathon! Each year, the New England Statistical Society hosts the Statathon, a competition to tackle real-world statistical data science problems. We are looking for teams (up to 4 members) to develop innovative methods that address a problem proposed by our sponsoring organization. This year’s sponsor is Traveler’s Insurance Company. Finalists will present their work at this year’s New England Statistical Symposium (tentatively May 21st 2024) and top finalists will receive cash prizes up to $300! This is an excellent opportunity to show off your statistical/data science chops, participate in one of New England’s great statistics/data science conferences, and win some cash! For more information, please visit: https://statathon.nestat.org/. Important Dates: Registration Deadline for Team Registration: April 26, 2024 Submission Deadline: May 8, 2024 Presentation for Team Finalists: May 21, 2024 (tentative) Please consider attending the conference as well! https://symposium.nestat.org/
ASA Pizza Party, April 22, 7:00pm – Mathematics & Statistics
ASA student chapter is holding a stat pizza social for prospective stats majors and we invite you to share your wisdom to these underclassmen at the event! Join us at 7:00 pm on April 22, 2024 in the Frank Morgan Library for pizza and an opportunity to socialize with your fellow Stats majors and prospective Stats majors!
2024 – 2025 Math/Stat Thesis Application & Research Showcase – Mathematics & Statistics
Mathematics and Statistics Junior Majors are encouraged to consider applying to write a thesis in the Mathematics and Statistics Department during all or part of the academic year 2024-2025. Writing a thesis in Mathematics or Statistics is a rewarding process that will allow you to work on an exciting research project under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The deadline for submitting the thesis application form is April 22, 2024 (at 11:59pm ET). Mathematics and Statistics 2024-25 Thesis Application For more information, please join the Mathematics and Statistics faculty on Friday April 12, at 1:00pm in Wachenheim 015 to learn about faculty research and possible thesis opportunities.
Williams College at the 84th Putnam – Mathematics & Statistics
The results are in for the 84th William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition! In December, twenty Williams students competed in the grueling six-hour exam. Our team was led by Jonathan Geller and Yuan Qiu who both scored in the top 250. Thanks to all who participated! For more info on the Putnam results, and if you’d like to see the Putnam questions themselves, visit the competition website at this link.
RIT COLLEGE MATH COMPETITION – Mathematics & Statistics
RIT COLLEGE MATH COMPETITION WHEN March 22nd/23rd, 2024 Duration: 3hrs WHERE At your college/university REGISTRATION Ask your professor to register you. WEBSITE https://people.rit.edu/smsmathprob For more information, email Professor Miller at sjm1@williams.edu
AWM Spring Kick-Off Dinner – Mathematics & Statistics
AWM Spring Kick-Off Dinner Thursday, February 22nd 6-7 pm Frank Morgan Library Come join the Association for Women in Math (AWM) for our first event of the semester! We will be having dinner from Spice Root on Thursday, 2/22 from 6 to 7 pm at the Frank Morgan Library. Everyone is welcome to stop by, and we are excited to see you all!
Colloquium Fest 2024 – Mathematics & Statistics
Colloquium Fest 2024 Please join us for the 2024 Colloquium Fest hosted by the department of Mathematics & Statistics. Please find below the schedule: 9:30 – 10:20 am Bronfman Auditorium Ammar Eltigani (Thesis Defense) 10:30 – 11:10 am Bronfman Auditorium Elijah Washington 10:30 – 11:10 am NSB 017 Jon Carl 10:30 – 11:10 am NSB 326 Cooper Brill 11:15 -11:55 am Bronfman Auditorium Nick Hollings 11:15 -11:55 am NSB 017 Bemnet Getachew Mengistu 11:15 -11:55 am NSB 326 Natalie Jean-Michel 1:00 – 1:40 pm Bronfman Auditorium Tim Gore 1:00 – 1:40 pm NSB 015 Victor Kilel 1:00 – 1:40 pm NSB 326 Daniela Galvez - Cepeda 1:45 – 2:25 pm Bronfman Auditorium Shaurya Taxali 1:45 – 2:25 pm NSB 015 Christina Halloran 2:30 – 3:20 pm …
Recording (Statistical) Errors in Baseball by Dr. Katy McKeough, Tuesday December 5th, 1:10pm – Mathematics & Statistics
Title: Recording (Statistical) Errors in Baseball by Dr. Katy McKeough Abstract: Understanding uncertainties from statistical and machine learning models is crucial in making informed, data-based decisions in sports analytics. Whether you are assigning value to a player or making recommendations to a coach, it is valuable to quantify and communicate variance around your predictions. This talk will review a way to estimate the uncertainty around a win probability model for Major League Baseball games and show how it can be used to make informed decisions for in-game strategy. Date: 12/5 Tue 1:10pm Zoom: https://williams.zoom.us/j/8294371163 (Stat442 class)
Joint Computer Science + Statistics Colloquium – Mathematics & Statistics
Joint Computer Science + Statistics Colloquium: Mike Baiocchi '03 and Jordan Rodu '05 Tuesday, October 31st @ 7:00pm in Wege ***Stats Colloquium credit for attendance and Spooky Snacks provided!*** Outcome Reasoning: the under-discussed engine powering black box algorithms We’ll start this talk discussing a couple of studies: (i) a randomized trial to evaluate a sexual assault prevention program in Nairobi, Kenya and (ii) a remote detection operation to find and disrupt labor trafficking in the Amazon rainforest. These are both “data science” projects but they are wildly different in how they work. What makes them so different? For a long time in (bio)statistics we only had two fundamental ways of reasoning using data: warranted reasoning (e.g., randomized trials) and model reasoning (e.g., linear models). In the 1980s a new, extraordinarily productive way of reasoning about algorithms emerged: “outcome reasoning.” Outcome reasoning has come to dominate areas of data science, but it has been under-discussed and its impact under-appreciated. For example, it is the primary way we reason about “black box” algorithms. In this talk we will discuss its current use (i.e., as “the common task framework”) and its limitations. We will show why we find a large class of prediction-problems are inappropriate for this new type of reasoning. We will then discuss a way to extend this type of reasoning for use, where appropriate, in assessing algorithms for deployment (i.e., when using a predictive algorithm “in the real world”). We purposefully developed this new framework so both technical and non-technical people can discuss and identify key features of their prediction problem. Mike Baiocchi ’03 Pronunciation: bye-oh-key Professor Baiocchi considers himself an interventional statistician (i.e., grounded in both the creation and evaluation of interventions). He thinks a lot about behavioral interventions and how to rigorously evaluate if and how they work. Methodologically, he…
Incoming Events Organized by Association for Women in Mathematics – Mathematics & Statistics
The Association for Women in Math is hosting the following two events in the next two weeks and we would very much appreciate it if you could announce them in class and encourage your students to attend. All women and gender minorities interested in math/statistics are welcome. AWM T-Shirts and Hot Chocolate - Wednesday 10/25, 1:45-3:45pm - In the Frank Morgan library AWM shirts are available for $5 (cash please) and hot chocolate will be provided by Goodrich. Pre-Registration Snacks - Monday 10/30, 8:00-9:00pm - In Wachenheim 002 We will provide snacks and discuss math and statistics courses offered this spring. Please email Trishia Cueto at tpc1@williams.edu or Lizzie High at eeh4@williams.edu with any questions.
Assistant Professor of Statistics – Mathematics & Statistics
The Williams College Department of Mathematics and Statistics invites applications for a tenure-track position in Statistics, beginning in fall 2024, at the rank of assistant professor (a more senior appointment is possible under special circumstances). The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Statistics or a closely related field by the time of appointment. We are seeking candidates who show evidence and/or promise of excellence in teaching students from diverse backgrounds and a strong research program that can engage undergraduate students. The candidate will join a vibrant group of statisticians with a wide range of interests. The department provides a rich and collegial setting for student education and faculty research. For more information on the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and the Statistics major, visit http://math.williams.edu/. The teaching load is two courses per semester and a winter term course every other January. The candidate will be expected to teach introductory statistics, core courses for the statistics major, and electives in their area of expertise, advise student colloquia (our capstone experience for seniors), and mentor senior thesis students. The successful candidate will establish an independent research program that results in scholarly publications. Williams College provides broad support for faculty teaching and scholarship, including a shared computer cluster for parallel computation, a new teaching center, a grants office, an annual professional development fund, and several internal research funding opportunities. Assistant Professors are also eligible to participate in the college’s comprehensive First Three professional development program (https://faculty-networks.williams.edu/first3/). Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled, but all applications received by October 1, 2023, will be guaranteed full consideration. All offers of employment are contingent upon the completion of a background check. Further information is available here: http://dean-faculty.williams.edu/prospective-faculty/background-check-policy/. Qualifications The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Statistics or a closely related field by the time of appointment. We…
Assistant Professor of Mathematics – Mathematics & Statistics
The Williams College Department of Mathematics and Statistics invites applications for a tenure-track position in applied mathematics, beginning fall 2024, at the rank of assistant professor (a more senior appointment is possible under special circumstances). The candidate should have a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Mathematics, or a closely related field by the time of appointment. We are seeking candidates who are committed to inclusive undergraduate education and show evidence and/or promise of excellence in teaching students from diverse backgrounds as well as a strong research program in applied mathematics that can engage undergraduate students. The candidate will join a department that actively supports interdisciplinary research and is expanding its existing applied curriculum. We welcome applications from all applied areas. Our department offers a vibrant undergraduate program with majors in mathematics (including an applied mathematics emphasis) and statistics; for more information, see https://math.williams.edu. The multidisciplinary environment is a rich and collegial setting for student education and faculty research. Williams College provides the opportunity to apply for student research assistant support, an annual allocation of funds to support travel and research, a shared computer cluster for parallel computation, a grants office, and several internal research funding opportunities. In addition, Williams College offers faculty participation in the college’s professional development program First3 and in the NCFDD Faculty Success Program, and support through the newly established Rice Center for Teaching. Please submit your application via MathJobs: https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/22682. In your application materials, we ask you to address how your teaching, scholarship, mentorship and/or community service might support our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Your application should include the following components: 1) A cover letter. This should provide a brief summary of your professional experience and future goals, and should address your interest in working at Williams College in particular. 2) A current CV. 3) A research statement. 4) A teaching statement.…
Interesting in Having a Math/Stat Junior/Senior Mentor to Help You Navigate Through Your Experience at Williams? – Mathematics & Statistics
Interesting in having a math/stat junior/senior mentor to help you navigate through your experience at Williams? The Math/Stat Mentoring Program pairs first years and sophomores interested in mathematics and statistics with junior and senior mentors who will help them navigate through their academic experience in the department. There is evidence that suggests that having such a mentor relationship is more likely to lead to academic success. We envision that mentoring pairs will meet at least once a month to discuss whatever issues are most pressing for the mentee, for example, getting help in courses, studying for midterms, selecting courses, and more. Please note that a mentor is not a tutor. Each mentee that applies by the initial deadline of September 26th at noon will be paired with at least one, but possibly more, mentors. It's possible, depending on the number of applications, that not every mentor will be paired with a mentee. Link to Request a Mentor: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDrFLNVXF3MM2IoKA-rkAA_E7QQsydsX2yolwKv3B4A3wMPQ/viewform?usp=sf_link