Glad to be Immersed in a Very Strong Mathematical Tradition
Dr. Chris Brav, an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Mathematics has joined the HSE this year. He shared with the HSE news service his background, first impressions on living and working in Moscow and plans for future.
— You've been working in different universities, including Oxford University, Leibniz University and University of Toronto. Why did you decide to join the HSE? What is attracting for you as a researcher here?
— Many of the best people working in my own area of research (algebraic geometry with heavy use of homological algebra) are based in Moscow, and it is a great opportunity to be able to interact with them frequently. More broadly, Russia, and Moscow in particular, has a very strong mathematical tradition and I am very glad to be immersed in that. In addition to research, I am looking forward to teaching at HSE. The mathematics students at HSE are excellent and it is possible to offer courses at a much more advanced level than I have seen elsewhere.
— How did the process of international recruiting go?
— The recruiting process in the Faculty of Mathematics was organised as a kind of miniature research conference. Each candidate gave an hour long lecture, during which both the faculty and the students asked good questions. The interviewing committee consisted of senior mathematicians and Vice Rector Konstantin Sonin, whose interest in and knowledge of the Russian mathematical community was impressive. Altogether, I felt that HSE would be a place in which my contribution as a mathematician would be valued.
The mathematics students at HSE are excellent and it is possible to offer courses at a much more advanced level than I have seen elsewhere.
— What were pros and cons for moving to Moscow?
— Besides the mathematical opportunities in Moscow, I very much look forward to improving my Russian and to getting to know the many faces of Moscow culture. On the other hand, I was rather concerned about bringing my young daughter to live in such a bustling city. Fortunately, we have found a flat in a green part of the city, near a large wooded park. So the main remaining disadvantage is that it will be a very long trip to visit relatives.
— Do you have certain rules for a newcomer in a new city and a new university? Can you share them if you have such rules?
— My advice is to be open-minded and flexible, to give yourself a generous amount of time for adjusting, and to not let frustrations and misunderstandings weigh you down, but to focus instead on positive experiences.
Anna Chernyakhovskaya, specially for the HSE news service
See also:
'Our Mathematics Is for Far-Reaching Minds'
Anna Presnova focuses on automatic control theory, a branch of science that addresses global problems. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, she talks about her aspiration to achieve practical results, the energy she gains from teaching, and why she would be interested to meet with Alexandr Lyapunov, founder of stability theory.
'It Was a Great Learning Experience for the New Generation of Mathematicians'
From November 5 to 9, 2024, HSE University hosted a five-day conference on algebraic geometry and mathematical physics, organised jointly with the Beijing Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Applications. Over 30 mathematicians from the world's leading universities, including early-career scientists, participated in the event.
HSE University Wins Two Medals at the International Mathematics Competition for University Students
Two students, one graduate and one undergraduate, from the HSE Faculty of Computer Science (FCS) programme in ‘Applied Mathematics and Information Science’ won prestigious awards at the International Mathematics Competition for University Students (IMC). Graduate Maksim Kazadaev and first-year student Daria Linichenko both represented HSE University at the IMC, winning gold and silver medals respectively.
Prepare for the INTO HSE Olympiad with HSE Students
Winners of the INTO HSE International Maths Olympiad receive scholarships and admission offers to 37 different programmes at HSE University. Angelina Yudina, a master's student and invited instructor of maths at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, offers a video lesson where she analyses the demo version of the maths problems from the Olympiad.
Immortal Cells and Mathematics Reveal Mechanism behind Coronavirus Infection
A mathematical model has helped describe the course of infection caused by two variants of coronavirus: Omicron and Delta, and explain the differences between them. It appears that the cell entry rate is lower for Omicron, allowing infected cells ample time to alert neighbouring cells of the threat and trigger the activation of their innate immune response. In the future, the developed model could be employed to investigate any other variant of COVID-19, potentially leading to effective strategies for combating new hazardous strains, such as Pirola and JN.1. The findings from the study conducted with the participation of HSE researchers have been published in PeerJ.
Mathematicians Reveal the Mechanism behind Neuron Synchronisation: Hyperchaos
Scientists of the International Laboratory of Dynamic Systems and Applications at HSE Campus in Nizhny Novgorod have described a rare case of synchronisation in a system of chemically coupled neuron models. The study findings enable a mathematical description of atypical brain functioning modes, including those associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The study has been published in Regular and Chaotic Dynamics.
‘The Joy of Science Lies in the Euphoria of Learning’
For Elena Nozdrinova, mathematics is her life's work and a realm where she discovers universal order and harmony. In her interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, she speaks about dynamical systems, the Nizhny Novgorod scientific school, and favourite pastimes that help her grow.
HSE Scientists Unveil New Findings Regarding Stability of Communication Systems
Researchers from the International Laboratory of Dynamical Systems and Applications at the HSE Campus in Nizhny Novgorod have discovered that the use of systems with hyperbolic solenoid attractors and repellers can lead to issues in the transmission of communication signals. The findings of this study have been published in Results in Mathematics. The research was financed by a substantial grant from the Russian Government as part of the 'Science and Universities' National Project and a further grant from the Russian Science Foundation.
Monsters of the Deep: HSE Scientists Have Compiled a Catalogue of Rogue Waves
Rogue waves, or killer waves, are abnormally high and deadly waves that can emerge unpredictably in open seas and along shorelines. They pose an imminent deadly threat to everyone from colossal liners and pleasure yachts to seafarers and vacationers. Scientists from the HSE campus in Nizhny Novgorod Efim Pelinovsky and Ekaterina Didenkulova have assembled a catalogue of such phenomena that occurred in the World Ocean from 2011 to 2018, identifying the areas where they are frequently documented and inflict the most substantial damage.
Students of Engineering and Mathematics School Present First Project Results
Students of the Engineering and Mathematics School (EMS) launched by HSE University and VK in October 2022 held a Demo Day to showcase the first results of their product- and research-based IT projects. Work on the projects has been conducted under the supervision of experts from the university and mentors from VK.