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Sofía from Colombia
Sofia Garzon, BMS Phase II Student, MSc Freie Universität Berlin, BSc Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá
Martha from Uganda
Martha Nansubuga, BMS Phase II Student, MSc Humboldt University of Berlin, MSc University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Under...
Sophia from the US
Sophia Elia, BMS Phase II Student, BMS Qualifying Exam, Msc FU Berlin, BA UC Berkeley, California
Li Li from China
Li Li, BMS Phase II Student, BMS Qualifying Exam, Msc HU Berlin, BSc Tsinghua University
Dragana from Serbia
Dragana Radojičić, BMS Alumna, MSc TU Berlin, Qualifying Exam BMS, BSc University of Belgrade
Alexander from the United Kingdom
Alexander Fairley, BMS Phase II student,Qualifying Exam BMS, BSc University of Glasgow
Efstathia from Greece
Efstathia Katsigianni, BMS Phase II Student, MSc HU Berlin, Qualifying Exam BMS, BSc University of Patras
Christoph from Germany
Christoph Gorgulla, BMS Alumnus, PhD completed in May 2018, MSc Freie Universität Berlin, BSc Freie Universität Berlin
Ignacio from Chile
Ignacio Barros, BMS Alumnus, PhD completed in June 2018, Qualifying Exam BMS, MSc Freie Universität Berlin, BSc Pontific...
Todor from Bulgaria
Todor Bilarev, BMS Phase II Student, Qualifying Exam BMS, MSc Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, BSc Jacobs University Brem...
BMS Alumna Received “Marthe Vogt Award”On 7 November 2024, the "Marthe Vogt Award" was conferred during a festive ceremony at the Leibniz Headquarters in Berlin on Dr. Alexandra Quitmann and Dr. Sara Hetzel. Alexandra Quitmann completed her bachelor’s and master’s studies at the Universität Münster before moving to Berlin to pursue her research as a BMS student at the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS) under the supervision of Wolfgang König. She was also part of the International Research Training Group Berlin-Oxford (IRTG) 2544 “Stochastic Analysis in Interaction” and earned her PhD from the Technische Universität Berlin in October 2023 with the award-winning thesis on “Phase Transitions in Random Loop Models.” The laudatory speech in her honor was given by Michael Hintermüller, Director of WIAS, professor at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and former MATH+ Chair. Stefan Eisebitt, spokesperson of the Executive Board of Forschungsverbund Berlin, welcomed the attendees, while Micha Klapp, State Secretary for Labor and Equality, served as the keynote speaker.   Photos: Alexandra Quitmann and Wolfgang König | © Mario Firyn / FVB
Wolfgang König, her supervisor at WIAS, praised her work: “Throughout Alexandra Quitmann’s doctoral studies, it was a pleasure to witness her deep commitment to the topic and her relentless determination. She never gave up, constantly pushing forward until she succeeded. This remarkable perseverance has now been justly rewarded. I believe she has solved an extraordinary problem. Starting this project amidst the pandemic required a high degree of independence and discipline, which she mastered exceptionally well; I find that truly impressive.” — The Marthe Vogt Award is conferred annually on an outstanding young female scientist for her excellent thesis in a field represented by the institutes of the Forschungsverbund Berlin (FVB). Notably, the research need not have been conducted at an FVB institute. The research fields covered include, but are not limited to, Molecular Pharmacology, Structural Biology and Chemical Biology, Advanced Materials, Aquatic Ecology and Biodiversity Research, Biology, Veterinary Medicine and Environmental Research, Nanomaterials, Quantum Materials, Optoelectronics and Materials Science, Laser Research and Light-Matter Interaction, as well as Applied Mathematics. The doctoral dissertation must have been completed at a non-university research facility or a university in the Berlin and Brandenburg region. Marthe Vogt (1903–2003) conducted pioneer research on neurotransmitters and worked at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut für Hirnforschung in Berlin-Buch, now location of the Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP). She is an academic and personal role model for this award. Due to national policies against Jewish scientists, she left Germany in 1935 and continued her research in Great Britain. MATH+ Welcomes New Cohort of YAM Fellows 2024/25The fellows have just arrived and were excited to participate in the BMS Orientation Week (7-11 October). They will remain in Berlin until the summer of 2025. As YAM fellows, they are also part of the Berlin Mathematical School (BMS) through the Young African Mathematicians (YAM) Fellowship Program. In an interview with MATH+, they shared their thoughts on the YAM Fellowship, their study plans in Berlin, and their aspirations, which are summarized in their direct comments below.   BMS Orientation Week, Day 1 (all participants) YAM Fellows 2024/25 (Sergio, Sintia, Gil Wilfried: left to right) Supervisor: Angela Ortega, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin Sintia Laura, a mathematician from Cameroon, has a passion for pure mathematics. After completing her Master’s in pure mathematics at the University of Douala, focusing on algebraic coding theory, she has broadened her expertise to include Riemannian geometry, algebraic curves, and cryptography. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Limbe, Cameroon, exploring sub-Riemannian geometry. Sintia aims to deepen her knowledge in abstract algebra, with a focus on commutative algebra and functors. She is working on groundbreaking topics, eager to develop new insights in both theory and applications. At MATH+, Sintia looks forward to enhance her independent research skills while collaborating across disciplines. Sharing her thoughts on her future, she remarked: “Receiving the admission letter wasn’t just about getting in or a one-year scholarship – it felt like the start of a new chapter in my life. I was thrilled! When my Berlin supervisor introduced me to algebraic geometry with such passion, I immediately became interested. My goal is to master computational algebra and then delve into algebraic geometry. I want to make an impact in science, especially for women mathematicians. After the YAM program, I plan to pursue a PhD and eventually become a professor, inspiring girls to pursue STEM careers. I dream of doing my PhD in Germany, to further explore the culture and language.“
Gil Wilfried Lakena Kouatche (Cameroon) – From Mathematics to Health Statistics Supervisor: Tim Conrad, Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB) Gil Wilfried is another mathematician from Cameroon, with a strong foundation in pure mathematics and data science. After earning his Bachelor’s degree and completing Master’s coursework at the University of Douala, he transitioned to the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Cameroon to focus on data science. His current studies cover advanced topics such as statistical inference, Bayesian statistics, and machine learning, with a focus on analyzing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Gil Wilfried aspires to become an expert in health statistics, a critical field for understanding healthcare interventions. At MATH+, he hopes to deepen his applied statistics knowledge and pursue a PhD, making impactful contributions to the field of health data analytics. He reflected: “Germany is one of the best countries for studying, especially in mathematics. Through the YAM program, I’ll meet mathematicians from diverse backgrounds, and my supervisor specializes in the field I want to pursue. I was thrilled to receive the fellowship, as I’ve been looking for a way to continue my studies and experience the difference between studying in Germany, Cameroon, and at AIMS. I aim to combine what I have learned in my research in Africa, which is pure mathematics and data science. I’m particularly interested in geometry, data analysis, and simulations that connect mathematics with real-world applications. After the YAM fellowship, I plan to pursue a PhD and contribute to solving problems in Africa, especially through data analysis.”
Sergio Germain (Madagascar) – Innovating with Data Science for Global Challenges Supervisor: Ralf Borndörfer, Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB) Sergio Germain, a data scientist from Madagascar, is currently studying at AIMS Rwanda. His journey in education has been shaped by resilience, overcoming disruptions in Madagascar’s education system due to frequent teacher strikes, which led him to become largely self-taught. Despite these challenges, Sergio excelled academically, focusing on addressing real-world problems. His Master’s thesis involves designing a cost-effective seawater desalination system to combat water scarcity in Madagascar. At MATH+, Sergio aims to strengthen his skills applied mathematics, data analysis, and machine learning. His current project on biometric identification using deep learning for security enhancement aligns with his broader goal of using technology to address global challenges. Thinking about his time in Berlin, he remarked: “I was excited to apply for the YAM fellowship and I was proud to be selected, knowing how competitive the program is. Arriving in Berlin, others who came earlier helped me adjust to the weather, transport, and local customs. My supervisor specializes in optimization and discrete mathematics, while my background is in data science which is a great chance for me. I enjoy programming and am particularly interested in flight scheduling and optimization. So, my project will combine machine learning with discrete mathematics. I plan to pursue a PhD in Germany and build a career in aviation and flight planning, depending on what comes after the YAM program.”
About the YAM Fellowship Program: The Young African Mathematicians (YAM) Fellowship Program is a collaboration between five of the African Institutes for Mathematical Science (AIMS) and four German Clusters of Excellence: Hausdorff Center for Mathematics (Universität Bonn), Münster Mathematics (Universität Münster), STRUCTURES (Universität Heidelberg), and MATH+ (Berlin). The YAM program welcomes talented African students in mathematics to join one of the four clusters for nine months. They can take courses and seminars and gain experience in working on research projects. Photos: © Kay Herschelmann / MATH+ CfA: BMS Dirichlet Postdoctoral FellowshipsThe Dirichlet Postdoctoral Program is open to early-stage postdoctoral researchers from around the world across all mathematical fields. MATH+ and the BMS will support their development into independent researchers, while helping them to further qualify themselves for their future careers and gain international visibility. The Dirichlet Postdoctoral Fellows have the freedom to carry out their own ambitious research agendas and follow their own research interests. In Berlin’s the rich mathematical environment, fellows are exposed to the latest developments in their fields of expertise, have the chance to build collaborative networks with national and international scientific contacts, and receive input from other research groups in related or different areas. The BMS and MATH+ offer a stimulating environment and the means for postdocs to collaborate with researchers both within and beyond MATH+. In addition, the postdoctoral researchers will have numerous opportunities to gain teaching, supervisory, and mentoring experience within the BMS framework – with the opportunity to obtain help, feedback, or advice, either individually from BMS Faculty mentors, in BMS complementary skills workshops and courses, or through events offered by the universities. You can submit your applications here. Call for applications to the PhD program 2024The Berlin Mathematical School offers a doctoral program in the rapidly developing scientific landscape of Berlin presenting an exciting variety of possibilities both for mathematical research and graduate education. As a BMS student, you will join a diverse community of fellow graduate students coming from about 50 countries around the world of which 30% are women.
We are now accepting applications for admission from talented students completing their Bachelor's degree or above. Application deadlines For detailed information, please go to: Application Podcast about Africa with Marwa Zainelabdeen . © Kevin Caners MATH+ has established ties with African institutions, such as the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), and is a member of the Young African Mathematicians (YAM) Fellowship Program which supports young African mathematicians studying in Germany. This program was initiated by the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics in Bonn and is a collaboration between five AIMS centers in Cameroon, Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana, and South Africa, and four German Clusters of Excellence focused on mathematics. The YAM program’s mission is to provide fellowships for talented and motivated young African mathematicians at the master’s level, allowing them to spend nine months studying at one of the four German mathematical excellence clusters in Berlin, Bonn, Heidelberg, or Münster. Marwa Zainelabdeen is a MATH+/BMS doctoral student at the Weierstrass Institute for Applied Analysis and Stochastics (WIAS) and Freie Universität Berlin and a lecturer at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. Dominic Bunnett is a postdoc at TU Berlin working in algebraic geometry and a member of the program committee for the Young African Mathematicians (YAM)program of MATH+. BMS Certificate Ceremony & MATH+ Dissertation AwardsThe afternoon started at 13:00 with the BMS PhD seminar “What are… gradient flows and optimal transport for machine learning and optimization?“ in which Dr. Jai-Jie Zhu introduced the topic of the following MATH+ Friday Colloquium on “Particle Methods in Machine Learning and Inverse Problems,” held by Martin Burger, a lead scientist at DESY and full professor at Universität Hamburg.  At 16:00, MATH+ Chair Michael Hintermüller welcomed everyone to the Certificate Ceremony and gave a laudation for the MATH+ Dissertation Award winners of 2023, a prize first initiated in 2020. In cooperation with the Einstein Foundation Berlin, the Berlin Mathematical School (BMS) of the Cluster of Excellence MATH+ awards up to three annual prizes for outstanding dissertations to BMS graduates. The MATH+ Dissertation Award 2023 was presented to Viorel Andrei Bud, Toyomu Matsuda, and Arturo Merino for their excellent theses. Congratulations to all of them! Arturo Merino was there to proudly receive his Dissertation Award certificate. Unfortunately, Viorel Andrei Bud and Toyomu Matsuda couldn’t participate in the ceremony as they already started their Postdocs in Frankfurt and Lausanne, respectively.  Michael Hintermüller continued and honored our two fellows of the Young African Mathematician (YAM) Fellowship Program, Wilson Tsuata and Samantha Glory Guiate Simo, both from Cameroon. They are the first fellows to complete the program within MATH+ and will go on to PhD positions this fall.  Afterwards, BMS Chair Holger Reich announced this year’s Phase I graduates, followed by BMS Co-Chair John M. Sullivan’s laudation for the Phase II graduates.  Between the certificate presentations, a cello quartet led by MATH+ Co-Chair Martin Skutella played and thus provided a festive and beautiful atmosphere.  Bright sunflowers, which were presented along with the certificates, created a sunny atmosphere. Photos were taken with happy, laughing BMS alumni in groups, with their supervisors, and with their loved ones. The evening closed with a lively reception and summer party that was the perfect opportunity to meet everyone, talk about science, and exchange memories with the graduates and the entire MATH+ community. Photos: © Kay Herschelmann / BMS BMS-BGSMath Junior Meeting in Berlin 2024 at ZIBThis year’s BMS-BGSMath Junior Meeting took place in Berlin from 26-28 June at the Zuse Institute (ZIB) with 36 participants. BMS Chair Holger Reich welcomed everyone on behalf of BMS and MATH+. The Berlin Mathematical School (BMS) and the Barcelona Graduate School of Mathematics (BGSMath) alternate in organizing regular meetings to share their ambitions for excellent doctoral and postdoctoral training programs. The Plenary Talks were presented by María Ángeles García Ferrero (Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas/ICMAT) on Partial Differential Equations, Frank Trujillo (Centre de Recerca Matemàtica/CRM) on Dynamical Systems, Thibaut Mazuir (HU Berlin) on Symplectic Geometry and Homotopical Algebra, and Giulia Codenotti (FU Berlin) on Discrete Geometry. YAM Network Meeting in Münster  MATH+ YAM Fellow Wilson Tsuata from Berlin attended the network meeting in Münster, accompanied by Hannah Rohwer from the MATH+ office. Unfortunately, the second MATH+ YAM Fellow Samantha Glory Guiate Simo could not participate due to a conference. In September 2023, MATH+ and the BMS welcomed Samantha Glory Guiate Simo and Wilson Tsuata as the first MATH+ YAM Fellows of the Young African Mathematicians (YAM) Fellowship Program for the academic year 2023/24. As YAM fellows, both are also part of the Berlin Mathematical School (BMS) for the duration of the YAM program.  In Münster, the YAM fellows reflected on their experiences and looked ahead after a joint lunch at the Münster Mensa,. They shared their personal and academic learnings from their time in Germany through presentations. A panel discussion followed, featuring Prof. Dr. Franca Hoffmann, initiator of the YAM program, Prof. Dr. Raimar Wulkenhaar, Dr. Fridolin Melong, AIMS-DFG fellow at Mathematics Münster, Prof. Dr. Anna Gusakova, and Dr. Kristina Wensing, who provided tips, advice, and insights into (academic) careers in and outside Germany. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Imke Franzmeier.   Photos: © Mathematik Münster
After a feedback session, everyone gathered for dinner at "Das Blaue Haus," a well-known student pub in Münster. DFG Approved Two RTG (PhD) Led by MATH+ Scientists Gavril Farkas (left) © Kay Herschelmann | Peter Bank © Felix Noak The new Research Training Group (RTG 2965) in algebraic geometry “From geometry to numbers: Moduli, Hodge theory, rational points” The new RTG is jointly run by the Leibniz Universität Hannover and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Stefan Schreieder from Hannover is the spokesperson of the RTG, and Gavril Farkas, Berlin Mathematical School’s co-chair and MATH+ Distinguished Fellow from the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, is the co-spokesperson. Apart from Gavril Farkas, the Humboldt-Universität is represented in the RTG with another four PIs, also all MATH+ members, namely Gaetan Borot, Bruno Klingler (also MATH+ Distinguished Fellow), Thomas Krämer, and Angela Ortega. The PhD training in the RTG will run from 01 October 2024 until 30 September 2029, and the DFG will fund 20 PhD positions each for a duration of four years, distributed evenly between the two participating universities. The guiding principle of the RTG is the interplay between geometry and numbers. A first manifestation of this idea is the fact that geometric objects can be assigned algebraic invariants and, in particular, numbers, which often play an important role in classification. Examples are given by Hodge numbers, by intersection numbers on moduli spaces, or by the number of rational points. The research program rests on three main pillars for which the groups in Berlin and Hannover are world experts: • Hodge theory and topology of algebraic varieties; • Geometry and combinatorics of moduli; • Arithmetic of moduli and rational points. The International Research Training Group Berlin-Oxford (IRTG 2544) „Stochastic Analysis in Interaction“ enters its second stage of funding The IRTG is jointly operated by Technische Universität Berlin and the University of Oxford, led by MATH+ member Peter Bank from Berlin and Terry Lyons from Oxford. The further funding means that the successful collaboration between Berlin and Oxford in this mathematical field over the past four and a half years will continue. In particular, it enables PhD students from Berlin and Oxford to visit each other’s institution for months at a time. This IRTG will receive over four million euros in funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG) for another four and a half years. Since April 2020, the PhD students of the international graduate school "Stochastic Analysis in Interaction" have been investigating mathematical questions concerning random systems, as they appear in many models of biology, physics, or finance. "Our graduates from the first phase of funding have, for example, contributed to the mathematical foundations of a better understanding of Bose-Einstein condensation and have also developed numerical methods for dealing with very current models for fluctuations in financial markets," says Peter Bank, who heads the field of financial mathematics at TU Berlin. "But also, at least at first glance, purely mathematical contributions to the integration theory of rough paths have been made and have even been awarded with one of the doctoral prizes of the Excellence Cluster MATH+," he adds. The second funding period will allow the current PhD students, as well as those of a third doctoral group, to complete an equally varied and in-depth training and research program. "We can now follow up on the 14 workshops, the more than 80 lectures given by invited researchers from all over the world, the mini-courses, and the Berlin-Oxford summer schools from the first funding phase with further highlights," says Peter Bank, adding: "And our PhD students will continue to gain international experience. They have already been a flagship of the Berlin research landscape, having held over 200 presentations internationally." (Source IRTG: TU Berlin Press Release, in German) --- Research Training Groups (RTG), funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) RTG are established by universities to support the development of early career researchers. The groups receive funding from the DFG for a maximum of nine years. Their primary focus lies on the qualification of doctoral researchers within the framework of a focused research program and a structured training framework. Research Training Groups that embrace interdisciplinary collaboration are highly encouraged. The objective is to equip doctoral candidates with the skills to navigate the complexities of the science and academic job markets while fostering their early scientific independence. BMS PhD Student Anastasija Pešić is GAMM JuniorAnastasija Pešić’s research focuses on the Calculus of Variations, specifically in its application to biological membranes. She employs variational techniques, such as Gamma-convergence and scaling laws, to analyze minimizers of nonlocal, nonconvex functionals linked to the formation of lipid rafts in cellular membranes. Her work is driven by a genuine interest in applying analytical techniques to understand complexities within the biological context.  Anastasija Pešić pursued her mathematics studies at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, and continued her studies in Germany as a member of the Berlin Mathematical School (BMS), the Graduate School of MATH+. She completed her M.Sc. at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in 2021 with the thesis on “Variational Analysis and Large Deviations Principle for Membrane Models.” In 2021, Anastasija was awarded the Hilda Geiringer Scholarship of the BMS, which aims to support promising female PhD students in mathematical research and recognize outstanding potential. At the DMV Student’s Conference in 2022, she also won the prize for the best conference talk. Currently, Anastasija Pešić is pursuing her Ph.D. at the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin in the Department of Applied Analysis, supervised by MATH+ member Barbara Zwicknagl. Her research project is part of RTG DAEDALUS. Each year, for a duration of three years, up to ten new GAMM Juniors are selected. During their time as GAMM Juniors, the GAMM membership fees are waived. After three years, the membership as GAMM Junior is terminated automatically. By this means, it is guaranteed that young researchers obtain additional financial and emotional support at the start of their academic research, that they transfer their knowledge to the next generations of GAMM Juniors, and that they pass the organization of the group onto them. |
