- Um-gms - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

[GMS] Seminar on Monday Feb 9 with Invited Speaker Jane Breen
by Homer De Vera 07 Feb '26

07 Feb '26

Dear GMS members, We have an invited speaker, Dr. Jane Breen<https://sites.google.com/view/breenj>, visiting our department next week. She is an alumna of the University of Manitoba where she graduated with a Ph.D. Mathematics degree in 2018. She will be giving two talks at the department next week: 1. GMS Seminar (Feb 9, Monday, 11:30am, 225 St. Paul's) The talk will focus on Jane sharing her academic career journey from being a PhD student at U of M to becoming an Associate Professor at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario. 2. Department Colloquium (Feb 11, Wednesday, 1:30pm, 225 St. Paul's) Jane will be presenting a talk entitled Kemeny's constant for Markov chains and random walks on graphs. The abstract will be sent together with the usual department colloquium invitation sent by the math office. We graduate students are tasked to assist our invited speaker during her entire stay. Like before, I will be forming a small committee that will be in charge of this. The tasks will include planning some lunches/dinners (possibly social activities) for our guest together with graduate students and possibly some faculty members. If interested in joining the committee or just joining the lunches/dinners/social activities, send me a message or sign up on this form<https://forms.gle/Z93RjHd3KPEiKuEc6>. Thanks to Dr. Karen Gunderson and the department we are able to choose and invite math researchers/professors to our university and gain math and career insights, build connections in academia, possibly bring about research collaborations, etc. If you have ideas on who to invite next time, send me your suggestions or note it on the form<https://forms.gle/Z93RjHd3KPEiKuEc6>. I believe the department is still very much open to inviting another speaker for the colloquium this term. Best, Homer Graduate Mathematics Society<https://sites.google.com/view/umgradmathsociety/gms-seminars/about>

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[GMS] Seminar on January 2, Monday
by Berkant Cunnuk 31 Jan '26

31 Jan '26

Dear GMS, I hope this email finds you well. We will have a seminar on January 2, Monday (next week) between 11:30 and 12:30 at 225 St. Paul's (different room!!!!). We are a bit more flexible this semester, so you may see weekly or biweekly seminars depending on speaker request/availability. Lunch will be served as usual. Our speaker will be @Irushi Jayathunga<mailto:Irushi.Jayathunga@umanitoba.ca>. You can find more information about her talk below. Title: Enhancing Mathematics Education through Context-Based, Learner-Centered Approaches Abstract: In this talk, the context-based, learner-centered approach we introduced in the classroom to teach mathematics will be discussed. By incorporating real-world examples and activities that connected mathematical concepts to practical applications, we aimed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and its real-world use. To measure the success of these methods, we used pre-and post-course student surveys to assess changes in students' understanding, engagement, and attitudes toward mathematics. The pre-course survey gathered insights into students' prior experiences and challenges, while the post-course survey evaluated their perceptions after experiencing the context-based approach. Our findings provide valuable insights into how these methods can enhance student learning, offering a foundation for refining and improving context-based teaching strategies in mathematics education. See you all in the seminar! GMS Website<https://sites.google.com/view/umgradmathsociety/> / Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/umgradmathsociety/> Sincerely, Berkant<https://cnnk.xyz> GMS Executive

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[GMS] Grad Seminar on January 26
by Berkant Cunnuk 25 Jan '26

25 Jan '26

Dear GMS, I hope you are all doing well. We will have a seminar on 26th of January, Monday in 123 St. Paul's between 11:30 and 12:30. Our speaker is @Homer De Vera<mailto:deverahf@myumanitoba.ca>. This is going to be the first talk of this semester. Lunch will be served as usual. The details about his talk are below. Title: Minimizing Kemeny's constant for partial stochastic matrices with a single specified column Abstract: Given a finite, discrete-time, time-homogeneous Markov chain on n states with an irreducible transition matrix T, we may compute Kemeny's constant K(T) in terms of the eigenvalues of T. Kemeny's constant on such matrices may be interpreted in terms of the expected number of steps to get from a random initial state to a random destination state, and hence, may be viewed as average travel time on a network when the states of the Markov chain are viewed as vertices on a graph. We similarly define K(T) in terms of eigenvalues of a stochastic matrix T having a single essential class, an extension of irreducible stochastic matrices. Suppose we have a partial stochastic matrix where some entries are specified and the rest are unspecified, how do we choose values for the unspecified entries so that the resulting stochastic matrix has a single essential class and K(T) is minimized? Steve Kirkland solved this question for partial stochastic matrices where the only specified entries are the diagonal entries and where the only specified entries are in a single row. In this talk, we present our results for the case where the only specified entries are in a single column. This is a work in progress with Prof. Kirkland. We have slots available for interested speakers! Please fill out this form<https://forms.gle/gMgGoqTcBnadxhwu9> if you are interested. See you all in the seminar! GMS Website<https://sites.google.com/view/umgradmathsociety/> / Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/umgradmathsociety/> Sincerely, Berkant<https://cnnk.xyz> GMS Executive

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[GMS] Vote for the GMS Winter 2026 Seminar day/time
by Berkant Cunnuk 09 Dec '25

09 Dec '25

Hello GMS, Thanks to all of you for your continued attendance at the GMS seminars during the Fall term. GMS seminars will continue during the Winter term. If you intend to give a speech, feel free to reach out to me (or any other GMS executive). We need to book a room way in advance, so we need to pick a day and time. I know that MHC hours aren't determined yet, but you should have some idea how your schedule will look, considering TA applications are over. Please take a look at the following link and pick times that work for you. https://whenisgood.net/sf5pszt If you could do it this week, that would be great! Sincerely, Berkant<https://cnnk.xyz> GMS Executive

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[GMS] Grad Seminar on December 3
by Berkant Cunnuk 03 Dec '25

03 Dec '25

Dear GMS, I hope you are all doing well. We will have a seminar on 3rd of December, Wednesday in 123 St. Paul's between 12:30 and 13:30. Our speaker is @Sueda Senturk Avci<mailto:senturks@myumanitoba.ca>. This is going to be the last talk of this semester. The details about her talk are below. Title: Computing Fourier Coefficients of Non-Holomorphic Eisenstein Series Abstract: The classical (holomorphic) Eisenstein series with the form \begin{equation*} E_k(z) = \frac{1}{2} \displaystyle\sum_{\substack{m,n \in \mathbb{Z} \\ (m,n) \neq (0,0)}} (mz + n)^{-k} \end{equation*} for $z \in \mathbb{H}$ has the Fourier coefficients \begin{equation*} E_k(z) = \zeta(k) + \frac{(2\pi)^k (-1)^{k/2}}{(k - 1)!} \sum_{N=1}^\infty \sigma_{k-1}(N) q^N, \quad \text{where } q = e^{2\pi i z}. \end{equation*} We see that the sum-of-divisors function $\sigma$ pops up in the non-constant coefficient part, which can be obtained via an elementary examination. When we change our focus to the non-holomorphic Eisenstein series with the form \begin{equation*} E_s(z) = \displaystyle\sum_{\substack{c,d \in \mathbb{Z} \\ \gcd(c,d) = 1}} \frac{y^s}{|cz+d|^{2s}}, \quad \text{for } z \in \mathbb{H} \text{ and } \Re(s) > 1, \end{equation*} the coefficients inevitably change. More explicitly, their Fourier expansion is \begin{equation*} E_s(z) = y^s + \frac{\xi(2s-1)}{\xi(2s)} y^{1-s} + \frac{2y^{\frac{1}{2}}}{\xi(2s)} |m|^{s-\frac{1}{2}} \sigma_{1-2s}(m) K_{s-\frac{1}{2}}(2\pi |m|y) e^{2\pi i mx}. \end{equation*} However, we keep seeing $\sigma$ in the non-constant coefficient part, and it comes from a more complicated but rigorous series of computations over local fields. In this talk, we will attempt to explain the background setup of these computations. Finally, if time permits, we will talk about the Whittaker functions that appear throughout our computations for a moment. The seminar can also be accessed from Zoom: https://umanitoba.zoom.us/j/61904749902?pwd=NBzY0WN8ItdlMq2fZiKCpb1uPf8L8i.1 Meeting ID: 619 0474 9902 Passcode: 846191 See you all in the seminar! GMS Website<https://sites.google.com/view/umgradmathsociety/> / Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/umgradmathsociety/> Sincerely, Berkant<https://cnnk.xyz> GMS Executive

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Fw: Colloquium this Wednesday - Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil (Regina)
by Homer De Vera 26 Nov '25

26 Nov '25

Dear GMS, The speaker at today's department colloquium is Dr. Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil, our invited speaker from the University of Regina. So let's please attend if we can. See the invitation below from Dr. Karen Gunderson for more details. After the talk at about 2:45pm, we will be holding a Q&A session about graduate study/research experience/general experience in academia with Dr. Lacaze-Masmonteil as our resource speaker. If you have some questions that you'd like us to ask for you, kindly submit them on this form<https://forms.gle/Wrecpwti36z2f2hD6>. Also at around 5pm, we will be going for bouldering at The Hive with our guest. It will cost about $35-40 individually. Don't hesitate to join if interested, just let me know so we can arrange the transportation plans to get there. Thanks! Best, Homer ________________________________ From: Karen Gunderson <Karen.Gunderson(a)umanitoba.ca> Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 9:31 AM To: Kerry Nemet <Kerry.Nemet(a)umanitoba.ca>; Melanie Vanderhorst <Melanie.Vanderhorst(a)umanitoba.ca> Subject: Colloquium this Wednesday - Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil (Regina) Dear colleagues, This week's in-person Colloquium talk will be: Wednesday, 26 November at 1:30pm and held in 225 St Paul’s College. Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil (Regina) will be speaking on “On the second largest eigenvalue of certain graphs in the perfect matching association scheme” (see abstract below). Dr. Lacaze-Mastoneil is the invited speaker of the Graduate Mathematics Society this term. Please make a special effort to attend the talks by our in-person speakers! Next week, our in-person speaker will be Dr Yevgeniy Bilokopytov (Alberta). As always, I am maintaining a public google calendar that you can subscribe to for up-to-date seminar information: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=840d5f2e955ab7313f26b18ff3b8… Best wishes, Karen, your colloquium coordinator This week’s talk details: Date and time: Wednesday November 26th, 1:30-3:00pm Location: 225 St Paul’s College Speaker: Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil (Regina) Title: On the second largest eigenvalue of certain graphs in the perfect matching association scheme Abstract: Defined as the difference between its two largest eigenvalues, the spectral gap of a graph plays an important role on our understanding of its connectivity as observed by Godsil and Royle (2001). Since computing the largest eigenvalue of a graph is generally not too difficult, the crux to understanding the spectral gap of a graph is to compute its second largest eigenvalue. In this talk, we will consider the spectral gap of certain graphs in the perfect matching association scheme. Since these graphs are part of the same association scheme, they have the same eigenspaces. These eigenspaces correspond to irreducible representations of the symmetric group and thus, one could use these irreducible representations to compute the eigenvalues of each graph. In practice, such computations are difficult to perform which makes it difficult to find the eigenspace that realizes the second largest eigenvalue. The focus of my talk will be to identify this eigenspace for selected graphs in the scheme. This is joint work with Himanshu Gupta, Allen Herman, Roghayeh (Mitra) Maleki, and Karen Meagher.

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Graduate student-led department colloquium with invited speaker: Dr. Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil
by Homer De Vera 20 Nov '25

20 Nov '25

Hi All, Every term we are encouraged by the department to invite a speaker to come visit UManitoba and give a talk at the math department colloquium. We are tasked to organize the visit from their arrival to departure with assistance from the department staff and most expenses are covered by the department. Last year, we invited Dr. Harmony Zhan from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. This term we have invited Dr. Alice Lacaze-Masmonteil, a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Regina, whose research interests include cycle decompositions of graphs and pursuit-evasion games on graphs. She will be arriving next week Monday (Nov 24) and depart on Thursday (Nov 27). She is scheduled to give a talk at the department colloquium on Wednesday (Nov 26). Throughout her stay, we will be assisting her, accompanying her in some lunches/dinners with grad students/postdocs and possibly faculty members, or taking her around Winnipeg like visiting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. This would be a great opportunity to network with an early-level researcher in Canada especially if you are interested in the speaker's research area, or in general to gain insights from her experiences in academia. I am forming a committee to oversee these tasks. As part of the committee, you may put this on your CV as event organizer under "service to university" or "extracurricular activities." If you also have ideas for other speakers to invite next term, this would be a good experience so that you'll know how it goes for the next time with your preferred invited speaker. If you are just interested in joining the lunches/dinners but not as part of the committee, that's perfectly fine too. Please sign up on this form<https://forms.gle/Q3sCfGiaAWUniqjg8> to let me know about your interest and availability. Best, Homer

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[GMS] Grad Seminar on November 19
by Berkant Cunnuk 19 Nov '25

19 Nov '25

Dear GMS, I hope you all had a productive reading week. If you didn't, don't worry: here is a picture to make your day better. [cid:80ccea49-2a00-4d5f-910d-306231dfbc63] You are welcome. We will have a seminar on 19th of November, Wednesday in 123 St. Paul's between 12:30 and 13:30. Our speaker is @Solomon Mensah<mailto:mensahs2@myumanitoba.ca>. The details about his talk are below. Title: A single patch and Climate-Based Metapopulation Malaria Model with Human Travel and Treatment Abstract: In this talk, we present single-patch and metapopulation models for malaria transmission that incorporate human movement between regions with varying climatic conditions, the use of effective and counterfeit treatments, and time-periodic parameters for mosquito dynamics. We develop an algorithm to compute the threshold condition $R_0$ for epidemiological systems derived from compartmental deterministic models. The analysis shows that when $R_0<1$, the disease-free equilibrium (DFE) is locally asymptotically stable, while $R_0>1$ leads to instability of the DFE. Under additional reasonable assumptions, we establish conditions under which the DFE is globally asymptotically stable, showing that, in many cases, this occurs precisely when $R_0≤1$. The seminar can also be accessed from Zoom: https://umanitoba.zoom.us/j/61904749902?pwd=NBzY0WN8ItdlMq2fZiKCpb1uPf8L8i.1 Meeting ID: 619 0474 9902 Passcode: 846191 See you all in the seminar! GMS Website<https://sites.google.com/view/umgradmathsociety/> / Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/umgradmathsociety/> Sincerely, Berkant<https://cnnk.xyz> GMS Executive

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[GMS] Grad Seminar on November 5, Wednesday
by Berkant Cunnuk 03 Nov '25

03 Nov '25

Dear GMS, I wish this message find you well. We will have a seminar on 5th of November, Wednesday in 123 St. Paul's between 12:30 and 13:30. Our speaker is @Joshua Beaudin<mailto:beaudin3@myumanitoba.ca>. The details about his talk are below. Title: Development and Application of t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbourhood Embeddings Abstract: t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbourhood Embedding (tSNE) is a technique developed in the past couple decades which has become a commonly employed data visualization tool for statisticians. The main problem of focus is on how to map high-dimensional data into two or three dimensions such that the distribution of how the transformed data is clustered is as close as possible to its original high-dimensional distribution. tSNE is a technique aimed at addressing this problem. This talk will focus on building up the relevant theory for the derivation of the technique complete with some applications of it. The seminar can also be accessed from Zoom: https://umanitoba.zoom.us/j/61904749902?pwd=NBzY0WN8ItdlMq2fZiKCpb1uPf8L8i.1 Meeting ID: 619 0474 9902 Passcode: 846191 See you all in the seminar! GMS Website<https://sites.google.com/view/umgradmathsociety/> / Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/umgradmathsociety/> Sincerely, Berkant<https://cnnk.xyz> GMS Executive

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[GMS] Grad Seminar on October 22, Wednesday
by Berkant Cunnuk 22 Oct '25

22 Oct '25

Dear GMS, I hope you're all doing well! We will have a seminar on 22th of October, Wednesday in 123 St. Paul's between 12:30 and 13:30. Our speaker is @Marshall Kaatz<mailto:kaatzm1@myumanitoba.ca>. The details about his talk are below. Title: Building the foundations for a new Ramsey-type problem Abstract: Ramsey numbers have gained notoriety over the last century for the difficulty of computing exact values or even improving known bounds, and have given rise to a large family of Ramsey-type problems. The classical theorem of Ramsey can be rephrased in terms of independent sets: in large enough graphs, either the graph or its complement will have a large independent set. In this talk, I present a natural analogous problem to that of the classical Ramsey numbers. Observing that an independent set is a special case of an acyclic set in a graph — that is, a set of vertices which induces no cycles — we instead study how in large enough graphs, either the graph or its complement will have a large acyclic set. In addition to presenting key theorems and constructions, I will discuss some small non-trivial exact values and best-known bounds. The seminar can also be accessed from Zoom: https://umanitoba.zoom.us/j/61904749902?pwd=NBzY0WN8ItdlMq2fZiKCpb1uPf8L8i.1 Meeting ID: 619 0474 9902 Passcode: 846191 See you all in the seminar! GMS Website<https://sites.google.com/view/umgradmathsociety/> / Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/umgradmathsociety/> Sincerely, Berkant<https://cnnk.xyz> GMS Executive

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