Professional and Biographical Information
Degrees
Ph.D., Princeton University (1975)
B.A., Rice University (1970)
A.M. (honorary), Amherst College (1988)
Research Interests
Most of my research involves algebraic geometry, which is the field of mathematics that studies geometric objects by means of algebra. Some aspects of my work are very abstract, while others are more computational and applied. There are hard questions in algebraic geometry that I have been studying for a long time. Algebraic geometry is a rich area to work in, with wonderful problems and surprising applications (including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the Boeing 777). For the past few years, I have been working on toric varieties. I also have interests in number theory and the history of mathematics.
Teaching Interests
I love teaching at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum, from our most elementary calculus courses to our most advanced electives for senior majors. I also enjoy working with students on senior theses.
Awards and Honors
Putnam Mathematical Competition: Honorable Mention (1969), Member of 2nd Place Team (1970)
Phi Beta Kappa, Rice University (1970)
NSF Fellowship, Princeton University (1971-1974)
Lester R. Ford Prize, Mathematical Association of America (2012)
Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (2013)
Scholarly and Professional Activities
Member, Editorial Board, Undergraduate Texts in Mathematics, Springer, 2015-present
Member, Editorial Board for Book Reviews, Bulletin of the AMS, 2013-present
Member, Editorial Board of the Graduate Studies in Mathematics series, AMS, 2006-2013
Member, Editorial Board of the Journal of Symbolic Computation, 1998-present
Member, Editorial Board of the Pure and Applied Mathematics series, Wiley, 1993-2003
Member, Eastern Section Program Committee of the AMS, 1999-2001, Chair 2000-2001
Member, Council of the American Mathematical Society, 1991-94
Lecturer, MSRI Summer Graduate Workshop on Toric Varieties, Berkeley, CA (2009), Cortona, Italy (2011)
Lecture Series on the Role of Algebra in Applied Mathematics, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, Spring 2006
Lecturer, CIMPA School on Commutative Algebra, Hanoi, Winter 2006
Lecture Series on Galois Theory, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Summer 2004
Lecturer, CIMPA School on Solving Polynomial Equations, Buenos Aires, Summer 2003
Lecturer, Summer School on Toric Geometry, Grenoble, Summer 2000
Links
See also: Selected Publications