3. Postdoctoral Program - MSRI

Mahlburg, Karl
Smith, Abraham
Karl received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in
2006 under the supervision of Ken Ono. His dissertation was titled
“Congruences for the coefficients of modular forms and applications to
number theory.” In collaboration with Kathrin Bringmann, Karl developed a
full research program with applications in number theory, combinatorial
probability, and statistical mechanics. He additionally established new
interests and collaborations within combinatorial probability, notably with
Alexander Holroyd and Lionel Levine. On top of many talks he gave
throughout the year, Karl and Kathrin completed and submitted a paper titled
“Improved bounds on metastability thresholds and probablities for
generalized bootstrap percolation.” Karl continues his external postdoctoral
fellowship with MSRI for the 2010-11 academic year at Princeton University
with his mentor, Manjul Bhargava.
Abraham received his Ph.D. from Duke University in 2009 under the
supervision of Robert Bryant. This dissertation was titled “Integrability of
Second-Order PDEs and the Geometry of GL (2)-Structures.” During the
fall of 2009, Abraham completed a paper titled “Integrable GL (2) Geometry
and Hydrodynamic Partial Differential Equations” which was submitted to
Communications in Analysis and Geometry. He continued his research on a
broad generalization of theory on PEDs in any number of variables. In
addition, he participated in numerous seminars throughout the year.
Abraham is in the process of organizing a workshop on the geometry of
PDEs to be held at CRM in Montreal during summer 2011. He continues his
external postdoctoral fellowship with MSRI for the 2010-11 academic year
at McGill University in Quebec with his mentor, Niky Karman.
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