Fields Institute

317 20124
Workshop ID:
FIELDS-WCAAG [#20124]
Workshop Title:
Fields Workshop II for Women in Commutative Algebra and Algebraic Geometry
Workshop Type:
Fellowship or award
Workshop Location:
Toronto, Ontario M5T3J1, Canada
Subject Area:
Commutative algebra and algebraic geometry (broadly interpreted)
Appl Deadline:
2022/11/15 11:59PMhelp popup finished (2022/06/08, finished 2023/05/20, listed until 2022/12/08)
Workshop Description:
  Remote  

*** this workshop has been closed and new applications are no longer accepted. ***

Workshop Description

Fields Workshop II for Women in Commutative Algebra and Algebraic Geometry

Eligibility Requirements: 1) Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Mathematics by the due date of the application. (Under exceptional circumstances, candidates who will obtain a Ph.D. by Summer 2023 will be considered.) 2) Applicants should be women researchers with an established research program in Commutative Algebra and/or Algebraic Geometry (broadly interpreted).

Application Due Date: November 15, 2022

Description of the Workshop:

The overall goal of this series of 2 virtual (on-line) events is to gather a small community of approximately 15 women researchers who work in the areas of commutative algebra and algebraic geometry (broadly interpreted) to (1) form a close-knit research community and (2) to work on concrete projects which bridge these 2 areas, in smaller groups of 3 or 4 members each.

We are looking for women mathematicians with a mature, established research program within Commutative Algebra and/or Algebraic Geometry, who are also looking to develop new research connections and explore new avenues of research between and across these two areas. In particular, we expect the proposals for projects to reach across strict discipline boundaries.

In order to be considered for the program, applicants should be fully committed to the events described below, including (i) the proposal of a project, and (ii) active participation in their research (sub)group as well as in the meetings of the whole group.

The following is an overall description of the planned program activities:

1) There will be a 2 day kick-off (virtual) workshop in early 2023. Each participant (excepting the organizers) will be expected to prepare, and be ready to present, a concrete research question which may be selected as one of the research problems to be worked on, long-term, by a subgroup of the participants. The workshop’s Day 1 will consist of presentations of these proposed research projects; each participant will present her problem to the group, and this will be followed by a brief, informal question-and-answer session. There will also be an informal networking session. Day 2 will consist of more focused discussions regarding the proposed problems. This will be followed by a series of informal votes to narrow down the list of projects to a list of ~3-5 projects. Finally, we will form the subgroups of 3 to 4 participants that are “assigned” to each of the selected projects; it is expected that these subgroups will each work independently on the group’s selected problem over the next year (and, if needed, beyond).

IMPORTANT NOTE: There will be no “group leaders”. To put it another way, even if a person originally proposed a particular research problem, this does not mean that this person is the “group leader”. Moreover, we do not envision this as a “mentor-mentee” situation. It is expected that each team is a “team of equals” — we ask every member of each (sub)group to think of herself is an equal “peer” to the others, and to behave accordingly.

2) The (sub)groups continue to meet frequently to work on these problems throughout the remainder of 2023, using whatever means they find most convenient.

3) There will be 2 short (half-day), informal, virtual meetings in the summer of 2023, during which each research team/subgroup can briefly report on progress in ~5-15 minute increments, and the entire group can network and have overall discussion.

4) Approximately one year after the initial (early 2023) workshop, there will be a more formal 1- or 2-day follow-up workshop. This will be an opportunity to fully report on progress on the research projects in ~20-30 minute presentations and for the entire group to have more fulsome discussions.

Application process and materials: (to be posted on MathJobs)

If you are interested in applying, please submit the following materials.

1) A curriculum vitae. The CV should include a full list of publications (including Arxiv preprints) and a full list of research talks given (at seminars, conferences, etc).

2) If the applicant’s PhD age is less than 6 full academic years, we require 2 reference letters supporting the application.

a) The first letter should be from a researcher who is not the candidate’s former PhD supervisor, but can be in some supporting/mentor capacity, for example, a post-doc supervisor.

b) The second letter should be from someone at arm’s-length from the candidate. By arm’s-length we mean that the letter-writer should not be in any of the following categories: (i) a former PhD supervisor, (ii) a former postdoc supervisor or anyone in any formal supervising capacity, (iii) a research collaborator (within the last 6 years), (iv) a member of the same institution as the candidate currently or at any point in the past.

The letter of support should address the researcher’s preparation for participation in a workshop such as is described above. Please give the following instructions to the letter-writer: “Please comment on the applicant’s research maturity and breadth, as well as their ability to work independently as a researcher in an intense environment. If possible, please also comment on their communication skills.”

3) A one-page statement of interest ("Cover Letter"). Describe the reasons for your interest in the described program, both mathematically and personally, and concretely describe how you can contribute to a successful interdisciplinary event and how it would benefit you individually.

4) Lastly, submit a brief paragraph ("Research Statement" - approximately five lines) which gives a rough description of the topic on which you would likely propose the question which you bring to propose to the group at the workshop. The question does not need to be fully fleshed out, but please provide enough details so that the organizers can understand the context, and how it has the potential to be of interest to both communities.

The Fields Institute is a centre for mathematical research activity - a place where mathematicians from Canada and abroad, from academia, business, industry and financial institutions, can come together to carry out research and formulate problems of mutual interest. Our mission is to provide a supportive and stimulating environment for mathematics innovation and education. Learn more about us.

Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
  • Cover letter
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Research statement
  • Reference letter (optional) (to be submitted online by the reference writers on this site help popup)
And anything else requested in the workshop description.

Further Info:
www.fields.utoronto.ca
email address
 
222 College Street
2nd floor
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5T 3J1