Graduate Blog

(http://www.humboldt-foundation.de)

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation promotes academic cooperation between excellent scientists and scholars from abroad and from Germany. To this end, it grants more than 700 research fellowships and research awards annually to individual researchers who become life-long members of an international network of alumni, the so-called “Humboldtians”. As a gathering of the Humboldt community in Canada, the Humboldt Colloquium “Excellence in Research” in Toronto will celebrate the German-Canadian partnership in research and will explore current trends in the making and funding of excellent research in all fields of research in both Germany and Canada.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has a strong history and special commitment of promoting excellent young researchers and supporting their building of international careers and academic collaborations. Therefore, we wish to involve a group of approximately 50 researchers in the meeting who are not members of the Humboldt community yet but may wish to become fellows in the future. The Session for Early Career Researchers will give prominent space and attention to this group, allowing them to present their current work to more senior and established Canadian researchers with strong international experience and connections. The format will be a combination of presentations and a poster session. Advanced PhD students and scientists and scholars who received their PhD degree fewer than 6 years ago may participate in the full three-day event and may seek personal advice on specific sponsorship opportunities from the representatives of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and its partner organizations, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Max Planck Society (MPG) and possibly Canadian organizations.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation will cover the costs for the participation of early career researchers in the program and grant a lump-sum conference allowance of 150 CAD for participants attending from outside Toronto.

Applications will be accepted until 7 September under the link provided in the attached call. All applications will be reviewed by a committee of Humboldt alumni as well as staff of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The selection of the participants will be based on the abstracts, biography and list of publications submitted. All applicants will be notified by the first week of October.

Application:  https://mi.conventus.de/online/avh-toronto-earlycareer-2012.do?code=cbH%3FBRoG

Deadline:  September 7, 2012

Candidates seeking more information about the event should visit the website provided in the call. Should institutional partners be interested in attending the session and presenting their sponsorship or career opportunities, we kindly ask that they contact the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation:

Bianca Brinkmeier, Conference Management
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Jean-Paul-Straße 12
53173 Bonn
Germany
Phone: +49 (228) 833-205
E-Mail:            bianca.brinkmeier@avh.de

With kind regards from Katrin Amian and myself,

Maria-Bernadette Carstens-Behrens
Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung/Foundation
Abteilung Foerderung und Netzwerk/Sponsorship and Network
Jean-Paul-Str. 12
53173 Bonn-Bad Godesberg
Tel: 0228-833-426
Fax: 0228-833-217
Office hours (part-time):
Mon, Wed, Thu, Fr: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Tue: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Two reminders:

If you like to attend the Math Graduate Student Career Event

http://www.math.toronto.edu/cms/assets/MathFiles/Home/Files/Grad-career.pdf

this Wednesday, May 2nd, please RSVP by noon this Monday at

http://www.doodle.com/hp7hnzux2unuux95

We will need to know how much food to order.

The deadline to submit your reading and/or research course forms
for master’s projects and summer reading courses is MONDAY, MAY 7th.
The completed forms come to me. Blank forms are available in the
mailroom.

I will be away from the office from Monday, May 14 and will return
on Monday, May 28. If you need any confirmation letters from me, please request
them before I leave. While I am away, Jemima in the main office will
be able to assist you.

Thanks!

Ida

Hello All,

We cordially invite you to the University of Toronto’s Annual Graduate Statistics Research Day at the Fields Institute on Thursday April 19th, 2012.

This year’s theme is Models for Dependent Data.

This event will include keynote talks by invited guests, presentations from senior graduate students, poster presentations, and a panel discussion.

This year’s keynote speakers are:

Michael Jordon, University of California Berkeley

David Dunson, Duke University

Marina Meila, University of Washington

Registration is now open online: http://www.fields.utoronto.ca/programs/scientific/11-12/gradresearch/index.html

The registration fee is only $30 for students/PDFs and $45 for faculty/guests. The fee includes breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks, and attendance to all talks and the panel discussion.

We look forward to seeing you in Toronto on April 19th !

Dear Department Members,

The Undergraduate Math Union cordially invites you to attend the 
Third Annual Math Talent Show this Friday, March 16th, 7:30-10:00 pm. 
The show will take place in Hart House, Music Room, second floor.

Refreshments will be served. There will be a variety of performances by 
both undergraduate and graduate math students. Please come out to support 
your students and share in the magic of this rare and exciting event. 
Family and friends are welcome.

We hope to see you at the show!

Regards,
UTMU

Dear Graduate Students,

Tom Denton, a postdoc at York University and in the Fields Institute,
is participating and organizing and seeking your help in strengthening
mathematical communities in Africa. He will be giving a presentation
about his activities - and asking if you can help - on Tuesday January
24th, 5:00 p.m., at Bahen 6183. Please come!

His title is "Strengthening Mathematical Communities in Africa", and
his abstract reads:

We will discuss a number of initiatives occurring in Kenya to improve
math education at all levels (high school, undergraduate, and graduate),
while building links between Kenyan mathematicians and the international
mathematical community.  Thus far, these initiatives have included
an international conference held in Nairobi, workshops for graduate
students, a math camp for high school students, and a new electronic
courseware system for undergraduate and post-graduate students.
We will also discuss the scope and impact of the African Institute
of Mathematical Sciences, which has three centers in Ghana, South Africa and
Senegal, and is aiming to expand to fifteen centers by 2050.  We will
also discuss ways that you can get involved!

(My own minor African experience is at
http://www.math.toronto.edu/~drorbn/classes/0910/Homology/index.html
and http://www.math.toronto.edu/~drorbn/classes/0910/Homology/report.html)

Best,

Dror Bar-Natan.

Kumar Murty (University of Toronto)
Saturday, December 10, 2011, 6:00 pm
Ryerson University, Atrium of the George Vari
Engineering and Computing Centre

The TAU of Ramanujan

Ramanujan's story is as amazing as his mathematics. Being largely
self-taught, he emerged from extreme poverty to become one of the
20th century's most influential mathematicians. His is a phenomenal
"rags to mathematical riches" story. In this talk, we look at one aspect
of Ramanujan's life and legacy and use it as a backdrop to explore his
Tau: the essence of his creativity.

Kumar Murty got his B.Sc from Carleton University and Ph.D. from 
Harvard University.  After a year each at the Institute for Advanced Study 
(Princeton) and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Mumbai), 
he joined Concordia University as an NSERC University
Research Fellow. In 1987, he moved to the University of Toronto 
where he has been ever since. He is currently the Chair of the 
Department of Mathematics.

Kumar's field of research is number theory, algebraic geometry and 
their applications to information technology. For many years, 
he was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Ramanujan Mathematical 
Society and an editor of Transactions of the American Mathematical Society.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a Fellow of the 
Fields Institute. This year, he was elected a Foreign Fellow of 
the National Academy of Sciences (India). Other honours include 
a Steacie Fellowship, the Coxeter-James Prize, the Balaguer Prize (joint
with his brother Ram) and an "Inventor of the Year" award of the 
University of Toronto.

Hi everyone,

The University of Toronto is having its Remembrance Day service on
Friday November 11 outside of Hart House. I am hoping that other
students and faculty will be interested in attending with me.
The service is from 10:15-11:00 am, and details are below.

https://www.events.utoronto.ca/index.php?action=singleView&eventid=7457

We will meet at 9:45 am on November 11 in the lounge on the 6th floor
of Bahen, and then walk to Hart House. Some of us might go out for
coffee after the service.

Hope to see you there,
Micheal Pawliuk

VERY IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION FOR ALL STUDENTS

2012-13 NSERC VANIER CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: 
	Wednesday, October 5, 2011
2012-13 NSERC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: 
	Wednesday, October 12, 2011
2012-13 ONTARIO GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: 
	Wednesday, October 19, 2011

**Students planning to register in the mathematics graduate program in 
2012-13 and who qualify to apply MUST apply for government scholarships 
in order to be considered for any university or departmental
funding.  Students exempt from applying are students who have 
secured NSERC funding in 2012-13.**

**Students applying for both NSERC and OGS applications need only 
order one original official transcript.  The original official transcript 
will be uploaded by Ida to the NSERC website and the hard copy will 
be included in the OGS application package.**

**********************************************

NSERC VANIER CANADA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE: 
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 2011

The Vanier CGS program aims to attract and retain world-class 
doctoral students by supporting students who demonstrate
both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarship achievement 
in graduate studies.

For more information, please visit http://www.vanier.gc.ca  

Students must be nominated by the department and the department will 
have a nomination quota, usually 2.  
Canadian and international students are eligible to be nominated.

If you wish to be considered, please contact the math graduate office 
and submit an application by the deadline as follows:

Vanier website for eligibility requirements 
http://www.vanier.gc.ca/eng/eligibility-admissibilite.aspx ,
nomination 
http://www.vanier.gc.ca/eng/nomination_process-processus_de_mise_en_candidature.aspx
and step-by step application instructions 
http://www.vanier.gc.ca/eng/nomination_process-processus_de_mise_en_candidature.aspx#researchnet_instructions

*************************************************

NSERC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP DEPARTMENT DEADLINE - 
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12TH, 2011

- citizenship restrictions: must be Canadian citizen or 
Canadian permanent resident
- other eligibility requirements are listed at 
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/BellandPostgrad-BelletSuperieures_eng.asp

NSERC APPLICATION WORKSHOP for students (St. George campus): 
Friday, September 16, 10-12, in SS2135, 100 St. George St.
(UTM Campus Workshop: Wed., Sept. 21, 10-12, William G. Davis Building, Room 3129; 
UTSC Campus Workshop: Thurs., Sept. 22, 1:10-3:00, New Council Chambers, Room AA160)

NSERC Video Tutorial for Students: 
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/Videos-Videos/SFTips_eng.asp

Application is completed on-line: 
https://ebiz.nserc.ca/nserc_web/nserc_register_e.htm

NSERC FAQ page: 
http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/FAQ-FAQ_eng.asp

Step by Step Application Instructions: 
http://www.nserc-crsng.ca/OnlineServices-ServicesEnLigne/Instructions/201/e.asp

- Students must order official updated transcripts from any university 
they have attended in North America.  Students can hand-deliver the 
sealed transcripts to the math graduate office by Wednesday, October 12, 
or request the transcript to be mailed directly to the unit by the deadline.  

- The Math University Designate who will upload the transcript(s) 
is Ida Bulat, ida@math.toronto.edu

- Two reference reports on student are required.  Referees will be 
sent notification regarding the request for a reference.  
They must complete their reports on-line and must do so by 
the October 12th deadline. 

*********************************************

ONTARIO GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP - ABSOLUTE deadline 
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, 2011,
final date by which all students must submit their complete OGS 
application to the department.
After this date, the application will no longer be accessible on line 
by students (all printing of online applications must be done prior to 
this date as well).

OGS APPLICATION WORKSHOP for STUDENTS (ST. GEORGE): 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011,
10:00 - 12:00 noon, Sidney Smith Hall, Room 2135, 100 St. George St.

- https://osap.gov.on.ca/OSAPPortal/en/A-ZListofAid/PRD1346626.html

- no citizenship restriction

- overall average of at least an A-, or the equivalent, on the last 
20 one-term/semester courses for undergraduate applicants and beginning
graduate students Years 1 and 2; 
overall A- average on all graduate courses completed for senior graduate 
students (Years 3 and beyond)

Students must assemble the following documents and submit  by the deadline 
listed above:

1. completed OGS application (all pages printed)
2. application checklist
3. two academic assessment reports
4. statement of interest (for master's students) or plan of study 
(for doctorate students)
5. list of significant academic accomplishments
6. list of scholarships or awards
7. official/original Canadian or US university transcripts 
(undergraduate and graduate, if applicable)
8. transcripts from foreign universities, other than the US, 
will be copied by the department
9. copy of student study permit for international students

Unsuccessful OGS applications from domestic students will also be 
considered for Queen Elizabeth II Scholarships in Science and Technology 
in spring 2012. 
Students who have held 4 years of government scholarships and do 
not qualify to apply for an OGS can be considered for the QEII 
scholarship.  These students should submit
OGS paper applications by the October 19th deadline.

Please do not hesitate to drop my the math graduate office if you 
have any questions.

It is important that the deadlines listed above are met.

Dear All,

Please come!

The Math Department will be holding its annual Graduate Orientation
Session this Monday (September 12) starting at 4PM at Bahen 6183. We will
have some short presentations by various dignitaries, and then a sequence
of mostly 3-minute course descriptions by professors in our department,
with some pizza and pop at 5PM. The anticipated approximate subject to
change tentative schedule will be:

4:10 Introduction by Prof. Kumar Murty, Chair of the Mathematics Department.
4:15 GSU/MGSA representative, Alexander Dahl.
4:20 SGS / Office of Student Life representative, Jennifer Pinker.
4:25 Dror Bar-Natan, Graduate Coordinator (also speaking for Ida Bulat and
     Emile LeBlanc).
4:35 Let's Talk Science representative, Nika Shakiba.

4:40 Prof. Lisa Jeffrey.
4:45 Prof. Man-Duen Choi.
4:48 Prof. Ilia Binder.
4:51 Prof. George Elliott.
4:54 Prof. Ragnar-Olaf Buchweitz.

5:00 Pizza and Pop at the Math Lounge.

5:15 Prof. Jim Arthur.
5:18 Prof. Almut Burchard.
5:21 Prof. Florian Herzig.
5:24 Prof. Balint Virag.
5:27 Prof. Boris Khesin.

5:33 Dr. Daniel Moskovich.
5:36 Prof. John Bland.
5:39 Prof. Robert McCann.
5:42 Prof. Michael Yampolsky.

You might think the session will end at 5:45. Past experience suggests that we
will have some delays, and we will actually go on until 6 or maybe even later.

Best,

Dror.