IMA New Directions Research Professorships provide an extraordinary opportunity for established mathematicians—typically mid-career faculty at US universities—to branch into new directions and increase the impact of their research by spending an academic year immersed in the thematic program at the IMA, where they learn new mathematics and applications, connect their research with important problems, and establish new contacts and collaborations.

Application for a New Directions Professorship [Click here to apply]



The intensive two-week New Directions Short Course offers extraordinary opportunities for established mathematicians to branch into new directions and increase the impact of their research. Participants are able to delve more deeply into research, learn about open problems, and meet potential collaborators. The course, which meets daily over a two-week period, consists of lectures by the main organizers and by experts in the field, and problem sessions. The topics selected for the short courses, chosen by the directorate in consultation with the Board of Governors, show particular promise for innovative mathematical investigation. Breaking into new areas of research and forging a new path is challenging, but programs like these offer researchers the chance to collaborate, make new connections, and energize their research.

Upcoming
Applied Statistics and Machine Learning, June 17-28, 2013.


During the short course I was stimulated with a new idea on Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s Disease. Together with a local experimental group at my university, we are setting up new experiments guided by theory. I also discussed some problems on modeling psychophysical phenomena that are turning into projects now. Apart from that, the course also short-cutted the very steep learning curve one has in this field.

The program brought about my work in multiple linear regression that will have important consequences for the teaching and practice of statistics…

Specifically, the short course enabled me to write my new book The Mathematics of Signal Processing with Prof Willard Miller (University of Minnesota) Cambridge Texts in Applied Mathematics (No. 48).

My research focus has been shifted to bio-related problems, especially in bio-fluid interfaces.

I have established a center for quantum information science and technology at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

As a result of participating at the workshop, I began actively working in the field of computational topology. Since then I have reported at several conferences in the field, published three papers (one of which evolved out of a homework problem given at the course and was written together with two other participants), and am working on several more. One of my students has already graduated in this field, and a second is working toward his Ph.D. We have established connections with several other European universities and are participating in a major European Science Foundation project on the topic.