Joel Louwsma
Department of Mathematics 253-37
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
Education
- Ph.D., Mathematics, California Institute of Technology, June 2010 (expected)
- Thesis: Extremal Quasimorphisms on Braid Groups
- Advisor: Danny Calegari
- B.S. with Highest Honors in Mathematics, University of Michigan, April 2005
- Fall 2004 and Spring 2005 spent at the Math in Moscow program.
- Spring 2003 spent at the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program.
Research Interests
Geometric group theory, low-dimensional topologyPapers
- Extremal Quasimorphisms on Braid Groups, in preparation.
- (with A. Presoto and A. Tarr) A New Computation of the Codimension Sequence of the Grassmann Algebra, Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal, Vol. 6 (2005)
- Homeomorphism Groups of the Sierpinski Carpet and Sierpinski Gasket, part of REU project, Summer 2004.
Talks
- Stable Commutator Length in Braid Groups, Joint Mathematics Meetings, January 2010
- Mapping Class Groups, Caltech Graduate Student Summer Seminar, August 2009
- Homological Representations of Braid Groups, Caltech Informal Geometry/Topology Seminar, December 2008
- Asymptotic Cones, Caltech Geometric Group Theory Reading Course, May 2008
- Mapping Class Groups, Caltech Informal Geometry/Topology Seminar, November 2007
- A New Computation of the Codimension Sequence of the Grassmann Algebra, Universidade de Campinas REU Symposium, August 2004
- Homeomorphism Groups of the Sierpinski Carpet and Sierpinski Gasket, University of Michigan REU Colloquium, June 2004
Conferences Attended
- Oberwolfach Seminar on Bounded Cohomology, Oberwolfach, Germany, May-June 2009
- More Examples of Groups, Ohio State University, May 2009
- Southern California Topology Conference, California Institute of Technology, January 2009
- Examples of Groups, Ohio State University, May-June 2008
- Georgia Topology Conference, University of Georgia, May 2008
- Ahlfors-Bers Colloquium, Rutgers University-Newark, May 2008
- Geometric Groups on the Gulf Coast, Pensacola, Florida, March 2008
- Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, California, January 2008
- Topics in Teichmüller Theory and Kleinian Groups, MSRI, November 2007
- Introduction to Geometric Group Theory, MSRI, August 2007
- Introduction to Teichmüller Theory and Kleinian Groups, MSRI, August 2007
- Workshop in Geometric Topology, Calvin College, June 2007
- Geometry and the Imagination, Princeton University, June 2007
- Southern California Topology Conference, California Institute of Technology, January 2007
- IAS/Park City Mathematics Institute, Park City, Utah, June-July 2006
- Joint Mathematics Meetings, Atlanta, Georgia, January 2005
Teaching Experience
- Teaching Assistant, California Institute of Technology, 2005-present
- I prepared and taught recitations, held office hours, and graded homework and exams. I did this for the following courses:
- Calculus, Fall 2005
- Linear Algebra, Winter 2006, Winter 2007
- Multivariable Calculus, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2009
- Differential Equations, Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Fall 2009
- Probability and Statistics, Winter 2008, Winter 2009
- Head Teaching Assistant, California Institute of Technology, Fall 2007, Spring 2009
- In addition to the above responsibilities of a teaching assistant, I supervised the other teaching assistants, coordinated grading of homework and exams, and handled various other administrative matters.
- Teaching Assistant, Center for Talented Youth Summer Programs, Summer 2005
- I taught some classes, led problem sessions, and gave students feedback about their work. I did this for the following courses:
- Cryptography, Session 1
- Game Theory, Session 2
Honors and Awards
- Caltech Project for Effective Teaching Certificate, 2009
- This certificate was awarded in recognition of successful completion of the Pedagogy Workshop Series.
- Graduate Research Assistantship, California Institute of Technology, Summer 2006, Summer 2007, Summer 2008, Spring 2009, Summer 2009, Fall 2009
- AMS Math in Moscow Scholarship, Fall 2004, Spring 2005
- Outstanding Achievement Award, Departent of Mathematics, University of Michigan, April 2004
Service
- Committee to determine mathematics placement of incoming undergraduates, Caltech, 2009
- Coordinated TA training for math graduate students in conjunction with Caltech Project for Effective Teaching, Fall 2008
- Coordinated orientation activities for new math graduate students, 2006-2008
- Volunteer assistant for International Student Orientation, 2006-2009
- Host for many prospective graduate students, 2006-2008
Citizenship
USAReferences
Danny Calegari
Department of Mathematics 253-27
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
dannyc AT caltech DOT edu
Department of Mathematics 253-27
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
dannyc AT caltech DOT edu
Nathan Dunfield
Department of Mathematics, MC-382
University of Illinois
1409 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
nmd AT illinois DOT edu
Matthew Day
Department of Mathematics 253-27
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
mattday AT caltech DOT edu
Gary Lorden (teaching)
Department of Mathematics 253-27
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
glorden AT caltech DOT edu
Department of Mathematics 253-27
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
glorden AT caltech DOT edu
Eric Rains (teaching)
Department of Mathematics 253-27
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA 91125
rains AT caltech DOT edu