Past Probability Seminars Spring 2020
Fall 2015
Thursdays in 901 Van Vleck Hall at 2:25 PM, unless otherwise noted.
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Thursday, September 17, Nicholas A. Cook, UCLA, 2:25pm Van Vleck B325
Please note the unusual location, Van Vleck Hall B325
Title: Random regular digraphs: singularity and spectrum
We consider two random matrix ensembles associated to large random regular digraphs: (1) the 0/1 adjacency matrix, and (2) the adjacency matrix with iid bounded edge weights. Motivated by universality conjectures, we show that the spectral distribution for the latter ensemble is asymptotically described by the circular law, assuming the graph has degree linear in the number of vertices. Towards establishing the same result for the adjacency matrix without iid weights, we prove that it is invertible with high probability. Along the way we make use of Stein's method of exchangeable pairs to establish some graph discrepancy properties.
Thursday, September 24, No seminar
Thursday, October 1 Sebastien Roch, UW-Madison
Title: Mathematics of the Tree of Life--From Genomes to Phylogenetic Trees and Beyond
Abstract: The reconstruction of the Tree of Life is an old problem in evolutionary biology which has benefited from various branches of mathematics, including probability, combinatorics, algebra, and geometry. Modern DNA sequencing technologies are producing a deluge of new data on a vast array of organisms--transforming how we view the Tree of Life and how it is reconstructed. I will survey recent progress on some mathematical and computational questions that arise in this context. No biology background will be assumed. (This is a practice run for a plenary talk at an AMS meeting.)
Thursday, October 8, No Seminar due to the Midwest Probability Colloquium
Midwest Probability Colloquium
Thursday, October 15, Louis Fan, UW-Madison
Thursday, October 22, Tom Kurtz, UW-Madison
Thursday, October 29, Ecaterina Sava-Huss, Cornell
TBA