Autumn Kent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Autumn Kent
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | B.A., University of North Carolina at Asheville, 1999 Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 2006 |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geometry, Topology |
| Institutions | University of Wisconsin–Madison |
| Thesis | Geometry and algebra of hyperbolic 3-manifolds (2006) |
| Doctoral advisor | Cameron Gordon |
Autumn Kent is an American mathematician. She is a professor of mathematics at the University of Wisconsin. She works in areas of math called topology and geometry. She also helps promote fairness and inclusion for all people in science.
Contents
Autumn Kent's Education Journey
Early Studies and Change of Focus
Autumn Kent earned her first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), in 1999. She studied at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. At first, she thought about becoming an English teacher for high school. However, she found a passion for mathematics. She decided to major in both math and literature.
Advanced Degrees and Research
In 2006, she completed her Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin. Her main advisor was Cameron McAllan Gordon. Her special research paper was about the "Geometry and Algebra of Hyperbolic 3-manifolds." This is a complex topic in advanced geometry.
Teaching and Professorship
After her Ph.D., Dr. Kent worked at Brown University for four years. She was an Assistant Professor of Mathematics there. In 2010, she joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She became an associate professor in 2016. By 2020, she was a full professor.
Autumn Kent's Career and Contributions
Published Research in Mathematics
Dr. Kent has written more than 20 research papers. These papers have been published in different science journals. Most of her work focuses on low dimensional topology and knot theory. Topology is about shapes and spaces. Knot theory studies mathematical knots.
Promoting Inclusion in STEM
Dr. Kent is also a strong supporter of diversity in science. She worked on the Policy and Advocacy Committee for the Association for Women in Mathematics. This was from February 2019 to January 2022. She also spoke at a panel discussion in 2019. This discussion was about making STEM fields more welcoming for everyone.
She helped organize a special conference at the University of Michigan. This conference brought together mathematicians from diverse backgrounds. They worked together on topics like geometry, topology, and dynamical systems. Her work helps make sure that all talented people can succeed in math and science.
Awards and Recognition for Autumn Kent
Early Career Awards
In 1999, Autumn Kent received the Frank Gerth Dissertation Award. This was an early recognition of her talent. In 2014, she earned an NSF Career Award. This award helped her study complex mathematical surfaces.
Prestigious Fellowships and Honors
From 2015 to 2016, she was a von Neumann Fellow. This is a special honor at the Institute for Advanced Study. In 2018 and 2019, she was named a Vilas Associate. This is a recognition from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In 2019, she also received a Simons Fellowship.
In 2024, Dr. Kent was chosen as a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This is a very high honor for mathematicians. It shows her important contributions to the field.
See also
In Spanish: Autumn Kent para niños
