Chikako Mese facts for kids
Chikako Mese is an American mathematician. She is known for her work in advanced math topics. These include differential geometry, which studies shapes and spaces, and geometric analysis, which uses math tools to understand shapes. She also works on harmonic maps, which are special ways to connect different shapes. She is a professor at Johns Hopkins University.
Quick facts for kids
Chikako Mese
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Dayton (BA) Stanford University (PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | differential geometry, geometric analysis |
| Institutions | Connecticut College Johns Hopkins University |
| Thesis | Minimal Surfaces and Conformal Mappings Into Singular Spaces (1996) |
| Doctoral advisor | Richard Schoen |
Contents
Her Journey in Math
Chikako Mese went to Elk Grove High School (Elk Grove Village, Illinois). She graduated in 1987. She was a talented softball player there. She even broke a national record. She scored 69 runs in one season.
She played many positions for her team. She also tied a state record for walks. She had 35 walks in a season.
College and Advanced Studies
In 1991, Mese earned her first degree. She got a bachelor's degree in math. This was from the honors program at the University of Dayton.
She then continued her studies. She earned her Ph.D. in math in 1996. This was from Stanford University. Her main project was about Minimal Surfaces. Her professor, Richard Schoen, guided her work.
Teaching and Research Career
Before joining Johns Hopkins University, Mese taught at other colleges. She was a professor at the University of Southern California. She also taught at Connecticut College.
She became a professor at Johns Hopkins in 2004. She was the first woman to become a tenured math professor there. This means she earned a permanent teaching position. In 2007, she became a full professor. From 2008 to 2011, she led the math department.
Awards and Special Honors
Chikako Mese has received several important recognitions for her work.
In 2007, her old high school honored her. Elk Grove High School (Elk Grove Village, Illinois) named her a distinguished alumna. This means she is a notable former student.
The Simons Foundation named her a Simons Fellow in 2017. This fellowship supports top scientists.
In 2020, she became a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This honor is for her important work. It also recognizes her service to the math community.