Patricia Hersh facts for kids

Patricia Lynn Hersh (born 1973) is an American mathematician. She is a professor of mathematics at the University of Oregon. Her work involves a special area of math called combinatorics. This field studies how to count, arrange, and combine things. She also looks at how combinatorics connects to other parts of mathematics.

Becoming a Mathematician: Patricia Hersh's Journey

Patricia Hersh studied at two famous universities. She earned her first degree from Harvard University in 1995. She studied both mathematics and computer science there. Her senior project was guided by Persi Diaconis, another well-known mathematician.

Advanced Studies and Research

After Harvard, she continued her studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1999, she earned her Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree. This is the highest degree you can get in a field of study. Her main teacher at MIT was Richard P. Stanley. Her Ph.D. paper was about "Decomposition and Enumeration in Partially Ordered Sets." This sounds complicated, but it's about breaking down and counting items in a specific order.

Teaching and Academic Roles

After finishing her Ph.D., Dr. Hersh worked as a researcher at several universities. These included the University of Washington and the University of Michigan. She also worked at the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in California.

In 2004, she became a professor at Indiana University Bloomington. Later, she moved to North Carolina State University in 2008. Since 2019, she has been a professor at the University of Oregon. She also served on the council for the American Mathematical Society from 2011 to 2013. This shows her leadership in the math community.

Awards and Special Recognition

Dr. Hersh has received important awards for her work in mathematics. These awards show how much her contributions are valued.

Ruth I. Michler Memorial Prize

In 2010, Patricia Hersh won the Ruth I. Michler Memorial Prize. This award comes from the Association for Women in Mathematics. It helped her visit Cornell University to do more research. This prize supports women who are making great progress in mathematics.

Fellow of the American Mathematical Society

In 2015, she was chosen as a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. Being a "fellow" is a special honor. It means she is recognized for her important work in algebraic and topological combinatorics. It also honors her service to the entire mathematics community.