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DTSTART:20070311T020000
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250616T161710
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250625T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250625T160000
SUMMARY:Presentation:Median Filters for Multiphase Interfacial Motions
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\n\nThe core contribution of this thesis is the establishment of a precise connection between median filter (sorting-based) level set schemes and threshold dynamics. This connection facilitates the development of level set methods informed by recent advances in threshold dynamics\, enabling simulation of the mean curvature motion of interface networks under varying surface tension and mobility conditions. We then extend these median filters to an anisotropic wetting/dewetting scenario where one of the three phases remains stationary while triple junctions form at their intersections. This scenario serves as a testbed for examining complex triple junction conditions due to anisotropy. Numerical evidence supports the correct angle condition at these junctions\, encouraging further exploration into fully anisotropic multiphase flow dynamics.\n\nAdditionally\, building on this connection between level set methods and threshold dynamics\, we develop a median filter scheme that is second-order accurate in time and monotone\, ensuring convergence to viscosity solutions within established theoretical frameworks.
UID:136130-21877878@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136130
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation,Graduate,Graduate Students,Mathematics
LOCATION:West Hall - 210
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250710T112442
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250711T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250711T140000
SUMMARY:Presentation:Combinatorics of Quiver Mutations
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\n\nA cluster algebra is a ring defined by combinatorial data: a quiver (directed graph) viewed up to mutation equivalence. Mutations are a particular kind of quiver transformation. A central open question in cluster combinatorics is that of detecting whether two given quivers are mutation equivalent. We approach this problem from two directions. First\, we construct new arbitrarily long mutation cycles\, i.e.\, sequences of mutations transforming a quiver into itself. These cycles give a barrier to greedy algorithms for deciding mutation equivalence. We show that a plethora of such cycles can be constructed using quivers that possess reddening sequences. Second\, we introduce new mutation invariants that yield necessary conditions for mutation equivalence. In many cases\, these invariants provide a quick way to establish that two quivers are mutation inequivalent\, or that a given quiver cannot be mutated into an acylic one.\n\nThis event will be hybrid format. The in-person presentation will be in West Hall 210.
UID:136228-21878077@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136228
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation,Graduate,Graduate Students,Mathematics
LOCATION:West Hall - 210
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250708T140222
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250715T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250715T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Robust Methods for Causal Inference and Policy Learning with Applications to Mobile Health
DESCRIPTION:This dissertation comprises three essays that develop robust methods for causal effect estimation and policy learning\, especially in the context of micro-randomized trials (MRTs)—a longitudinal experimental design used in mobile health (mHealth).\n\nThe first essay develops methods for integrating data across multiple MRTs for the purpose of causal effect estimation. Compared to a single-study analysis\, the methods produce increased statistical efficiency by borrowing information across related studies. Methodologically\, we relate the studies by assuming that certain conditional causal effects are equal across studies\; then we estimate these effects and appropriately average them to target prespecified marginal estimands. \n\nWhereas the first essay develops methods for integrating data across MRTs that have already been implemented\, the second essay introduces the robust mixed-effects (RoME) algorithm for optimizing treatment policies during an MRT. RoME is a contextual bandit algorithm that makes use of mixed-effects modeling\, network cohesion penalties\, doubly robust estimators\, and double/debiased machine learning (DML) to address the specific challenges of mHealth: treatment effect heterogeneity\, cluster structure\, nonstationarity\, and nonlinear relationships. We establish a high-probability regret bound that depends solely on the dimension of the differential-reward model\, enabling strong regret bounds even when the baseline reward is highly complex.\n\nThe third essay steps back from the MRT setting and develops Bayesian Randomization Inference (BRI): a general framework for Bayesian estimation of treatment effects based principally on the physical act of randomization. BRI involves fixing the observed potential outcomes\, positing a probabilistic model for the causal effects\, and forming a likelihood based on the randomization distribution of a statistic. In many cases\, BRI does not require specification of marginal outcome distributions\, resulting in weaker assumptions compared to Bayesian superpopulation-based methods. We prove several theoretical properties for BRI\, including a Bernstein–von Mises theorem and large-sample properties of posterior expectations.
UID:136388-21878604@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136388
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation
LOCATION:West Hall - 438
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250714T144523
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250724T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250724T120000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Statistical Learning for Recurrent Event and Complex Network Data
DESCRIPTION:The development of modern technology has generated large-scale\, complex datasets that pose significant challenges to traditional statistical methods. This dissertation presents novel statistical modeling frameworks and efficient computational methodologies tailored for large-scale recurrent event data and complex network data.\n\nThe first chapter focuses on recurrent event data\, introducing a general framework that models the conditional mean function of the recurrent event process as the solution to an Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE). This flexible approach covers a wide range of semi-parametric models\, including both non-homogeneous Poisson processes (NHPPs) and non-Poisson processes. We develop a Sieve Maximum Pseudo-Likelihood Estimation (SMPLE) method and establish its consistency\, asymptotic normality\, and semi-parametric efficiency.\n\nThe second chapter addresses signed network data\, where relationships exhibit a complex interplay of positive (e.g.\, liking\, alliances) and negative (e.g.\, disliking\, conflicts) interactions. This chapter presents a novel latent space model that uses non-linear kernel functions to capture the sign-generating pattern of signed networks. Based on this framework\, we identify a new sufficient condition for achieving population-level balance. We develop efficient projected gradient descent (PGD) algorithms to estimate the latent variables and establish non-asymptotic error rates for parameter estimation under both correctly and mis-specified settings.\n\nThe final chapter introduces a latent space model for analyzing longitudinal network data. This approach employs multivariate counting processes to model interaction sequences between node pairs\, with intensity functions depending on static latent variables\, time-varying baseline intensities\, and time-varying edge covariates. We develop an efficient spline-based sieve estimation method and establish the non-asymptotic error rate of the corresponding PGD estimator under both parametric and nonparametric settings.
UID:136448-21878713@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136448
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation
LOCATION:West Hall - 438
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250710T135221
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250725T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250725T123000
SUMMARY:Presentation:Forward and Inverse Numerical Methods Leveraging Gradient Flows and Optimal Transport
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\n\nGradient flow methods have been classical tools for analyzing and numerically solving partial differential equations\, traditionally formulated in Hilbert spaces. This thesis extends that framework to gradient flows in metric spaces and explores both forward problems\, which are concerned with accurately solving evolution equations while preserving stability\, and inverse\, data-driven problems that aim to uncover underlying dynamics through the lens of transport maps. \n\nThe first part of the thesis focuses on high-order numerical schemes for gradient flows in metric spaces. We introduce new criteria for ensuring energy stability in multi-step\, multi-stage\, and mixed numerical schemes\, specifically designed for evolution equations that arise as gradient flows with respect to a metric. These criteria lead to the construction of second- and third- order accurate\, energy-stable schemes. We validate the order of accuracy and stability of these schemes on several partial differential equations formulated as gradient flows with respect to the quadratic Wasserstein metric\, including the heat\, Fokker-Planck\, and porous medium equations. \n\nThe second part of the thesis addresses the inverse problem of identifying governing Fokker-Planck equations from time-evolving data by exploiting the underlying gradient flow structure and suitable transport maps. We develop a framework that simultaneously reconstructs system dynamics and evolving probability density functions using Knothe-Rosenblatt rearrangements and the Kullback-Leibler divergence. The model is implemented using machine learning\, with both the system dynamics and the structure of the Knothe-Rosenblatt rearrangements represented by neural networks. We further introduce an extension to Bayesian modeling\, grounded in variational inference via the evidence lower bound (ELBO)\, which enables uncertainty quantification. The choice of likelihood functions is discussed within the context of this framework. The approach is demonstrated through numerical experiments in spaces of up to five dimensions.
UID:136410-21878633@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136410
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation,Graduate,Graduate Students,Mathematics
LOCATION:West Hall - 210
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250814T084316
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250829T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250829T153000
SUMMARY:Social / Informal Gathering:Statistics Ice Cream Social
DESCRIPTION:The Department of Statistics is inviting all statistics and data science graduate students\, faculty\, and staff to join us for an ice cream social to kick off the fall semester.\n\nPlease join us for a delicious sundae and to get to know your fellow department members. We hope to see you there!\n\n(location is subject to change)
UID:136868-21879259@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136868
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Social
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250828T081157
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250902T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250902T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | Demonstrating beam splitters for reaction pathways in the field of cold chemistry
DESCRIPTION:Our group studies chemical reactions of ultracold Rb atoms in a state-to-state resolved fashion\, where we prepare reactants in well defined quantum states and measure the quantum states of the molecular products. In particular\, we focus on three-body recombination where three atoms collide\, forming a diatomic molecule. The third atom carries away part of the binding energy. We are currently investigating methods to gain control over this chemical reaction. By making use of either a magnetically tunable Feshbach resonance or an avoided crossing of molecular levels we can effectively construct different kinds of beam splitters for the reaction pathways. The idea is to resonantly admix at specific points of the reaction coordinate additional quantum states to the original collision complex. This opens up an additional pathway that the reaction can take. By tuning the magnetic field in our experiments\, we can control these beam splitters and can redirect a sizeable fraction of the reaction flux between different product channels. These beam splitters are fully coherent and\, in the future\, it should be possible to use them also in interferometric schemes for controlling the reaction.
UID:138322-21882771@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/138322
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250904T130334
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250903T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250903T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Special Department Colloquium | 2025 State of the Department Address
DESCRIPTION:Lu Li\, Interim Chair of the Department of Physics\, will present information about the current environment of the physics department. Students\, staff\, and faculty are encouraged to attend.\n\nThis event will be held in person\; however\, it will also be recorded on Lecture Capture for viewing at a later date.\n\nThe link for the lecture capture recording will be available here after the presentation has taken place. The presentation will not be live-streamed.\nHere is the link to the State of the Department Address: https://leccap.engin.umich.edu/leccap/player/r/9ekMn7\n\nJoin us for a reception at 2:30 p.m. in the Don Meyer Commons\, prior to the lecture.
UID:137764-21880726@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137764
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,Faculty,Graduate Students,Physics,Staff,Undergraduate Students
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250828T082052
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250904T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250904T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:Luke’s Title: Characterizing hot Jupiter atmospheres using Keck/KPIC high-resolution spectroscopy\n\nAbstract: High-resolution cross-correlation spectroscopy (HRCCS) is a technique for characterizing the atmospheres of hot giant exoplanets by treating the system as a spectroscopic binary. Hot Jupiters near conjunction exhibit a rapid change in radial velocity relative to their host star\, which can be used to isolate spectral features associated with the planet from stellar and telluric features. The HRCCS technique can be applied in transmission or emission\, and is the only technique capable of characterizing atmospheres of close-in non-transiting planets. Since HRCCS directly detects planetary spectral features\, this technique can be used to measure atmospheric composition\, particularly the C/O ratio\, and is also sensitive to atmospheric circulation effects via changes to the shapes of planetary spectral lines. Keck/KPIC has obtained HRCCS observations of approximately 20 hot Jupiters in the infrared K band\, and complementary L band observations are ongoing. Initial results of this survey program include the characterization of benchmark hot Jupiters HD 189733 b and HD 209458 b\, measuring the orbital inclination of the non-transiting hot Jupiter HD 143105 b\, and the detection of six ultra-hot Jupiters with strong CO emission features.  Ongoing work to combine these data with observations from other optical/infrared high-resolution spectrographs will enable measurement of refractory/volatile ratios for many of these planets. For objects observed at a wide range of orbital phases\, HRCCS is a promising avenue for testing predictions from Global Circulation Models (GCMs) of hot Jupiter atmospheres. \n\nTeresa’s Title: Multi-molecular analysis of turbulent motions during planet formation\n\nAbstract: Turbulence is a key physical process expected to stir the planet-forming material in the early stages of planetary systems and act as an effective viscosity\, aiding the evolution of protoplanetary disks. Even though it is a key phenomena\, expected to have shaped our own Solar System\, detection of turbulent motion has been scarce in the past years. This work presents an observationally motivated methodology that takes advantage of the high spatial and spectral resolution of ALMA observations to measure turbulence through molecular line broadening. By tracing distinct regions of the protoplanetary system through specific molecular tracers\, we are able to resolve vertical variations in turbulent motions\, obtaining the first insights into the physical instabilities that may be driving turbulence in these disks.
UID:138324-21882773@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/138324
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250902T124400
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250905T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250905T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | 2-> n scattering in QCD and Gravity in Regge asymptotics: from amplitudes to shockwaves
DESCRIPTION:We discuss the structure of 2-> n scattering in QCD and gravity in high energy Regge asymptotics and outline the remarkable double copies between the two in their construction\, and in emergent shockwave descriptions in the two theories.
UID:137249-21879988@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137249
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Lecture,Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250821T070402
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250908T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250908T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Progress in Directional Dark Matter Detection Using Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Diamond
DESCRIPTION:Direct searches for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) are rapidly approaching the “neutrino fog\,” where solar neutrinos become an irreducible background. Overcoming this limit requires directional sensitivity to distinguish dark matter-induced nuclear recoils from neutrino events. Towards this goal\, we are developing a diamond-based directional detector\, where nuclear recoils generate ~10-100 nm damage tracks that can be identified  and reconstructed using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) quantum sensors. I will describe recent advances toward this goal\, including the detection of single-ion-induced damage tracks in nitrogen-rich diamond\, the development of light-sheet quantum diamond microscopy for volumetric strain imaging\, and progress in modeling recoil cascades with ML-accelerated molecular dynamics. In addition\, I will report preliminary spin measurements on NVs associated with recoil tracks\, which may provide a basis for quantum-sensing-assisted track discrimination. Taken together\, these results illustrate a path forward towards a scalable\, directional dark matter detector capable of probing beyond the neutrino fog.
UID:137793-21880779@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137793
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250902T113247
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250910T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250910T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium |  First Look with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and the World's Largest Camera
DESCRIPTION:The Vera C. Rubin Observatory\, which features the world's largest digital Camera\, will observe billions of galaxies\, billions of stars in our own galaxy the Milky Way\, as well as millions of objects closer to home in the solar system.  Every night over a ten year survey\, the Rubin Observatory will observe much of the night sky\, so that every portion of the sky will be imaged nearly a thousand times. Rubin has just released its first images\, with thousands of asteroids and millions of stars and galaxies. In this talk I will describe the capabilities of this new observatory and especially how we will be able to “see” the dark portion of our universe in unprecedented detail.
UID:136484-21878773@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136484
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250903T102225
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250911T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250911T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:Title: Searching for the First Stars with Stellar Archaeology\n\nAbstract: The first stars formed directly out of pristine big bang material. These metal-free Population III stars are thought to have been unusually massive\, and their lives and deaths set the stage for all subsequent cosmic evolution. The properties of Population III stars cannot be directly determined at high redshift\, but they still can be accessed observationally using nearby relic stars and galaxies that have survived from ancient times with an approach called Stellar Archaeology. The elemental abundances of such old\, metal-poor stars encode otherwise inaccessible information about the first stars. I will present recent insights into the nature of the first stars gleaned from stellar archaeology\, including new observational constraints on the nature of the first supernova explosions and steps towards understanding the initial mass function. I will show that current methods are likely probing only a subset of all Population III stars that existed. These limitations can likely be overcome as we move into the era of industrial stellar spectroscopy and extremely large telescopes.
UID:138708-21883735@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/138708
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250905T105831
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250912T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250912T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Irina Gaynanova\, Associate Professor\, Biostatistics\, Statistics (by courtesy)\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Multi-view data\, where different data types are collected from the same samples\, are increasingly prevalent due to advances in omics and wearable technologies. For instance\, The Cancer Genome Atlas provides omics data from multiple platforms\, while affordable digital technologies enable the collection of multiple types of high-frequency wearable signals (e.g.\, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)\, actigraphy) alongside tabular clinical characteristics. Integrating this multi-view data has the potential to enhance scientific insights but also presents significant analytic challenges. In this talk\, I will focus on one critical problem in multi-view representation learning: distinguishing between joint and individual signal subspaces in noisy\, high-dimensional data. I will present our recent work\, where we characterize the conditions under which these subspaces can be reliably identified\, based on an analysis of spectrum perturbations of the product of projection matrices. We develop an easy-to-use\, scalable estimation algorithm based on these insights\, which employs the rotational bootstrap and random matrix theory to partition the observed spectrum into joint\, individual\, and noise subspaces. I will illustrate this method using multi-omics data from colorectal cancer patients and a nutrigenomic study of mice. Towards the end of the talk\, I will broaden the discussion to the unique challenges of high-frequency wearable data\, where a distributional representation is more attractive than a matrix representation of derived features. I will briefly highlight some recent work in this area and conclude by outlining open problems and future research directions for multi-view representation learning.
UID:137898-21881082@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137898
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250828T123027
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250912T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250912T163000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism
DESCRIPTION:The University of Michigan Department of Anthropology presents its fall 2025 Roy A. Rappaport Lecture Series\, “Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism\,” with Assistant Professor Alyssa Paredes:\n\n“Existential crises hang over the producers of the world’s food. Many of these challenges are self-inflicted. In the banana-growing regions of the Southern Philippines\, which produce fruit for export to Japanese markets\, plantations unleash pesticide drift\, food waste\, water effluent\, and fungal pathogens into the surroundings. The plantocratic elite systematically shirks responsibility for these excesses\, using legal contracts\, scientific conventions\, and standards of trade to frame them as “external” to their supply chains. However\, plantation management is regularly proven wrong in its assumption that the things they try to push downstream will not double back to haunt them. Everyday actors on the plantations’ peripheries transform the devices designed to work against them into openings for intervention. Their efforts implore critical scholars of the environment and of global economies to take seriously the possibility that Big Ag’s increasingly frequent failures to reproduce itself are more than just minor inconveniences to business-as-usual. In this series of lectures\, I trace the afterlives of the externalities that commodity production obscures\, disguises\, or otherwise erases from its ambit of accountability. In so doing\, I offer an ethnographic model for turning the commodity studies model\, inherited from generations of anthropologists\, inside-out.”\n\nRappaport lectures will take place on the following fall Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in 411 West Hall. They are free and open to the public. \n\nFriday\, Sept. 12\nElses and Externalities: The Un/Making of Plantation Capitalism \n\nFriday\, Oct. 10\nRejects: Food Cosmetic Standards and the Geopolitics of Waste\n\nFriday\, Nov. 14\nEffluent: Living Downstream of Yourself on the Mindanao River\n\nFriday\, Dec. 5\nForce Majeure: The See-Through Plantation\n\nVIRTUAL PARTICIPATION LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91475190155\n\nIf you need accommodations in order to attend\, please email anthro.exec.secretary@umich.edu.\n\nABOUT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ALYSSA PAREDES\nAlyssa Paredes is an environmental and economic anthropologist with research interests at the intersection of industrial agriculture\, transnational supply chains\, and social mobilization between the Southern Philippines and Japan. Her book manuscript\, tentatively titled “Bananapocalypse: An Ethnography of the Commodity for the 21st Century\,” is under contract with the University of California Press. Additionally\, her work appears in journals in anthropology\, history\, geography\, food studies\, and Asian studies. She is also co-editor of “Halo-Halo Ecologies: The Emergent Environments Behind Filipino Food” (University of Hawaii Press 2025). She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University.
UID:135598-21876978@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/135598
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,Anthropology,Archaeology,Ecology,Environment,History,Southeast Asia
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250905T104316
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250912T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250912T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Representation Theory of Solitons
DESCRIPTION:Non-invertible symmetries are novel transformations of quantum systems that imply new selection rules and constraints on dynamics. We derive the implications of these symmetries on the particle spectrum of two dimensional QFTs.  We show that these symmetries often imply degeneracies between particles and solitons and apply our analyses to examples ranging from integrable deformations of minimal models to two-dimensional QCD.
UID:137601-21880454@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137601
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science,Seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250911T121435
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250915T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250915T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Mapping the High Redshift Universe with Neutral Hydrogen: New Insights at Cosmic Dawn and the Future of Line Intensity Mapping Cosmology
DESCRIPTION:The next generation of astrophysical telescopes are pushing to reveal cosmic structures at higher redshifts\, deeper sensitivities\, and a wider range of size scales. In particular\, line intensity mapping (LIM) observations enable three dimensional reconstruction of large scale structure over a wide range of cosmic times\, and are the next bright avenue for learning about the high redshift universe. Constraining extensions to LCDM cosmology\, the growth of galaxies at cosmic noon\, and the formation of the first stars at Cosmic Dawn are key objectives for current and near-future LIM telescopes. In this talk\, I will discuss what existing neutral hydrogen 21 cm LIM datasets have already taught us about the formation of the first stars and galaxies at Cosmic Dawn and the Epoch of Reionization\, and will discuss its neat complementary to space-based missions. In addition\, I will discuss recent work developing new\, ML-accelerated\, high-dimensional Bayesian inference frameworks that will be crucial to robustly mitigating observational systematics and fully unlocking the scientific potential of 21 cm LIM. Along the way\, I'll talk about how we deal with overwhelming systematics contamination\, how we perform rigorous pipeline validation\, and how advances in ML/AI hardware & software is enabling us to do all of this at new computational scales.
UID:139214-21885098@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139214
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250910T130241
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250916T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250916T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | Magnetophononics: Breaking Time Reversal Symmetry with  Non-Maxwellian Magnetic-esque Fields
DESCRIPTION:Optical rectification of circularly polarized light generates a static magnetization through the inverse Faraday effect. Recent ultrafast experiments have unveiled a substantial\, orders-of-magnitude gap between the measured magnetic fields and theoretical predictions [1]. In this talk\, we show that the discrepancy arises due to a missing factor on the order of  α^{-2} ≈ 2 × 10^4 \, where α ≈ 1/137 is the fine structure constant. \n\nWe demonstrate that circular polarization generally creates large non-Maxwellian fields that disrupt time-reversal symmetry\, effectively mimicking authentic magnetic fields within the material while eluding detection externally [2]. These unconventional fields\, reaching effective magnitudes as high as 100 T\, lead to phenomena akin to Faraday rotation and robustly interact with magnons in magnetically ordered materials. The connection between the non-Maxwellian fields and the Autler-Townes and AC Stark effects of atomic physics will be discussed.\n\nThese considerations are particularly relevant to the direct\, resonant excitation of polar phonons. Contrary to common perception\, the origin of phonon-induced magnetic activity does not stem from the motion of ions themselves\; instead\, it arises from the effect their motion exerts on the  electron subsystem via the electron-phonon interaction [3]. Because the light-induced non-reciprocal fields depend on the square of the phonon displacements\, the chirality the photons transfer to the ions plays no role in magnetophononics.\n\n1. M. Basini\, [..]\, A. V. Balatsky\, and S. Bonetti\, “Terahertz electric-field driven dynamical multiferroicity in SrTiO3\,” Nature 628\, 534 (2024).\n2. R. Merlin\, “Unraveling the effect of circularly polarized light on reciprocal media: Breaking time reversal symmetry with non-Maxwellian magnetic-esque fields\,” Phys. Rev. B 110\, 094312 (2024).\n3. R. Merlin\, “Magnetophononics and the chiral phonon misnomer\,” PNAS Nexus 4\, pgaf002 (2025).
UID:139161-21884972@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139161
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250910T091304
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250917T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250917T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Exploring moiré magnetism in twisted two-dimensional magnets
DESCRIPTION:Moiré superlattice emerges from the interference between two mismatched atomic lattices\, and it has led to tremendous success in designing and tailoring the electronic states in two-dimensional (2D) homo- and hetero-structures. Yet\, the power of moiré superlattice in controlling the spin degree of freedom and thus modifying the magnetic states is much less explored. Only very recently after the development of 2D magnet research\, there have been a few experimental attempts in realizing moiré magnetism in twisted 2D magnet homo-structures. In this talk\, I will show our recent effort in studying magnetic phases in twisted double bilayer chromium triiodide (CrI3) and progressive steps towards realizing moiré magnetism. Noting that bilayer CrI3 is a layered antiferromagnet and that any homogeneous stacking of two bilayers necessarily produces zero magnetization\, we have revealed\, in twisted double bilayer CrI3\, an unexpected net magnetization showing up at intermediate twist angles and its accompanied noncollinear spin textures. I will show the optical spectroscopy signatures of this twist-induced magnetic phase\, then discuss its dependence on twist angle\, external magnetic field\, and temperature [1\, 2\, 3\, 4\, 5]. \n\nReference: \n1. H. Xie et al Nature Physics 18\, 30 (2022)\n2. H. Xie et al\, Nature Physics\, 19\, 1150 (2023)\n3. M. Huang et al\, Nature Communications 14\, 5259 (2023)\n4. S. Li et al\, Nature Communications 15\, 5712 (2024)\n5. Z. Sun et al\, revision at Nature Physics (2025)
UID:136485-21878774@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/136485
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250915T085029
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250918T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250918T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:Jayatee’s Title: Warm chemistry in planet-forming disks\n\nAbstract: The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) revolutionizes our understanding of planet-forming disks\, offering unprecedented insights into their physical and chemical structures. Here\, I present the results from JWST MIRI/MRS spectra of disks around very low-mass stars known to have a higher occurrence rate of planets\, revealing dust features and\, a rich array of large molecules such as C6H6\, C4H2\, C3H4\, C2H6\, HC3N\, C2H2\, CO2 etc. and isotopologues such as 13CCH2 and 13CO2. By leveraging the recently developed extended hydrocarbon chemical network that can form simple aromatics such as C6H6 and using the thermo-chemical disk models\, I check if these molecular detections are consistent with our astro-chemical understanding in the high-density inner regions of the disks. As we predominantly observe hydrocarbons in the disk\, varying the carbon-to-oxygen (C/O) ratio leads to the formation of these detected species in the surface layers of the disk. There still are unidentified spectral features in the spectra that led me to employ these models to predict additional detectable species. We need the spectrum for these predicted species to confirm or rule out their presence. I then use thermo-chemical disk models to place the slab model results into a larger context and identify the 2D geometry conducive to those conditions. My study paves the way for a deeper understanding of the spectra. It provides new constraints for planet formation in disks around VLMS and highlights the instrumental role of JWST in providing insights into the origins of planetary systems.\n\n\nYisheng’s Title: Magnetic Pressure Driven Outflows: Lightly Loaded Jets and Dense Disk Winds in Protostellar Systems \n\nAbstract: Jets and outflows in young stellar objects (YSOs) play a critical role in connecting the inner disk environment with large-scale observables\, yet their launching mechanisms remain poorly understood. Observations of both symmetric and asymmetric\, including uni-polar\, jets raise important questions about the physical processes that govern jet morphology. To investigate these processes\, we conduct non-ideal MHD simulations that naturally give rise to three distinct outflow components: (1) a fast\, magnetically driven jet along the rotation axis\; (2) an MRI-active turbulent disk wind at intermediate cylindrical radii\; and (3) a slower\, laminar disk wind at larger radii. We find that jets are lightly mass-loaded and launched by toroidal magnetic pressure\, bridging features of both classical magneto-centrifugal and magnetic tower models. Crucially\, whether MRI-driven turbulent winds fill the polar region and suppress jet launching in one hemisphere\, thereby producing asymmetric or uni-polar jets\, depends on the interplay between the stellar magnetosphere and the large-scale disk magnetic field. In cases where the disk field dominates\, jets are more likely to be one-sided\; conversely\, a strong\, rotating stellar magnetosphere suppresses polar MRI activity and facilitates the launching of symmetric\, bipolar jets. This sensitivity to magnetic field topology provides an observational handle for probing the relative roles of stellar and disk magnetism.
UID:139320-21885281@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139320
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250910T134425
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250919T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250919T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Taps Maiti\, Professor and the Graduate Director\, Department of Statistics & Probability\, Michigan State University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Deep learning has had a significant impact on both science and society due to its successful application of data-driven artificial intelligence. One of the key characteristics of deep learning is that its accuracy improves with an increase in the model size and the amount of training data. This feature has notably enhanced state-of-the-art learning architectures across various fields over the past decade.  However\, the lack of a solid mathematical and statistical foundation has restricted the development of deep learning to specific applications and has hindered its broader\, high-confidence implementation.  This foundational gap becomes particularly evident when deep learning is applied to statistical  estimation and inference\, especially with limited training sample sizes. To address this issue\, we aim to develop a statistically principled framework and theory that can validate the application of deep learning and support the creation of interpretable models. Our approach is grounded in Bayesian statistical theory and methodology\, as well as scalable computation. We will demonstrate our methods across a wide range of applications.
UID:137900-21881083@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137900
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250826T171953
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250919T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250919T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Axions in QFT and Quantum Gravity
DESCRIPTION:The QCD axion is well-studied as a solution to the Strong CP problem and a dark matter candidate. At the same time\, one often hears that axions are ubiquitous in top-down string theory models of particle physics. I will discuss how both bottom-up and top-down considerations favor axion models where the axion is a mode of a higher-dimensional gauge field. I will provide a viewpoint on why the existence of axions could follow from general principles of quantum gravity\, and what we might expect the QCD axion's properties to be.
UID:137250-21879989@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137250
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Lecture,Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250919T120524
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250919T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250919T200000
SUMMARY:Film Screening:Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy S2 Watch Party
DESCRIPTION:Come join some fellow Star Wars fans and watch the newest season of Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy\nSnacks provided: rebellions are built on food
UID:139401-21885408@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139401
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:
LOCATION:West Hall
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250919T161424
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250922T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250922T190000
SUMMARY:Presentation:QuantUM Speaker Series: Gokul Ravi
DESCRIPTION:Join QuantUM for our first speaker series of the 2025-2026 school year! We're co-hosting the event with the Scientific Computing Club\, and it's open to the general public. Dr. Gokul Ravi\, assistant professor in CSE and fellow at Michigan's Quantum Research Institute will be presenting a talk on quantum algorithms. The talk is tailored to students of all backgrounds\, and no previous knowledge of quantum computing is required.\n\nThe event is from 6:00-7:00 PM in West Hall 340. We'll serve free food 🍕 at 5:40 PM across the hall in the Don Meyer common. Come learn about quantum software\, converse with passionate peers\, and eat some complementary grub 😋.\n\nTalk Abstract: \nQuantum computing (QC) is a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize computing. Despite major theoretical and experimental progress over the past three decades\, a significant gap remains between the demands of quantum applications and the capabilities of current hardware. QC still faces major challenges in delivering accurate\, efficient solutions to real-world problems. The quantum ecosystem is inherently hybrid\, with quantum devices tightly coupled to classical hardware and software. Advancing these components in a synergistic manner is essential to bridging this need-capability gap and enabling a practical quantum future. As the field continues to grow\, substantial progress is needed at the quantum-classical interface\, including: (a) scalable software for executing real-world applications on noisy devices\, (b) low-cost\, efficient classical hardware with minimal latency and bandwidth limitations for scaling up quantum processing\, and (c) a smooth transition path from noisy devices to fault-tolerant systems. In this talk\, I will highlight several examples of our research addressing these challenges.
UID:139588-21885756@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139588
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Computational Science,Computer Engineering,Computer Science,computing,Electrical And Computer Engineering,Electrical Engineering and Computer Science,Engineering,Food,Free,Graduate and Professional Students,Graduate Students,In Person,Information and Technology,Interdisciplinary,Lecture,Materials Science,Michigan Engineering,Michigan Physics,Natural Sciences,Physics,Quantum,Quantum Computing,Quantum Science,Research,Science,Scientific Computing,Seminar,Student Org,Talk,Undergrad Physics Events,Undergraduate,Undergraduate Students
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250922T113830
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250924T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250924T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Matter at Extreme Temperatures and Pressures: Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth across vast scales
DESCRIPTION:High-energy-density plasmas (HED) exist throughout our universe in an extreme state with temperatures greater than 10^5  K (~10 eV) and pressures greater than 10^6 atm (1 Mbar). On the largest scale\, such as in a supernova\, HED plasma systems can be billions of cm in size\; on the smaller end\, inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments at the National Ignition Facility can be one tenth of a cm.  Due to pressure\, density\, and velocity gradients in these systems\, several hydrodynamic processes can occur (Rayleigh-Taylor\, Richtmyer Meshkov and Kelvin Helmholtz) in both astrophysical systems and laboratory experiments creating complex structures or even turbulence across these vast scales. I will describe how laboratory experiments can be scaled to emulated hydrodynamic processes present in astrophysical systems and new techniques to diagnose sub-micron scales planned for the University of Michigan’s ZEUS laser relevant to fusion experiments.
UID:139678-21885887@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139678
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250826T110332
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250925T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250925T120000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Quantum Research Institute | A New Era in Quantum Optics: From Topological Photonics to Correlated Materials
DESCRIPTION:In-Person: West Hall 411\nZoom:  https://umich.zoom.us/j/91759211821?jst=2\n\nTitle: A New Era in Quantum Optics: From Topological Photonics to Correlated Materials\nAbstract: Quantum optics investigates the interactions between light and matter at their most fundamental level. In recent years\, we have witnessed remarkable advances in controlling individual photons and other excitations\, such as spin\, charge\, excitons\, and phonons\, in solid-state systems. While this progress has primarily been driven by quantum information science (QIS)\, its implications extend far beyond QIS. In this talk\, I will present two key examples. First\, I will review the field of topological photonics\, highlighting how optical nonlinearity can give rise to unique bosonic phenomena—without electronic counterparts—such as topological frequency combs. Next\, I will discuss how optical control techniques can introduce a radically new approach for preparing\, detecting\, and manipulating correlated electronic states. This includes new ways of inducing and enhancing magnetism\, superconductivity\, and topological phases in matter\, as well as the prospect of addressing some of the long-standing questions in the field.\n\nBio: Mohammad Hafezi is a Minta Martin Professor with a joint appointment in the Physics and Electrical and Computer Engineering Departments at the University of Maryland and a fellow of the Joint Quantum Institute. He studied at Sharif University before completing his undergraduate degree in École Polytechnique. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from Harvard University in 2009. His research interests include quantum optics\, topological physics\, condensed matter\, and quantum information sciences. He is the recipient of several awards\, including the Sloan Fellowship\, the Young Investigator Award of the US Naval Research Office\, and the Simons Foundation Investigator.
UID:135150-21876424@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/135150
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Astronomy,Chemistry,Electrical And Computer Engineering,Electrical Engineering And Computer Science,Materials Science,Physics,Quantum
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250916T115915
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250925T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250925T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"White dwarfs as probes of convective overshoot and evolved exoplanetary systems\"\n\nAbstract: White dwarfs are the stellar remnants left behind by the majority of stars. In 30-50% of the population\, material such as asteroids\, comets\, moons and even planets from their disrupted planetary systems can be identified by metal absorption lines detected in the white dwarf atmosphere. These stellar remnants thus offer the unique window through which to infer the bulk composition of exoplanetary material\, but this method depends upon accurate models of the white dwarf atmosphere. Most white dwarfs have surface convection zones\, and one key uncertainty here and throughout stellar evolution theory is in the treatment of convection\, in particular convective overshoot\, which provides enhanced mixing outside of the convection zone. I will present the first 3D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of white dwarfs with passive scalar particles that provide a characterisation of the additional mixing caused by convective overshoot. As a test of these models\, I have recently confirmed with the Chandra X-ray Observatory that the canonical metal-polluted white dwarf\, G29–38\, is a source of soft X-rays. This discovery provides the first independent measurement of the accretion rate at a metal-polluted white dwarf\, and opens the opportunity for a new window through which to study these systems.  I will present this result\, along with recent and ongoing X-ray observations which provide a further test of these models\, as well as recent population synthesis results aimed at constraining the mass distributions of the local population of white dwarfs and their evolved planetary systems.
UID:139397-21885405@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139397
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Astronomers,astronomy
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250924T103338
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250929T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250929T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Efforts to Constrain the Nature Dark Matter with the DESI Stellar Surveys
DESCRIPTION:In addition to its primary mission to constrain the nature of dark energy with BAO\, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument is obtaining spectra of over 12 million stars in the Milky Way and several Local Group galaxies. These spectra yield excellent radial velocity precision (~1-10km/s for most stars)\, as well as abundances for ~10 elements. In conjunction with proper motions from ESO's Gaia satellite\, the six-dimensional phase space information being collected by DESI will enable us to set constraints on the Milky Way halo's global dark matter density profile and shape. We are also constraining the central and outer dark matter density profiles of dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. In addition we are exhaustively surveying several stellar tidal streams in the Milky Way with the goal of constraining the mass function and central density profiles of dark matter subhalos. I will describe some recent results and future plans of DESI's Milky Way working group. I will also briefly describe some on-going theoretical projects that will enable us to measure figure rotation (tumbling) of the Milky Way's dark matter halo - one of the few dynamical properties consistently predicted for Lambda CDM.
UID:139812-21886090@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139812
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250924T072309
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20250930T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20250930T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | One Century of Quantum Science and the Future: Next-generation Quantum Materials\, Ultrafast Physics\, Moiré Lattice Design and  Beyond the Standard Model
DESCRIPTION:A hundred years after the birth of quantum mechanics\, we now possess atomic-scale “knobs”: twist\, stack\, strain\, and light\, that allow us to program matter. This talk surveys how these knobs enable qualitatively new regimes in quantum materials\, with two complementary thrusts that bridge fundamental discovery and deployable technology.\n\nPart I: Ultrafast and moiré engineering. We show how terahertz (THz) fields provide a dynamic\, non-contact gate to steer charge\, spin\, and surface morphology at sub-Å length scales and femtosecond timescales\, enabling reversible\, ultrafast control of surface topology and interfacial potentials. [1] We then present design rules for controlling band topology\, excitonic structure\, and  interlayer hybridization in 2D bilayers and heterostructures\, using twist angle and stacking registry as primary control parameters. [2\, 3]\n\nPart II: Quantum materials as precision sensors for fundamental symmetries. We outline a solid-state platform that couples diamond colour centres to rare\, octupole-deformed nuclei to search for symmetry-violating electric dipole moments (EDMs) beyond the Standard Model. [4] Our quantum calculations indicates that substituting 229Pa into a carbon-vacancy site yields deep-gap\, molecule-like states with narrow optical transitions and long spin coherence\, amenable to high-fidelity readout. Isoelectronic lanthanide proxies (e.g.\, Pr3+\, Tb3+) provide non-radioactive testbeds for growth and spectroscopy prior to implantation. The resulting roadmap links rare-isotope production (e.g.\, FRIB) with nanophotonic integration and laser control to create scalable\, solid-state quantum sensors for EDM searches\, nuclear clock development\, and time-reversal tests.\n\nOutlook. By uniting moiré design\, ultrafast field control\, and defect–nucleus co-engineering\, we propose a materials-by-design paradigm that both honors and extends a century of quantum science\; advancing ultrafast electronics while opening precision windows onto new physics.\n\nReferences\n\n[1] V. Jelic\, S. Adams\, D. Maldonado-Lopez\, I. A. Buliyaminu\, M. Hassan\, J. L. Mendoza-Cortes\, and T. L. Cocker\, Terahertz field control of surface topology probed with subatomic resolution\, Nature Photonics\, pp. 1–8\, 2025.\n\n[2] Y.-H. Lin\, W. P. Comaskey\, and J. L. Mendoza-Cortes\, How Can We Engineer Electronic Transitions Through Twisting and Stacking in TMDC Bilayers and Heterostructures? A First-Principles Approach\, Nanoscale Advances\, 2025.\n\n[3] Y.-C. Lin\, R. Torsi\, R. Younas\, C. L. Hinkle\, A. F. Rigosi\, H. M. Hill\, K. Zhang\, S. Huang\, C. E. Shuck\, C. Chen\, et al.\, Recent Advances in 2D Material Theory\, Synthesis\, Properties\, and Applications\, ACS Nano\, 2023. \n\n[4] I. M. Morris\, K. Klink\, J. T. Singh\, J. L. Mendoza-Cortes\, S. S. Nicley\, and J. N. Becker\, Rare isotope-containing diamond colour centres for fundamental symmetry tests\, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A\,  vol. 382\, no. 2265\, Art. no. 20230169\, 2024.
UID:139804-21886070@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139804
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250909T133035
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251001T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251001T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | MeV-scale antineutrinos and you
DESCRIPTION:Since their discovery in the late 1950s\, antineutrinos from reactors have been exploited as a discovery tool for fundamental particle physics\, and explored as an alternative method for monitoring the presence\, operational status and fissile content of nuclear reactors. In this presentation\, I trace their historical arc in fundamental and applied physics\, from discovery\, to precision measurements of neutrino oscillations\, to experiments focused on reactor monitoring and nonproliferation.
UID:139071-21884818@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139071
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250923T093737
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251002T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251002T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026  Distinguished Alumni Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:“What Now? Studying\, Teaching\, and Researching in Today’s America\"\n\nThere are a seemingly unprecedented number of changes and challenges facing the U.S. scientific community today. Institutions of higher education are feeling many of these threats most acutely.  This talk will attempt to explain what’s happening behind the headlines\, how things normally work in federal support for science\, and how things are working (or not) now. More importantly\, this talk will address what you can do about it as an individual and what we can do together as a community of scholars. Please come ready with your questions\, concerns\, and suggestions.
UID:139745-21885994@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139745
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250929T084013
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251003T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Xu Shi\, Associate Professor\, Biostatistics\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Unmeasured confounding remains one of the most significant threats to the credibility of findings from observational studies. Recent developments in negative control methods\, also known as proximal causal inference\, offer promising strategies to strengthen causal conclusions. These approaches leverage negative controls —variables that have no direct causal relationship with either the exposure or the outcome — to detect and adjust for unmeasured confounding. In this talk\, I will review the foundations of negative control methods and introduce the double negative control framework. I will then present our recent work extending this framework to settings where some candidate negative control variables may themselves be invalid. I will conclude with a discussion of open challenges and future research directions.
UID:139182-21885013@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139182
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250929T144231
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251003T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251003T130000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Village Life During the Late Neolithic in the Central Balkans: Lluga 2025
DESCRIPTION:The Neolithic period marked a significant transition in human history\, characterized by the emergence of permanent agricultural settlements and the development of new social structures. This presentation explores the daily lives of Neolithic villagers in the Central Balkans\, emphasizing household activities\, craft production\, and social organization. Based on 2025 fieldwork at the Late Neolithic village of Lluga\, Kosova\, we present findings on village layout and household economic activities. Our team excavated domestic and communal areas\, analyzing craft production\, artifact distribution\, and activity patterns to understand better economic practices\, social dynamics\, and community structure.
UID:140004-21886515@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140004
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Anthropology,Archaeology
LOCATION:West Hall - 111
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250929T100010
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251006T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251006T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | One Hundred and One Nights: Commissioning the Vera C Rubin Observatory
DESCRIPTION:This talk will present the progress constructing and commissioning the Vera C. Rubin Observatory with a particular focus on the role an astronomer plays in this process. The talk will begin with a brief history of imaging surveys\, motivating the construction of the Rubin Observatory. This will continue with describing some important phases and milestones of commissioning as well as presenting many of the major systems that constitute the observatory. The talk will conclude with a look ahead for science with Rubin Observatory and how data\, including the already available DP1\, can be accessed.
UID:139992-21886460@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139992
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250926T113150
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251009T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251009T160000
SUMMARY:Reception / Open House:Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Open House
DESCRIPTION:Curious about Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering? Come hang with us at the NA&ME Open House!\n\n🗓 October 9 | 1–4 PM\n📍 Marine Hydrodynamics Lab\, West Hall (1085 S. University Ave\, Ann Arbor)\n\nCheck out our labs\, chat with students and professors\, learn what makes our major unique\, and of course grab some snacks and swag. Don’t miss it!
UID:139923-21886340@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139923
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Engineering,Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering,Prospective Undergraduate Students,Undergraduate Students
LOCATION:West Hall - RM 126
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250930T082225
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251009T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251009T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"Connecting planetary properties with formation: a new paradigm emerges\"\n\nAbstract: One of the central challenges facing planet formation theory is in understanding how  observed planetary properties – their masses\, orbital characteristics\, bulk properties and atmospheric compositions – are connected to their formation in host protoplanetary disks (PPDs).   Forming planets accrete pebbles\, planetesimals\, and gas with a wide range of chemical compositions as they migrate through their  evolving PPDs.   Essential to these processes  is how angular momentum is transported and removed from disks.  Recent powerful MHD simulations and a wide range of ALMA and JWST observations  confirm that MHD disk winds and not disk turbulence likely  play the dominant role.   In this talk\, I will review these advances\, their consequences for a new paradigm for planet formation\, and discuss several current projects in my group on the effects of such winds on planetary populations and planetary properties such as their mass-radius relations.
UID:140052-21886541@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140052
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250910T135655
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251010T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251010T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Qing Qu\, Assistant Professor\, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Recent empirical studies have shown that diffusion models possess a unique reproducibility property\, transiting from memorization to generalization as the number of training samples increases. This demonstrates that diffusion models can effectively learn image distributions and generate new samples. Remarkably\, these models achieve this even with a small number of training samples\, despite the challenge of large image dimensions\, effectively circumventing the curse of dimensionality. In this work\, we provide theoretical insights into this phenomenon by leveraging two key empirical observations: (i) the low intrinsic dimensionality of image datasets and (ii) the low-rank property of the denoising autoencoder in trained diffusion models. With these setups\, we rigorously demonstrate that optimizing the training loss of diffusion models is equivalent to solving the canonical subspace clustering problem across the training samples. This insight has practical implications for training and controlling diffusion models. Specifically\, it enables us to precisely characterize the minimal number of samples necessary for accurately learning the low-rank data support\, shedding light on the phase transition from memorization to generalization. Additionally\, we empirically establish a correspondence between the subspaces and the semantic representations of image data\, which enables one-step\, transferrable\, efficient image editing. Moreover\, our results have profound practical implications for training efficiency and model safety\, and they also open up numerous intriguing theoretical questions for future research.
UID:139186-21885015@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139186
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250828T123027
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251010T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251010T163000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism
DESCRIPTION:The University of Michigan Department of Anthropology presents its fall 2025 Roy A. Rappaport Lecture Series\, “Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism\,” with Assistant Professor Alyssa Paredes:\n\n“Existential crises hang over the producers of the world’s food. Many of these challenges are self-inflicted. In the banana-growing regions of the Southern Philippines\, which produce fruit for export to Japanese markets\, plantations unleash pesticide drift\, food waste\, water effluent\, and fungal pathogens into the surroundings. The plantocratic elite systematically shirks responsibility for these excesses\, using legal contracts\, scientific conventions\, and standards of trade to frame them as “external” to their supply chains. However\, plantation management is regularly proven wrong in its assumption that the things they try to push downstream will not double back to haunt them. Everyday actors on the plantations’ peripheries transform the devices designed to work against them into openings for intervention. Their efforts implore critical scholars of the environment and of global economies to take seriously the possibility that Big Ag’s increasingly frequent failures to reproduce itself are more than just minor inconveniences to business-as-usual. In this series of lectures\, I trace the afterlives of the externalities that commodity production obscures\, disguises\, or otherwise erases from its ambit of accountability. In so doing\, I offer an ethnographic model for turning the commodity studies model\, inherited from generations of anthropologists\, inside-out.”\n\nRappaport lectures will take place on the following fall Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in 411 West Hall. They are free and open to the public. \n\nFriday\, Sept. 12\nElses and Externalities: The Un/Making of Plantation Capitalism \n\nFriday\, Oct. 10\nRejects: Food Cosmetic Standards and the Geopolitics of Waste\n\nFriday\, Nov. 14\nEffluent: Living Downstream of Yourself on the Mindanao River\n\nFriday\, Dec. 5\nForce Majeure: The See-Through Plantation\n\nVIRTUAL PARTICIPATION LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91475190155\n\nIf you need accommodations in order to attend\, please email anthro.exec.secretary@umich.edu.\n\nABOUT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ALYSSA PAREDES\nAlyssa Paredes is an environmental and economic anthropologist with research interests at the intersection of industrial agriculture\, transnational supply chains\, and social mobilization between the Southern Philippines and Japan. Her book manuscript\, tentatively titled “Bananapocalypse: An Ethnography of the Commodity for the 21st Century\,” is under contract with the University of California Press. Additionally\, her work appears in journals in anthropology\, history\, geography\, food studies\, and Asian studies. She is also co-editor of “Halo-Halo Ecologies: The Emergent Environments Behind Filipino Food” (University of Hawaii Press 2025). She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University.
UID:135598-21876979@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/135598
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,Anthropology,Archaeology,Ecology,Environment,History,Southeast Asia
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251015T084202
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251017T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251017T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Samet Oymak\, Associate Professor\, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: This talk introduces recent theoretical advancements on the in-context learning (ICL) capability of sequence models\, focusing on the interplay of data characteristics\, architectural design\, and the associated learning algorithms. We discuss how diverse architectural designs—ranging from linear attention to state-space models to gating mechanisms—implicitly emulate optimization algorithms that operate on the context and draw connections to variations of gradient descent and expectation maximization. We elucidate the critical influence of data characteristics\, such as distributional alignment\, task correlation\, and the presence of unlabeled examples\, on ICL performance\, quantifying their benefits and revealing the mechanisms through which models leverage such information. Furthermore\, we will explore the optimization landscapes governing ICL\, establishing conditions for unique global minima and highlighting the architectural features (e.g.\, depth and dynamic gating) that enable sophisticated algorithmic emulation. As a central message\, we advocate that the power of architectural primitives can be gauged from their capability to handle in-context regression tasks with varying sophistication.
UID:140276-21886864@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140276
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251006T094523
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251020T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251020T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Spin detection and nuclear magnetic resonance at the quantum sensitivity limit
DESCRIPTION:Quantum science tools have been pivotal in various precision experiments\, such as gravitational wave detectors\, atomic clocks\, and searches for new fundamental physics and axion dark matter. In experiments with ensembles of spin qubits\, the standard quantum limit on sensitivity scales with the inverse square root of the number of spins. Platforms such as cold atoms\, atomic vapor cells\, and color centers in solids can operate in the regime where this spin projection noise dominates detection of ensemble dynamics. Increasing ensemble size is a promising way to enhance sensitivity. The challenge is that this requires a corresponding reduction in other noise sources. I will present precision nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on macroscopic ensembles of 10^{21} nuclear spins\, with sensitivity limited by the quantum spin projection noise. Additionally\, I will discuss the creation and utilization of spin squeezing in such macroscopic spin ensembles.
UID:140324-21886921@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140324
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251015T132041
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251023T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251023T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"JWST Views of Cluster Brightest Cluster Galaxy Nebulae: Dusty Molecular Hydrogen\"\n\nI will discuss preliminary analyses of a sample of 7 brightest cluster galaxies observed with the JWST Mid Infrared Imager and IFU Spectrograph. BCGs often host bright optical emission line filaments. These filaments are strongly associated with the presence of xray emitting intracluster gas with a short cooling time and with active AGN feedback. The filaments are multiphase\, multi temperature\; the spectra allow the measurement of speeds and velocity widths to a few kpc/sec at scales of 0.2”. I will discuss some surprising features and next steps in the work.
UID:140738-21887552@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140738
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251013T115409
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Jing Lei\, Professor\, Department of Statistics & Data Science\, Carnegie Mellon University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Cross-validation is one of the most widely used tools for model quality assessment and comparison. When combined with appropriate notions of stability\, cross-validation can be adapted to solve many interesting inference problems. In this talk\, I will describe two examples. The first is a variant of cross-validation\, called \"rolling validation\,\" which can achieve superior model selection accuracy for batch data and is naturally extendable to online problems. The second is the construction of confidence sets in discrete population comparison or model selection problems.
UID:140278-21886866@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140278
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250924T114700
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T180000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Michigan Interdisciplinary Meeting on Amplitudes: Bridges between Physics and Mathematics
DESCRIPTION:October 24\, 25\, & 26\, 2025\n\nThis interdisciplinary conference will bring together theoretical physicists and mathematicians to explore recent interdisciplinary advancements in research on scattering amplitudes. Participants from both the physics and mathematics communities will bring a diverse range of perspectives to the field of amplitudes.\n\nThe conference is funded jointly by the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics (LITP) and the Michigan Center for Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics (MCAIM).\n\nStudents from both the physics and mathematics communities are welcome to register and participate. Junior researchers are invited to participate in a \"gong show\" session of 5-minute talks on Saturday\, 10/25. \n\nThere is no registration fee. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.\n\nLocation\nFriday\, October 24\nRackham Building\, East & West Conference Rooms (AM)\nWest Hall 340 (PM)\nSaturday\, October 25\nWest Hall 340\nSunday\, October 26\nWest Hall 340\n\nConfirmed Speakers:\nMichael Borinsky (Perimeter Institute)\nJake Bourjaily (Penn State)\nNick Early (Princeton IAS)\nYassine El Maazouz (Caltech)\nPavel Galashin (UCLA)\nMathieu Giroux (Columbia)\nAlexandre Homrich (Caltech)\nGiulia Isabella (UCLA)\nYelena Mandelshtam (U Michigan)\nMatteo Parisi (Harvard)\nAndrzej Pokraka (U Amsterdam)\nElizabeth Pratt (UC Berkeley)\nGiulio Salvatori (Princeton IAS)\nMelissa Sherman-Bennett (UC Davis)\nMarcus Spradlin (Brown)\nJaroslav Trnka (UC Davis)\nInvited Speakers (Unconfirmed)\nNima Arkani-Hamed (Princeton IAS)\nOrganizers\nHenriette Elvang (UM Physics\, elvang@umich.edu)\nNick Geiser (UM Physics/Math\, ngeiser@umich.edu)\nThomas Lam (UM Math\, tfylam@umich.edu)
UID:139780-21886040@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139780
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Mathematics,Physics
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251023T121246
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T152000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Cluster Algebras in SYM Theory and QCD  -- Joint seminar with high energy physics
DESCRIPTION:This talk is part of the Michigan Interdisciplinary Meeting on Amplitudes: Bridges between Physics and Mathematics https://indico.global/event/15406/ .\n\nThis conference takes place Friday-Sunday\, Oct 24-26. They have planned a talk to line up with our seminar which they think should be of particular interest to combinatorialists\, but I see many speakers and title which I think should interest us -- see the time schedule here https://indico.global/event/15406/timetable/#20251024 .
UID:137805-21880787@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137805
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Mathematics,Physics
LOCATION:West Hall
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251020T113444
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251024T173000
SUMMARY:Conference / Symposium:Summer in South Asia Symposium
DESCRIPTION:Hear from this year's Summer in South Asia Fellows about their experiences in India and to learn more about this fully-funded fellowship.\n   \n   Established in 2006 by the Center for South Asia Studies with a generous donation from an anonymous donor\, the Summer in South Asia Fellowship has provided more than 100 students with funding for research and internships in India. Undergraduate students at U-M who receive a Summer in South Asia Fellowship can design and carry out their own summer fellowship programs all over India.\n\nIf there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you\, please contact us at csas@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
UID:140890-21887774@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140890
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Asian Languages And Cultures,Center For South Asian Studies,global,global engagement,global opportunities,India,International,Internship,South Asia,South Asian Studies,Travel
LOCATION:West Hall - Room 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250924T114700
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251025T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251025T180000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Michigan Interdisciplinary Meeting on Amplitudes: Bridges between Physics and Mathematics
DESCRIPTION:October 24\, 25\, & 26\, 2025\n\nThis interdisciplinary conference will bring together theoretical physicists and mathematicians to explore recent interdisciplinary advancements in research on scattering amplitudes. Participants from both the physics and mathematics communities will bring a diverse range of perspectives to the field of amplitudes.\n\nThe conference is funded jointly by the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics (LITP) and the Michigan Center for Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics (MCAIM).\n\nStudents from both the physics and mathematics communities are welcome to register and participate. Junior researchers are invited to participate in a \"gong show\" session of 5-minute talks on Saturday\, 10/25. \n\nThere is no registration fee. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.\n\nLocation\nFriday\, October 24\nRackham Building\, East & West Conference Rooms (AM)\nWest Hall 340 (PM)\nSaturday\, October 25\nWest Hall 340\nSunday\, October 26\nWest Hall 340\n\nConfirmed Speakers:\nMichael Borinsky (Perimeter Institute)\nJake Bourjaily (Penn State)\nNick Early (Princeton IAS)\nYassine El Maazouz (Caltech)\nPavel Galashin (UCLA)\nMathieu Giroux (Columbia)\nAlexandre Homrich (Caltech)\nGiulia Isabella (UCLA)\nYelena Mandelshtam (U Michigan)\nMatteo Parisi (Harvard)\nAndrzej Pokraka (U Amsterdam)\nElizabeth Pratt (UC Berkeley)\nGiulio Salvatori (Princeton IAS)\nMelissa Sherman-Bennett (UC Davis)\nMarcus Spradlin (Brown)\nJaroslav Trnka (UC Davis)\nInvited Speakers (Unconfirmed)\nNima Arkani-Hamed (Princeton IAS)\nOrganizers\nHenriette Elvang (UM Physics\, elvang@umich.edu)\nNick Geiser (UM Physics/Math\, ngeiser@umich.edu)\nThomas Lam (UM Math\, tfylam@umich.edu)
UID:139780-21886041@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139780
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Mathematics,Physics
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250924T114700
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251026T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251026T150000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Michigan Interdisciplinary Meeting on Amplitudes: Bridges between Physics and Mathematics
DESCRIPTION:October 24\, 25\, & 26\, 2025\n\nThis interdisciplinary conference will bring together theoretical physicists and mathematicians to explore recent interdisciplinary advancements in research on scattering amplitudes. Participants from both the physics and mathematics communities will bring a diverse range of perspectives to the field of amplitudes.\n\nThe conference is funded jointly by the Leinweber Institute for Theoretical Physics (LITP) and the Michigan Center for Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics (MCAIM).\n\nStudents from both the physics and mathematics communities are welcome to register and participate. Junior researchers are invited to participate in a \"gong show\" session of 5-minute talks on Saturday\, 10/25. \n\nThere is no registration fee. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided.\n\nLocation\nFriday\, October 24\nRackham Building\, East & West Conference Rooms (AM)\nWest Hall 340 (PM)\nSaturday\, October 25\nWest Hall 340\nSunday\, October 26\nWest Hall 340\n\nConfirmed Speakers:\nMichael Borinsky (Perimeter Institute)\nJake Bourjaily (Penn State)\nNick Early (Princeton IAS)\nYassine El Maazouz (Caltech)\nPavel Galashin (UCLA)\nMathieu Giroux (Columbia)\nAlexandre Homrich (Caltech)\nGiulia Isabella (UCLA)\nYelena Mandelshtam (U Michigan)\nMatteo Parisi (Harvard)\nAndrzej Pokraka (U Amsterdam)\nElizabeth Pratt (UC Berkeley)\nGiulio Salvatori (Princeton IAS)\nMelissa Sherman-Bennett (UC Davis)\nMarcus Spradlin (Brown)\nJaroslav Trnka (UC Davis)\nInvited Speakers (Unconfirmed)\nNima Arkani-Hamed (Princeton IAS)\nOrganizers\nHenriette Elvang (UM Physics\, elvang@umich.edu)\nNick Geiser (UM Physics/Math\, ngeiser@umich.edu)\nThomas Lam (UM Math\, tfylam@umich.edu)
UID:139780-21886042@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139780
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Mathematics,Physics
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251022T093758
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251027T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251027T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Searching for Tau Neutrinos in the Peruvian Andes with TAMBO
DESCRIPTION:The detection of high-energy astrophysical neutrinos by IceCube has opened a new window on our Universe. While IceCube has measured the flux of these neutrinos at energies up to several PeV\, much remains to be discovered regarding their origin and nature. Currently\, the discovery of point sources of neutrinos is hindered by atmospheric neutrino backgrounds\; likewise\, astrophysical neutrino flavor ratio measurements are limited by the difficulty of discriminating between electron and tau neutrinos. \n\nTAMBO is a next-generation neutrino telescope specifically designed to detect tau neutrinos in the 1-100 PeV energy range. This tau neutrino specificity enables the low-background identification of astrophysical neutrino sources\, as well as tests of the flavor ratio of astrophysical neutrinos. TAMBO will comprise an array of water Cherenkov and plastic scintillator detectors deployed on the face of the Colca Canyon in the Peruvian Andes\, with its unique geometry facilitating the high-purity measurement of astrophysical tau neutrinos. In this talk\, I will present the prospects of TAMBO in the context of next-generation neutrino observatories and provide an overview of its current status.
UID:140997-21887943@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140997
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251020T083040
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251028T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251028T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | Physics at the Intersection of AMO and Plasmas
DESCRIPTION:Two assumptions at the heart of standard plasma theory are that the plasma is weakly coupled in the sense that the potential energy of Coulomb interactions is weak compared to the kinetic energy\, and that the plasma is weakly magnetized in the sense that the gyroradii of particles are large compared to the Debye length. A focus of my research group is to extend plasma kinetic theories to treat conditions of strong Coulomb coupling\, strong magnetization\, or both. The work is largely motivated by topics in dense plasmas\, like inertial confinement fusion or dense astrophysical objects like white dwarfs or stellar interiors. However\, conditions of strong coupling and/or strong magnetization can also be created using table-top scale experiments developed in the AMO field. These have the advantage of a controlled and well-diagnosed platform to test the models. In this talk I will describe two categories of experiments (conducted by others) that we have used to validate our theories. The first is ultracold neutral plasmas. These are plasmas created in cold-atom traps (MOTs)\, where a plasma is produced by laser ionization and diagnosed using laser-induced fluorescence. These experiments produce strongly coupled plasmas in a charge-neutral state. The second is non-neutral plasmas confined in Penning traps. These are strongly magnetized plasmas that can range from weak to strong coupling. The past work has been productive\, but there is much more that could be done through collaboration between AMO and plasma physicists.\n\nBio:\nScott Baalrud is a Professor in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences at the University of Michigan. Prior to arriving in Ann Arbor in January 2021\, he was on the faculty of the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Iowa (2013-2020)\, a Feynman postdoc at Los Alamos National Laboratory (2012-2013)\, and a DOE postdoc at the University of New Hampshire (2010-2012). All three of his academic degrees are from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (PhD 2010\, MS 2008\, BS 2006). His research accomplishments have been acknowledged by the American Physical Society Thomas Stix Award\, the Institute of Physics Hershkowitz Early Career Award\, and early career awards from NSF\, DOE and AFOSR. His teaching and mentorship have been acknowledged by the University of Iowa’s Distinguished Mentor Award (2016) and Early Career Scholar of the Year Award (2017).
UID:140887-21887771@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140887
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251021T131311
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251028T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251028T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Jeff Fessler\, William L. Root Distinguished University Professor\, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Diffusion models can learn strong image priors and use them to solve inverse problems. However\, standard methods come with many challenges in medical and scientific applications: they are computationally expensive\, they require lots of training data\, and they may not be robust to distribution shifts between the training data and the test data. This talk will describe methods for tackling these challenges\, focusing on medical imaging inverse problems like MRI and low-dose Xray CT image reconstruction. Work with Jason Hu\, Bowen Song\, Xiaojian Xu and Liyue Shen.
UID:140282-21886869@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140282
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251006T131545
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251029T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251029T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Quantum Field Theory\, Separation of Scales\, and Beyond
DESCRIPTION:We will review the role of Quantum Field Theory (QFT) in modern physics. We will highlight how QFT uses a reductionist perspective as a powerful quantitative tool relating phenomena at different length and energy scales. We will then discuss various examples\, motivated by string theory and lattice models\, that challenge this separation of scales and seem to lie outside the standard framework of QFT. These lattice models include theories of fractons and other exotic systems.
UID:140341-21886951@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140341
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251020T145053
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251030T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251030T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"The beginning of the end - charting the emergence and evolution of massive galaxies\"\n\nGalaxies are extraordinarily complex collections of stars\, gas\, and dark matter. The largest galaxies\, although relatively rare in number\, host many of the stars in the Universe and deep in their cores harbor the most extreme supermassive black holes. Today massive galaxies are old - their stars are red and dead and their dynamical structures are dispersion supported. While massive galaxies have long been expected to be relics of a much earlier formation time\, JWST is just now revealing their earliest histories\, including their formation hundreds of thousands of years after the Big Bang. In this talk I will describe my team’s observational efforts to identify and characterize massive galaxies in the distant Universe with JWST and throughout cosmic time\, including with the new Subaru Prime Focus Spectrograph.
UID:140910-21887798@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140910
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251030T100053
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251031T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251031T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Huge Operators in AdS/CFT and Matrix Models
DESCRIPTION:Tbd
UID:137252-21879996@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137252
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Lecture,Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251028T103042
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251104T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251104T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | Magnetism of the RT_6 Sn_6 kagome metals
DESCRIPTION:Kagome metals are known for their unique electronic band structure containing flat bands and Dirac cones with topological character. This has elevated interest in kagome metals as an adaptable system to study the interplay of band topology with superconductivity\, itinerant magnetism\, and other charge instabilities that are driven by electronic correlations. In the RT_6 Sn_6 kagome metals\, conduction electrons within T=V\, Mn kagome bilayers interacts with the local magnetic moments of interleaved rare-earth (R) triangular layers. Here\, I will describe experimental neutron scattering and high-field magnetization data outlining the competing magnetic interactions and magnetic fluctuations that lead to a variety of collinear and non-collinear magnetic phases\, including the discovery of dual time-reversal symmetry-breaking in the Ising ferromagnet TbV_6 Sn_6. The development of spin chirality\, such as fluctuation-driven scalar spin chirality\, will also be discussed.
UID:141226-21888420@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141226
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251001T095227
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251105T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251105T143000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Special Physics Colloquium | Stringently Testing the Standard Model via Direct Encounters with a Single Electron’s Spin
DESCRIPTION:One hundred years after the discovery of electron spin\, the proportionality of the electron’s magnetic dipole moment and its spin makes possible what is arguably the most stringent test of the Standard Model (SM) and sensitive probes for physics beyond the SM. The electron magnetic moment\, in natural units of Bohr magnetrons\, is the most precise prediction of the SM and the most precisely measured quantity of any elementary particle. The quantum methods used for a recent measurement of the size of a single electron’s magnetic moment will be discussed.  To improve beyond the precision of 1 part in 10^{13}\, a quantum limited detector is being employed in a new apparatus and measurement\, with special relativity providing a quantum non-demolition coupling of the electron’s spin state to the detector. Comparing the electron and positron moments provides the opportunity to test the fundamental CPT invariance of the SM with leptons at an even higher precision.
UID:140125-21886648@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140125
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251027T112128
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251105T133000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251105T170000
SUMMARY:Conference / Symposium:Spin Centennial: Celebrating 100 Years of Spin at the University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:One hundred years ago\, in 1925\, to explain puzzles in the observed spectra of atoms\, George Uhlenbeck and Samuel Goudsmit postulated the existence of a new intrinsic property of the electron\, which came to be known as spin. In 1926\, Uhlenbeck and Goudsmit began long illustrious careers at the University of Michigan Physics Department. The physics department at the University of Michigan\, and others around the world\, have continued to harness this revolutionary concept to advance science and technology across many fronts\, from fundamental science to medical imaging to quantum information.\n\nThroughout the 2025 Fall term\, a series of seminars\, colloquia\, and special events will be part of this celebration.\n\nColloquium 1:30-2:30 pm\nStringently Testing the Standard Model via Direct Encounters with a Single Electron’s Spin\nGerald Gabrielse\, Board of Trustees Professor in Physics/Director of CFP (Northwestern University)\n\nSpin Centennial 3:00-5:00 pm\nTalks for the general public on the history of spin\, fundamental physics\, and the applications of spin\, which impact everyone’s life every day and into the future\, with Introductory remarks by Dean Rosario Ceballo\, College of Literature\, Science\, and the Arts (LSA)\n\nSpeakers from the U-M Department of Physics\nChristine Aidala\, Professor\nAaron Pierce\, Professor\nVanessa Sih\, Professor\nShankari Rajagopal\, Professor
UID:138203-21882586@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/138203
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,Faculty,Free,Graduate Students,Physics,Undergraduate Students
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251027T143151
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251106T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251106T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"Quest for the Most Distant Universe – Today and Beyond\"\n\nUncovering and characterizing the earliest systems in the universe is essential for addressing fundamental cosmological questions — including the emergence of the first galaxies and black holes (BHs)\, and the timeline of cosmic reionization. The advent of JWST has revolutionized our ability to detect and study galaxies from these early epochs\, now extending the frontier of confirmed systems to z ~ 20. At the same time\, submm/mm observations with ALMA are providing complementary insights into the cold dust and gas components that trace early star formation. In this talk\, I will present my recent efforts to explore the most distant universe through a synergistic approach combining JWST\, ALMA\, and gravitational lensing\, enabling the most sensitive and comprehensive investigations of the earliest phases of galaxy formation. My systematic JWST spectroscopic survey confirms the high abundance of z > 9 galaxies previously suggested by photometric studies\, and I will discuss possible origins of this surprising excess based on our initial characterizations. I will also introduce the first infrared luminosity function derived from the largest faint ALMA sample ever compiled\, allowing a direct estimate of the total (unobscured + dust-obscured) cosmic star formation history up to z ~ 8. Our joint JWST and ALMA deep follow-up observations of a strongly lensed early galaxy reveal that what appears as a single disk-like structure is resolved into at least 15 individual young massive star clusters with effective radii of 10–50 pc\, dominating ~70% of the galaxy’s total flux and embedded within a smooth rotating disk (V/σ ~ 3). These findings suggest that stellar feedback is remarkably weak at these epochs\, providing a plausible explanation for the enhanced star formation activity inferred from our rest-UV and FIR studies. At the end of my talk\, I will also introduce my ~300-hour Cycle 4+5 JWST treasury program\, Vast Exploration for Nascent\, Unexplored Sources (VENUS) — JWST’s first wide lensing-cluster survey. Designed to fully harness the power of gravitational lensing\, VENUS aims to uncover the faintest and earliest galaxies across cosmic time\, and I will present some of its initial outcomes showcasing the transformative potential of this new endeavor.
UID:141190-21888349@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141190
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251119T082125
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251107T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251107T110000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Linjun Zhang\, Associate Professor\, Department of Statistics\, Rutgers University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Large Language Models (LLMs) are rapidly gaining enormous popularity in recent years. However\, the training of LLMs has raised significant privacy and legal concerns\, particularly regarding the inclusion of copyrighted materials in their training data without proper attribution or licensing\, which falls under the broader issue of data misappropriation. In this article\, we focus on a specific problem of data misappropriation detection\, namely\, to determine whether a given LLM has incorporated data generated by another LLM. To address this issue\, we propose embedding watermarks into the copyrighted training data and formulating the detection of data misappropriation as a hypothesis testing problem. We develop a general statistical testing framework\, construct a pivotal statistic\, determine the optimal rejection threshold\, and explicitly control the type I and type II errors. Furthermore\, we establish the asymptotic optimality properties of the proposed tests\, and demonstrate its empirical effectiveness through intensive numerical experiments.
UID:141339-21888653@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141339
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251022T102256
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251107T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251107T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Quantum Null Ray: Effective dynamics and localized gauge invariant observables
DESCRIPTION:In this talk\, I'll review the construction of gravitational constraints and of the corresponding phase space along generalized Horizons.\n\nI will focus my expose on the study of the Raychauduri Constraint and its quantization\, which describes the dynamics of quantum null rays. I will present a detailed construction of the null Ray phase space and the localized gauge-invariant observables.\n\nSuch a construction requires the introduction of a preferred time frame called the dressing time\, which includes edge modes that allow localization along a null ray interval. Gauge-invariant observables are then obtained by dressing the fields with the dressing time.\n\nWe will see how the edge mode symplectic structure can be understood in terms of the integration of  degrees of freedom complementary to\n\nchosen region and how the gauge invariant observables include the covariant area element as a generator of reorientation of the frame. Overall the dressing time this provides a gravitational description of a quantum reference frame.\n\nFinally\, we will describe how the quantization procedure can be encoded through an effective deformation of the gravitational phase space labelled by a central charge.\n\nIf time permits\, I'll comment on the role the central charge plays in resolving the fundamental problem of time in quantum gravity and on some new results concerning the quantization of field theoretical reference frames.
UID:140954-21887864@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140954
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,lecture,physics,science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251103T145840
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251107T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251107T163000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Navigating Academic Publishing as a Graduate Student
DESCRIPTION:The Comparative Studies in Society and History (CSSH) journal is pleased to invite you to an Informational Session on Academic Publishing in peer-reviewed journals on Friday\, November 7\, 2025\, from 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.\, in 411 West Hall. \n\nProfessor Jatin Dua (CSSH editor)\, Dr. David Akin (former CSSH managing editor for 25 years)\, and Professor Alyssa Paredes (recent CSSH author) will lead the session and share advice on how to successfully publish your research in academic journals in the humanities and social sciences. The session will introduce graduate students to the publication process from submission to acceptance\, and provide an overview of how to plan your journal article\, what gets published and why\, and common mistakes that get an article rejected. \n\nWe invite students to submit questions in advance about the publishing process\, and will also leave time for Q&A during the session. You may submit your questions through the Google form by November 6. \n\nAbout CSSH: \n\nComparative Studies in Society and History is an international forum for new research on problems of recurrent patterning and change in human societies through time and in the contemporary world. We feature the work of specialists in all branches of the social sciences and humanities\, bringing together multidisciplinary research\, cultural and area studies\, and innovative ventures in theory and method. We are committed to building connections and shared languages of comparison across the core fields of our readership: history\, anthropology\, political science\, and sociology. Along with articles and review essays\, CSSH publishes interviews with our contributors\, commentaries\, resources for teaching\, and discussions of emerging trends in the practice and politics of comparison.
UID:141463-21888829@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141463
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Anthropology,Graduate Students,History,Interdisciplinary,Journal,Political Science,Publishing,Sociology
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251007T082716
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251110T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251110T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Mission Impossible? Probing the Higgs boson-charm quark coupling with the CMS Experiment
DESCRIPTION:How strongly the Higgs boson couples to second-generation quarks remains a central open question for testing the Standard Model’s flavor structure. I will present the CMS program targeting the Higgs boson-charm quark Yukawa coupling via Higgs decays to a pair of charm quarks. I will focus on a new search in the until-recently unexplored production mode where the Higgs boson is produced in association with a top-quark pair\, and discuss complementary searches in associated production with W or Z bosons. The key enabling tools in these searches are cutting-edge jet-flavor identification algorithms and novel analysis strategies that exploit event-level correlations\, both of which are powered by state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. I will outline prospects at the HL-LHC and close with opportunities at future Higgs factories.
UID:140368-21886996@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/140368
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251030T101626
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251111T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251111T150000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Conformally Robust Decision Making
DESCRIPTION:Black-box machine learning models are seeing increasing deployment in safety-critical settings\, such as in autonomous vehicles and healthcare settings. This coupling increases the need to have reliable uncertainty quantification. Traditional methods for such estimation\, however\, require distributional assumptions that are incompatible with these modern black-box estimators. In their place\, post-hoc\, distribution-free methods of uncertainty quantification have arisen. Among these is ``conformal prediction.'' At its core\, conformal prediction performs uncertainty quantification by replacing model point predictions with ``prediction regions\,'' subsets of the output space whose shape and size are defined to guarantee coverage of the truth with some user-specified probability.\n\nDespite such guarantees\, these implicitly defined predictions regions do not directly lend themselves to practical use\; while researchers professed their supposed utility\, their downstream use was not immediately obvious. In this thesis\, we propose and develop one such use: model-based decision-making. We demonstrate that conformal prediction can be integrated into a variety of decision-making pipelines\, from single-step predict-then-optimize problems to model-based LQR control\, and consequently enable guarantees on suboptimality that otherwise cannot be established.\n\nWe develop this conformal decision-making framework over three works. In the first\, we focus on the development of conformal prediction in the space of scientific inquiry: here\, decisions are often framed as hypothesis testing of parameter values. Increasingly common in certain domains\, such as astrophysics and neuroscience\, is the use approximate variational inference to do such parameter estimation\, due to the large scale at which such estimation is to be performed. Amortized variational inference produces a posterior approximation that can be rapidly computed given any new observation. Unfortunately\, there are few guarantees about the quality of these approximate posteriors. We propose Conformalized Amortized Neural Variational Inference (CANVI)\, a procedure that is scalable\, easily implemented\, and provides guaranteed marginal coverage. Given a collection of candidate amortized posterior approximators\, CANVI constructs conformalized predictors based on each candidate\, compares the predictors using a metric known as predictive efficiency\, and returns the most efficient predictor. \n\nIn the next work\, we generalize the setting for such robust decision-making\, expanding from scientific parameter testing to a more general space of ``predict-then-optimize'' problems. As in standard decision-making formulations\, these problems frame the decision-making task as a parametric optimization problem. The unique aspect here\, however\, is that the parameters of the problem are not revealed to the decision-maker. As a result\, the decision-maker is forced to estimate the unknown parameters and optimize their decision against this surrogate objective\, hence the given name: the estimation is performed by ``predicting'' the parameters with an upstream model. In the nominal approach\, the parameters predicted by the upstream model are assumed to precisely coincide with the true\, unknown parameters\; this approach of specification\, however\, fails to have any formal guarantees on the resulting decision. Towards this end\, we develop a robust analog of this nominal problem formulation\, called ``Conformal Predict-Then-Optimize'' (CPO)\, from which suboptimality guarantees can be established. We then demonstrate how a simple\, residual-based score results in overly conservative decision-making and propose an alternative score that produces structured\, non-convex prediction regions and\, in turn\, more informative decisions. \n\nFinally\, we demonstrate the generality of the proposed conformal predict-then-optimize decision-making framework. In particular\, we demonstrate that CPO can be extended to a recently proposed extension to conformal prediction in which the scalar score function is replaced with an analogous vector score and the quantile threshold by a quantile envelope. We similarly demonstrate that CPO naturally lends itself to extension to model-based robust control applications. We\, thus\, develop extensions across these two applications and then demonstrate the consistent empirical improvements produced in each.
UID:141318-21888574@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141318
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation
LOCATION:West Hall - 438
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251105T091608
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251112T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251112T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Cosmological results from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument
DESCRIPTION:A quarter-century after the discovery of the accelerated expansion of the universe\, the constraints on dark energy that powers this acceleration have become very good\, but the physical nature of dark energy remains elusive.  I will present and discuss cosmological results from the measurement of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in the three years of observations from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument. These results\, when combined with other data\, have indicated a possible new anomaly in the behavior of dark energy\, which has caused both excitement and consternation in the field of cosmology.  I will discuss these findings and their implication for our understanding of the physics of the universe.
UID:141314-21888570@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141314
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251103T125142
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251113T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251113T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"A Tale of Stellar and Planetary Adolescence and Evolution\"\n\nWithin the past decade\, we have discovered only a dozen young (< 300 Myr) short-period exoplanets\, compared to the ~6\,000 mature systems. The radii of these young planets are larger than older planets on similar orbital periods. The leading hypothesis is that these young planets have inflated atmospheres because they are still contracting. Inflated atmospheres are more susceptible to photoevaporation --- atmospheric removal driven by X-ray and ultraviolet (XUV) stellar irradiation. These effects are intensified in the earliest stages of planetary evolution\, when young stars are more active and produce extreme XUV radiation on a variety of timescales. Even though it is challenging to study exoplanets around active stars\, observational constraints of these targets provide crucial insights into our understanding of exoplanet formation and evolution. In this talk\, I will present several benchmark studies of young stars and their planets spanning from the ultraviolet to the infrared. I will present early results of atmospheric follow-up characterization of young short-period exoplanets from my JWST KRONOS program and an overview of our search for atmospheric escape. Finally\, I will highlight the role that stellar flares may play in shaping the evolution of these planets and future steps in understanding these challenging young systems.
UID:141457-21888822@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141457
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251119T081903
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Yao Xie\, Coca-Cola Foundation Chair & Professor\, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\, Georgia Institute of Technology
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Generative models such as normalizing flows and diffusion processes have transformed how we represent complex\, high-dimensional data\, yet their statistical and mathematical foundations remain less understood. In this talk\, I will present a unified framework that views generative modeling as flows in probability space\, continuous transformations between distributions that reveal the geometric structure underlying learning and inference. I will begin with the JKO-flow generative model\, inspired by the Jordan–Kinderlehrer–Otto (JKO) scheme for Wasserstein gradient flows\, which interprets density learning as proximal gradient descent in the space of probability measures. This perspective offers provable convergence guarantees and connects generative modeling with classical principles of statistical inference. Building on this foundation\, I will discuss recent extensions using guided flow generative models that incorporate data- or risk-driven guidance fields to achieve robustness\, domain adaptation\, and inference under uncertainty. Together\, these results form a framework that bridges statistics\, optimization\, and machine learning\, bringing classical inferential ideas toward a principled foundation for trustworthy generative AI.
UID:141492-21888919@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141492
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250828T123027
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T163000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism
DESCRIPTION:The University of Michigan Department of Anthropology presents its fall 2025 Roy A. Rappaport Lecture Series\, “Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism\,” with Assistant Professor Alyssa Paredes:\n\n“Existential crises hang over the producers of the world’s food. Many of these challenges are self-inflicted. In the banana-growing regions of the Southern Philippines\, which produce fruit for export to Japanese markets\, plantations unleash pesticide drift\, food waste\, water effluent\, and fungal pathogens into the surroundings. The plantocratic elite systematically shirks responsibility for these excesses\, using legal contracts\, scientific conventions\, and standards of trade to frame them as “external” to their supply chains. However\, plantation management is regularly proven wrong in its assumption that the things they try to push downstream will not double back to haunt them. Everyday actors on the plantations’ peripheries transform the devices designed to work against them into openings for intervention. Their efforts implore critical scholars of the environment and of global economies to take seriously the possibility that Big Ag’s increasingly frequent failures to reproduce itself are more than just minor inconveniences to business-as-usual. In this series of lectures\, I trace the afterlives of the externalities that commodity production obscures\, disguises\, or otherwise erases from its ambit of accountability. In so doing\, I offer an ethnographic model for turning the commodity studies model\, inherited from generations of anthropologists\, inside-out.”\n\nRappaport lectures will take place on the following fall Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in 411 West Hall. They are free and open to the public. \n\nFriday\, Sept. 12\nElses and Externalities: The Un/Making of Plantation Capitalism \n\nFriday\, Oct. 10\nRejects: Food Cosmetic Standards and the Geopolitics of Waste\n\nFriday\, Nov. 14\nEffluent: Living Downstream of Yourself on the Mindanao River\n\nFriday\, Dec. 5\nForce Majeure: The See-Through Plantation\n\nVIRTUAL PARTICIPATION LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91475190155\n\nIf you need accommodations in order to attend\, please email anthro.exec.secretary@umich.edu.\n\nABOUT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ALYSSA PAREDES\nAlyssa Paredes is an environmental and economic anthropologist with research interests at the intersection of industrial agriculture\, transnational supply chains\, and social mobilization between the Southern Philippines and Japan. Her book manuscript\, tentatively titled “Bananapocalypse: An Ethnography of the Commodity for the 21st Century\,” is under contract with the University of California Press. Additionally\, her work appears in journals in anthropology\, history\, geography\, food studies\, and Asian studies. She is also co-editor of “Halo-Halo Ecologies: The Emergent Environments Behind Filipino Food” (University of Hawaii Press 2025). She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University.
UID:135598-21876980@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/135598
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,Anthropology,Archaeology,Ecology,Environment,History,Southeast Asia
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251030T095930
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Title: Quantum Gravity in Near-Extremal Black Holes
DESCRIPTION:Recent developments have revealed that black holes near extremality exhibit large quantum fluctuations in their geometry\, marking a controllable breakdown of semiclassical quantum field theory in curved spacetime. In this talk\, I will discuss how these fluctuations can be revealed through scattering waves off the black hole. In particular\, we find that extremely cold black holes become transparent to low-frequency light or gravitational radiation. These effects provide concrete signatures of quantum gravity at play in near-extremal regimes.
UID:139052-21884684@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/139052
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Lecture,Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251106T191032
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251114T200000
SUMMARY:Meeting:NSBP GBM + Movie Night
DESCRIPTION:Come join the Willie Hobbs Moore Chapter of the National Society of Black Physicists for our next general body meeting. After the meeting\, stick around for some snacks and a mystery sci-fi movie. We hope to see you at West Hall Room 267B on Friday\, November 14th from 6-8pm.
UID:141608-21889083@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141608
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Engineering,Graduate Students,Multicultural,Physics,Undergraduate Students
LOCATION:West Hall - 267B
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251110T095359
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251117T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251117T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Paving the Road for the Next-Generation of tSZ Cluster Cosmology
DESCRIPTION:Galaxy clusters trace the evolution of the initial density perturbations which seeded cosmic structure in our Universe\, making them powerful tools to constrain fundamental cosmological parameters such as dark energy and the fractional energy density of matter. The next-generation instrument on the South Pole Telescope\, SPT-3G\, has enabled the production of the deepest\, mm-wave detected galaxy cluster sample to date over the 100 deg² SPT-Deep survey. With 442 optically confirmed clusters at a median redshift of 0.74 and a median mass of 1.7 x 10¹⁴ M⊙\, this cluster sample provides the first look into a new regime of cluster populations accessible for cluster cosmology. One key astrophysical contaminant for mm-wave cluster cosmology is emission from star-forming galaxies as it is spatially correlated with the negative thermal Sunyaev–Zel’dovich signal used to detect galaxy clusters\; this can alter the cluster selection function—particularly for low-mass\, high-redshift systems—and potentially bias recovered cosmological parameters. For the first time\, the magnitude of this contamination at high-redshift has been quantified with combined data from SPT and Herschel SPIRE\, and we find that the tSZ signal is mitigated by dust at high-redshift (z > 1) by 4% at 95GHz\, and 18% at 150GHz. However\, we find that SPT’s 220GHz band provides sufficient leverage on dust emission to prevent this contamination from significantly impacting the cluster selection function over the mass and redshift range probed in this work. This marks an important step for validating the cluster selection function for the full forthcoming SPT-3G 1500d cluster sample that will be used for the next-generation of cluster cosmology measurements.
UID:141691-21889188@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141691
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251111T125208
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251118T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251118T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | Tests of fundamental physics with thorium nuclear clocks
DESCRIPTION:Clocks based on hyperfine and electronic transitions in laser-cooled atoms\, with fractional inaccuracy and instability now reaching below 1e-18\, have revolutionized positioning\, navigation\, and timekeeping (PNT) and serve as one of the experimental foundations on which the Standard Model of particle physics is built.  A new type of clock based on the internal transitions of atomic nuclei\, dubbed nuclear clocks\, was proposed by Peik and Tamm in 2003.  Among nuclei\, the thorium-229 nucleus is unique in having a transition at low enough energy to be accessible with present-day laser technology\, and laser spectroscopy of the 148 nm thorium-229 nuclear isomer transition was first demonstrated by three groups nearly simultaneously in 2024.  Due to the higher energy scales and additional fundamental interactions present in the nucleus\, nuclear transitions are much more sensitive to small deviations from the predictions of the Standard Model than atomic transitions.  Thus\, thorium nuclear clocks may offer insights about unification theories\, the nature of dark matter\, or other physics beyond the Standard Model.\n\nI will begin this talk with a brief overview of the thorium-229 nuclear isomer transition and the two experimental approaches currently being pursued to build thorium nuclear clocks: one based on thorium doped into solid-state hosts and the other based on trapped and laser-cooled thorium ions.  Next\, I will present the design and current status of a trapped-ion thorium clock experiment under construction in my lab at UCLA.  Finally\, I will conclude with a discussion of the fundamental physics reach of this and other thorium nuclear clocks.\n\nBio: David Leibrandt is a Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at UCLA. Prior to moving to UCLA in 2022\, he led the trapped-ion optical atomic clock and precision measurement experiments within the Ion Storage Group at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder\, CO. He received his Ph.D. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2009 and his B.S.E. in Engineering Physics from the University of Michigan in 2004. David is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a recipient of the EFTF Young Scientist Award and the Department of Commerce Gold Medal Award for the development of optical atomic clocks based on quantum-logic spectroscopy of aluminum ions with record fractional inaccuracy below 1e-18.
UID:141768-21889335@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141768
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251119T082050
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251118T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251118T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Will Wei Sun\, Associate Professor\, Department of Quantitative Methods\, Department of Statistics (by courtesy)\, Purdue University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF) has emerged as the leading approach to aligning large language models (LLMs) with human preferences. Despite its success\, two challenges remain fundamental: feedback is costly and heterogeneous across annotators\, and the resulting reward models often lack principled measures of uncertainty. This talk presents recent advances that address these challenges by integrating tools from optimal design and statistical inference into the RLHF framework. First\, I introduce a dual active learning approach\, inspired by optimal design\, that adaptively selects both conversations and annotators to maximize information gain\, improving the efficiency of limited feedback budgets. Second\, I present a framework for uncertainty quantification in reward learning\, enabling valid statistical comparisons across LLM models and more reliable best-of-n alignment policies. Together\, these results illustrate how statistics can help trustworthy and data-efficient LLM alignment.
UID:141342-21888654@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141342
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251111T095125
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251119T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251119T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium |  On Hilbert’s sixth problem: from particles to waves
DESCRIPTION:In 1900\, the mathematician David Hilbert announced a list of 23 outstanding problems for twentieth century mathematics. In his sixth problem\, Hilbert called for the derivation of the equations of fluid mechanics—such as the Euler and Navier-Stokes equations—by way of rigorously justifying Boltzmann’s kinetic theory for particle systems. The scope of this program\, also known as Hilbert’s program\, was precisely framed in the mid-20th century through the works of Grad and Cercignani\, who identified the correct limiting process involved: the Boltzmann-Grad limit. In his celebrated work\, Lanford (1975) gave the first rigorous derivation of Boltzmann’s equations\, albeit only valid for short times. However\, Hilbert’s sixth problem requires a long-time extension of Lanford's result\, which remained open for decades. In recent joint work with Yu Deng (U Chicago) and Xiao Ma (U Michigan)\, we extend Lanford’s theorem to long times—specifically for as long as the solution of Boltzmann’s equation exists. This allows for the full execution of Hilbert’s program\, and the derivation of the fluid equations in the Boltzmann-Grad limit. The underlying strategy follows an earlier joint work with Yu Deng that resolved a parallel problem\, in which colliding particles are replaced by nonlinear waves\; thus establishing the mathematical foundations of wave turbulence theory. In this talk\, we will review this progress\, and discuss some future directions.
UID:141741-21889249@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141741
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250930T085848
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251120T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251120T170000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Ralph Baldwin Prize Lecture & Reception
DESCRIPTION:The Ralph Baldwin Prize in Astrophysics and Space Science will take place on Thursday\, November 20th\, 2025 in 411 West Hall.\n\nTalk will be presented by:\n\nDr. Jenny Calahan\, Winner for her thesis “Characterizing the 2D Properties of Protoplanetary Disks Using Thermo-Chemical Modeling Techniques and High-Resolution Observations.”
UID:137573-21880406@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/137573
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics,colloquium
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251111T121606
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251121T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251121T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Connecting the Calabi-Yau landscape and physics using the geometry of elliptic fibrations
DESCRIPTION:Calabi-Yau manifolds have been used for over 30 years as a primary way of compactifying string theory to give semi-realistic models of physics in four dimensions.  This talk describes recent progress in using the geometry of elliptic fibrations through the approach known as F-theory to better understand the physics of a broad class of nonperturbative string compactifications\, to identify ways in which the Standard Model of particle physics arises naturally in this context\, and to shed light on the structure of the largest known set of Calabi-Yau manifolds.  In particular\, the talk will describe a recent complete analysis the full set of 470 million toric hypersurface Calabi-Yau threefolds\, of which over 99.99% have an elliptic or genus one fiber structure.  This approach also helps understand the way in which all of these Calabi-Yaus are connected\, and provides strong evidence that the set of such manifolds is finite.  This talk describes recent work with Shing Yan Li and with Fatima Abbasi and Richard Nally\, and upcoming work with Lara Anderson\, James Gray\, and Richard Nally.
UID:141764-21889330@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141764
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251117T094552
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251201T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251201T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Dark Bondi Accretion Aided by Baryons and the Origin of JWST Little Red Dots
DESCRIPTION:The gravothermal core collapse of self-interacting dark matter halos provides a compelling mechanism for seeding supermassive black holes in the early Universe. In this scenario\, a small fraction of a halo\, approximately 1% of its mass\, collapses into a dense core\, which could further evolve into a black hole. We demonstrate that this process can account for the origin of JWST little red dots (LRDs) observed at redshifts 𝑧∼4–11\, where black holes with masses of 10^7M⊙ can form within 500 Myr after the formation of host halos with masses of 10^9M⊙. Even if the initial collapse region triggering general-relativistic instability has a mass on the order of one solar mass\, the resulting seed can grow into an intermediate-mass black hole via Eddington accretion of baryonic gas. Subsequently\, it can continue to grow into a supermassive black hole through dark Bondi accretion of dark matter particles. In this scenario\, the majority of the black hole's mass originates from dark matter accretion rather than baryonic matter\, naturally explaining the overmassive feature of LRDs.
UID:141939-21889658@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141939
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251118T105513
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251201T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251201T170000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Estimating the (Un)seen: Sample-dependent Mass Estimation
DESCRIPTION:We study mass estimation for distributions over countably infinite domains\, where the objective is to estimate the probability mass of sample-dependent sets. Classical results such as missing mass estimation and its k-heavy-hitters generalizations fit into this framework\, but little is known beyond these examples. We introduce a systematic study of mass estimation tasks defined by set-valued functions that map a finite sample to a subset of the domain\, and identify general conditions under which simple estimators succeed. In particular\, we show that the empirical-distribution-based estimator achieves vanishing error whenever the size of the image space of the set-valued function grows sublinearly with the sample size\, and that the leave-one-out estimator works whenever the set-valued function satisfies a natural stability property. These results unify and extend prior analyses\, yielding new guarantees for functionals such as neighboring mass\, pierced sets\, and structured combinations via unions and intersections. We conclude by broadening our scope to understand the landscape of estimatability. To that end\, we give an example of a set-valued function that is not estimatable and leave open the question of finding matching necessary and sufficient conditions for such functions to be estimatable.
UID:141973-21889703@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141973
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation
LOCATION:West Hall - 438
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251110T113126
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251202T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251202T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | From Structured Light to Optical Fiber Sensing
DESCRIPTION:In this talk\, I will overview two areas of my research at NEC Labs America\, Inc.: 1. Structured light 2. Optical fiber sensing. I will discuss  light beams that have spatially inhomogeneous state of polarization\, including their description on a so called higher-order Poincare sphere\, an associated Pancharatnam-Berry phase\, and their applications in optical communication and sensing. I will also discuss how exploiting Rayleigh\, Raman\, and Brillouin backscattering in optical fibers in combination with machine learning can enable distributed optical fiber sensing over existing telecommunication infrastructure. \n\nBio: Dr. Giovanni Milione is a Senior Researcher/Business Incubation Lead in the Optical Networking & Sensing Department at NEC Labs America\, Inc. in Princeton\, NJ. He received his B.S.\, M.S.\, M.Phil.\, and Ph.D. in Physics from Stony Brook University and CUNY Graduate Center/The City College of New York\, where he was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow.  He is currently Topic Chair for Optica/APS FiO+LS Conference\, the Industry & Applications Development Chair on Optica’s Board of Meetings\, and served on the Editorial Advisory Committee of Optica’s Optics & Photonics News. His recent recognitions include Stony Brook University’s 40 Under Forty. Giovanni is also a U.S. military veteran\, having served in the Iraq/Afghanistan wars.
UID:141695-21889196@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141695
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251119T082914
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251202T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251202T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Ethan Xingyuan Fang\, Associate Professor\, Department of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics\, Duke University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: We present a unified offline decision-making framework. In the first part\, we consider a class of assortment optimization problems in an offline data-driven setting. A firm does not know the underlying customer choice model but has access to an offline dataset consisting of the historically offered assortment set\, customer choice\, and revenue. The objective is to use the offline dataset to find an optimal assortment. Due to the combinatorial nature of assortment optimization\, the problem of insufficient data coverage is likely to occur in the offline dataset. Therefore\, designing a provably efficient offline learning algorithm becomes a significant challenge. To this end\, we propose an algorithm referred to as Pessimistic ASsortment opTimizAtion (PASTA) following the spirit of pessimism. We show that the algorithm identifies the optimal assortment by only requiring the offline data to cover the optimal assortment under general settings. In particular\, we establish a regret bound for the offline assortment optimization problem under the celebrated multinomial logit model and its generalizations\, where the regret is shown to be minimax optimal. We will also discuss other novel combinatorial uncertainty quantification problems of assortment optimization.
UID:141343-21888655@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/141343
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251125T104249
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251203T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251203T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | The secret life of gels
DESCRIPTION:Many materials we eat\, spread\, squeeze\, or 3D print are gels\, soft amorphous solids whose solid component comprises self-assembled networks of particles\, fibers\, or agglomerates of proteins\, polymers\, and colloids. The space between and within human cells is permeated by self-assembled gel networks\, the extra-cellular matrix and the cytoskeleton\, whose self- organization and heterogeneity is central to biological functions. Self-assembled gels have adaptive\, tunable\, and nonlinear rheology determined by a complex interplay between the molecular cohesion and surface interactions\, the aggregation kinetics that drive formation of various types of structures\, and the effect of external forces that can promote breaking or reforming of the load-bearing backbone. Solidification processes are typically sources of frozen-in stresses and help build a memory of the processing history in these amorphous solids. Disorder and self-organization determine stress localization under load and the feedback between stress heterogeneities\, structural disorder\, and nonequilibrium conditions is therefore key to the mechanical response of these fascinating and ubiquitous materials.
UID:142195-21890195@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/142195
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251203T150847
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251204T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251204T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"JWST Reveals the Atmospheres of Sub-Neptune Exoplanets\"\n\nSub-Neptunes are planets smaller than Neptune with thick\, gaseous atmospheres. They are the most common type of planet in our galaxy\, despite not having a solar system analog.  Prior to the JWST mission\, the study of sub-Neptune atmospheres was typically thwarted by low signal-to-noise measurements due to the small size of these planets\, and pervasive cloud layers that prevented detailed measurement of atmospheric properties.  JWST\, with its large aperture and broad IR wavelength coverage\, promised to finally open the door to the characterization of planets smaller than Neptune\, and it has delivered.  I will present some of the first JWST observations of sub-Neptune exoplanets along with the interpretation of those intriguing measurements.  We have begun to address key questions about the nature of sub-Neptune aerosols (clouds or haze) and the chemical composition of their atmospheres\, yet many outstanding questions remain.  I will outline future prospects for the study of sub-Neptunes with JWST and what we still hope to learn about their formation and evolution\, and the physical and chemical processes that govern their atmospheres.  I will conclude with some thoughts on how we can leverage population-level studies of sub-Neptune atmospheres with JWST to address these important topics.
UID:142359-21890744@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/142359
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251126T084026
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251205T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251205T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Graduating Student Speaker: Shihao Wu\, PhD Candidate\, Department of Statistics\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Data that represent relations and interactions are ubiquitous in science\, engineering\, business\, and medicine. Traditional analytical methods for such data primarily focus on pairwise relations\; however\, real-world interactions often involve more than two entities and are inherently multi-way. In current practice\, these multi-way interactions are typically projected into pairwise relations before analysis\, which causes substantial information loss. Directly studying hypergraphs\, which naturally encode general multi-way interactions\, allows for more effective extraction of information from such relational data. In this talk\, I will discuss our development of generative models for hypergraphs. The first part introduces a general latent embedding framework that overcomes key limitations of existing hypergraph modeling methods. We establish identifiability of the latent embedding space and develop a likelihood-based estimator for the latent embeddings. We further derive consistency guarantees and asymptotic distributions for the parameter estimates\, enabling efficient inference from an observed hypergraph. Building on these results\, the second part of the talk introduces Denoising Diffused Embeddings (DDE)\, a generative architecture for hypergraphs that produces new hyperlinks not seen in the observed data. DDE connects discrete hyperlinks to a continuous latent space through a conditional hyperlink likelihood model\, and then reconstructs that space using a denoising diffusion process. Compared with existing generative models\, DDE is computationally efficient to train and sample from\, and it offers interpretability from the likelihood perspective. Our theoretical and empirical studies demonstrate its advantages as a general generative modeling framework. Together\, these results address core challenges in modeling multi-way interactions in relational data and illustrate how rigorous statistical modeling can contribute to building more efficient and trustworthy generative AI.
UID:142231-21890249@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/142231
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250828T123027
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251205T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251205T163000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism
DESCRIPTION:The University of Michigan Department of Anthropology presents its fall 2025 Roy A. Rappaport Lecture Series\, “Bananapocalypse: Un/Making Plantation Capitalism\,” with Assistant Professor Alyssa Paredes:\n\n“Existential crises hang over the producers of the world’s food. Many of these challenges are self-inflicted. In the banana-growing regions of the Southern Philippines\, which produce fruit for export to Japanese markets\, plantations unleash pesticide drift\, food waste\, water effluent\, and fungal pathogens into the surroundings. The plantocratic elite systematically shirks responsibility for these excesses\, using legal contracts\, scientific conventions\, and standards of trade to frame them as “external” to their supply chains. However\, plantation management is regularly proven wrong in its assumption that the things they try to push downstream will not double back to haunt them. Everyday actors on the plantations’ peripheries transform the devices designed to work against them into openings for intervention. Their efforts implore critical scholars of the environment and of global economies to take seriously the possibility that Big Ag’s increasingly frequent failures to reproduce itself are more than just minor inconveniences to business-as-usual. In this series of lectures\, I trace the afterlives of the externalities that commodity production obscures\, disguises\, or otherwise erases from its ambit of accountability. In so doing\, I offer an ethnographic model for turning the commodity studies model\, inherited from generations of anthropologists\, inside-out.”\n\nRappaport lectures will take place on the following fall Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in 411 West Hall. They are free and open to the public. \n\nFriday\, Sept. 12\nElses and Externalities: The Un/Making of Plantation Capitalism \n\nFriday\, Oct. 10\nRejects: Food Cosmetic Standards and the Geopolitics of Waste\n\nFriday\, Nov. 14\nEffluent: Living Downstream of Yourself on the Mindanao River\n\nFriday\, Dec. 5\nForce Majeure: The See-Through Plantation\n\nVIRTUAL PARTICIPATION LINK: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91475190155\n\nIf you need accommodations in order to attend\, please email anthro.exec.secretary@umich.edu.\n\nABOUT ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ALYSSA PAREDES\nAlyssa Paredes is an environmental and economic anthropologist with research interests at the intersection of industrial agriculture\, transnational supply chains\, and social mobilization between the Southern Philippines and Japan. Her book manuscript\, tentatively titled “Bananapocalypse: An Ethnography of the Commodity for the 21st Century\,” is under contract with the University of California Press. Additionally\, her work appears in journals in anthropology\, history\, geography\, food studies\, and Asian studies. She is also co-editor of “Halo-Halo Ecologies: The Emergent Environments Behind Filipino Food” (University of Hawaii Press 2025). She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University.
UID:135598-21876981@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/135598
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,Anthropology,Archaeology,Ecology,Environment,History,Southeast Asia
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251205T094831
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20251211T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20251211T120000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Statistical Modeling for Structured Network and Functional Data
DESCRIPTION:The rapid growth of complex modern datasets involves structured dependencies. These structures introduce new challenges for statistical learning and require statistical frameworks which can capture higher-order interactions\, relational patterns\, and temporal dynamics.  Motivated by these challenges\, this dissertation consists of three parts for modeling structured network and functional data. \n\nThe first chapter focuses on modeling higher-order interactions in complex networks. Most statistical models for networks focus on pairwise interactions between nodes. However\, many real-world networks involve higher-order interactions among multiple nodes\, such as co-authors collaborating on a paper. Hypergraphs provide a natural representation for these networks\, with each hyperedge representing a set of nodes. The majority of existing hypergraph models assume uniform hyperedges (i.e.\, edges of the same size) or rely on diversity among nodes. In this work\, we propose a new hypergraph model based on non-symmetric determinantal point processes. The proposed model naturally accommodates non-uniform hyperedges\, has tractable probability mass functions\, and accounts for both node similarity and diversity in hyperedges. For model estimation\, we maximize the likelihood function under constraints using a computationally efficient projected adaptive gradient descent algorithm. We establish the consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimator.\n\nThe second chapter presents a probabilistic model for community detection in signed networks. Community detection\, discovering the underlying communities within a network from observed connections\, is a fundamental problem in network analysis\, yet it remains underexplored for signed networks. In signed networks\, both edge connection patterns and edge signs are informative\, and structural balance theory (e.g.\, triangles aligned with ``the enemy of my enemy is my friend'' and ``the friend of my friend is my friend'' are more prevalent) provides a global higher-order principle that guides community formation.  We propose a Balanced Stochastic Block Model (BSBM)\, which incorporates balance theory into the network generating process such that balanced triangles are more likely to occur. We develop a fast profile pseudo-likelihood estimation algorithm with provable convergence and establish that our estimator achieves strong consistency under weaker signal conditions than methods for the binary SBM that rely solely on edge connectivity. \n\nThe third chapter develops a generative modeling framework for functional data\, where each sample is observed over a continuum of time or space. Classical functional data analysis mainly relies on low-rank representations such as functional principal component analysis (FPCA) or spline bases\, and focuses on developing discriminative models such as regression and classification. They do not characterize the probability distribution of functional observations. To directly learn the distribution of functional data\, we propose a generative model defined on a separable Hilbert space. The generator is formulated as a latent neural ordinary differential equation (ODE) which captures temporal dynamics for functional data\,  combined with a decoder incorporating Fourier features and learned time embeddings for flexible function representation.  The target distribution is estimated via a generalized energy-score loss\, which is well-defined for arbitrary measures on separable Hilbert spaces without requiring the existence of Radon–Nikodym derivatives. Furthermore\, we establish the error bounds comparing the learned and true functional distributions.
UID:142410-21890806@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/142410
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation
LOCATION:West Hall - 438
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260105T101053
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260107T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260107T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Probing the Structures of  Pyramids using Cosmic Ray  Muon Tomography
DESCRIPTION:The pyramids of ancient Egypt and of preHispanic Mesoamerica have fascinated people since the cultures that built them vanished into the annals of history. How were they built? What were they used for? Are there unknown internal substructures\, perhaps hidden chambers that have yet to be discovered? Using the detector technology we developed for a particle physics experiment at Fermilab\, we intend to perform non-invasive searches for hidden structures at the Great Pyramid of Khufu\, in Egypt\, and at the Temple of Kukulkán at Chichén Itzá. The apparatus will detect cosmic-ray muons produced high in the atmosphere that course through the pyramids to produce a tomographic image of their interiors. I will describe in detail the technique we are using\, present simulation results\, detector prototype results\, and the status of both experiments.
UID:143172-21892385@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143172
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260113T082021
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260113T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260113T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CANCELLED - CM-AMO | Engineering topological bands in materials with chiral cavities
DESCRIPTION:Strongly coupling materials to cavity fields can affect the material’s electronic properties altering the phases of matter. In this talk\, I will first discuss the hybrid light-matter band topology of the monolayer graphene whose electrons can be coupled to both left and right circularly polarized vacuum fluctuations\, and time-reversal symmetry is broken due to an asymmetry between the two polarizations. This discussion will show how the quantum nature of photons affects the topology of the correlated light-matter hybrid wave function. A central finding of Ref. [1] is a relation between the Berry phase and the properties of exchanged photons with matter at light-matter hybridization points in the Brillouin zone. This physics turns out to be generic\, as it also emerges in stacked graphene layers [2]. I will then introduce a quantum optics model to capture the properties of the topological light-matter hybridization gaps and show the presence of chiral edge modes in these gaps [3]. For the rest of the talk\, I will describe a newly proposed photonic crystal chiral cavity [4]\, and its recent realization [5]. \n\n[1] Physical Review B 110 (12)\, L121101 (2024)\n[2] arXiv: 2504.03842\n[3] arXiv: 2510.13373\n[4] Nature Communications 16 (1)\, 5270 (2025)\n[5] arXiv: 2509.14366
UID:143295-21892653@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143295
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260106T082650
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260114T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260114T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Nanoscale Soft Matter Under Electron Microscopy
DESCRIPTION:We are fascinated with nanoscale soft matter\, which crosses the boundaries of synthetic and living systems and defies simple mean-field theories or coarse-grained models. In this talk\, I will show a few of our recent case studies\, with new understandings provided by our multimodal “electron videography.” The first is the measurement and significance of interactions beyond nearest neighbors in colloidal nanoparticles in and out of equilibrium. These interactions not only determine the phase behaviors of nucleation and crystal growth\, but the phonon mode structures if we treat nanoparticle self-assemblies as a new type of mechanical metamaterials. We establish accordingly the rules of nanoscale phonon manipulation in complex and new assembly structures such as Maxwell lattice with floppy modes and moiré lattices with angle-dependent band structures. The second is the measurement and design of structural heterogeneity of nanoparticles\, polymers\, and biological systems. We show that scaling theory needs to be coupled with atomic functional density theory to predict\, for example\, nanopatterning of polymers on surfaces. We also show the spatiotemporal fluctuations of proteins and cells during interactions\, which can impact greatly the function and efficacy of interactions. The third is the existence and generation of defects and strain in crystalline nanomaterials\, let them be catalysts or electrodes. Atomic lattices are “softened” in these systems\, leading to extended strain patterns in three dimensions that we visualize at the nanoscale. All these new observations are aligned with our push of electron videography and automation to make the invisible visible\, and we see this as the beginning of a more comprehensive understanding and utilization of nanoscale soft matter.\n\nBiography: \nProf. Qian Chen is currently a professor and Racheff Scholar in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She got her BS degree in chemistry from Peking University and her PhD degree from the same department with Prof. Steve Granick. She completed her postdoctoral research with Prof. Paul Alivisatos at the University of California\, Berkeley\, under a Miller Fellowship. She became a faculty in 2015 and since then has received awards for the research in her group\, such as the Forbes 30 under 30 Science List (2016)\, the AFOSR YIP (2017)\, the NSF CAREER award (2018)\, the Sloan Research Fellow in Chemistry (2018)\, the ACS Unilever Award (2018)\, the Hanwha-TotalEnergies IUPAC Young Scientist Award (2022)\, the Soft Matter Lectureship (2023)\, the Provost's Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring (2024)\, the MRS Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award (2024)\, the ACS Langmuir lectureship (2025) and ACS Nano lectureship (2025). Her group’s research focuses on imaging\, understanding\, and engineering soft\, biological\, and energy materials at the nanoscale.
UID:143251-21892553@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143251
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20251219T103931
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260115T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260115T120000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Quantum Research Institute | Modeling Biology on a Quantum Computer:  Deciphering the Mechanism of ATP Hydrolysis Using Quantum Hardware
DESCRIPTION:In-person: West Hall 411\nZoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91050980639?jst=2\n\nAbstract:\nThe ability to model biochemical reaction dynamics on quantum hardware would open the door\nto the virtually exact description of enzymatic catalysis\, accelerating the discovery of novel\ntherapeutics. However\, noisy hardware\, the costs of computing gradients\, and the number of\nqubits and gates required to simulate large systems present major challenges to realizing the\npotential of dynamical simulations using quantum hardware. In this talk\, I will discuss our recent\nefforts to model ATP hydrolysis\, a paradigmatic and clinically-important biochemical reaction\,\nusing quantum hardware. Key to our modeling is employing transfer learning to learn\napproximate force fields based on abundant data and then correcting those force fields using\ndata from quantum hardware. Using this technique and new embedding and downfolding\nmethods\, I will show how we can gain novel mechanistic insights into a variety of hydrolysis-\nrelated reactions and how these techniques can be adapted to other problems in biochemistry.\nThroughout this talk\, I will underscore the opportunities and challenges associated with using\nquantum hardware and how these can be addressed via the fruitful marriage of quantum\ncomputation and machine learning.\n\nBio:\nDr. Brenda Rubenstein is currently the Krieble Professor of Chemistry at Brown University. She\nwas named to Popular Science magazine’s 2021 Brilliant 10 list of the top early career scientists\nand C&amp\;EN’s 2019 Talented 12 list of early career chemists\, and has received a number of\nresearch and teaching honors including the Camille Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award\, a Cottrell\nTeacher Scholar Award\, and a Sloan Research Fellowship. While the focus of her work is on\ndeveloping new electronic structure methods\, she is also deeply engaged in rethinking\ncomputing architectures and computational biophysics. Prior to arriving at Brown\, she was a\nLawrence Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She\nreceived her Sc.B.s in Chemical Physics and Applied Mathematics at Brown University\, her\nM.Phil. in Computational Chemistry while a Churchill Scholar at the University of Cambridge\,\nand her Ph.D. in Chemical Physics at Columbia University.
UID:142254-21890275@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/142254
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Chemistry,Computer Science And Engineering,Electrical And Computer Engineering,Electrical Engineering And Computer Science,Materials Science,Physics,Quantum,Quantum Computing,Quantum Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260112T102426
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260115T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260115T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"Surface and Atmospheric Biosignatures in the Era of the ELTs and HWO\"\n\nIndependent lines of evidence will be required to support the detection of life beyond Earth. Adding to current methods\, missions such as the Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs) and the Habitable World Observatory (HWO) will observe terrestrial exoplanets in reflected light. In this talk\, I present the opportunity for surface and cloud biosignatures to act as complementary signatures of life to atmospheric biosignatures\, integrating laboratory spectroscopy\, field studies of extreme environments\, and reflectance spectrum modeling. I focus on how biological pigments\, microbial surface communities\, and atmospheric microorganisms change planetary albedos and observability. Using polar and high-altitude analog environments on Earth\, I explore how Earth’s biosignatures can help strengthen the interpretation of biosignature detections on a wider scale. This work provides a framework for incorporating surface and cloud biosignatures into reflected-light observations\, informing strategies for the ELTs\, HWO\, and other life-detection missions.
UID:143701-21893674@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143701
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260109T114337
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Jian Kang\, Professor & Associate Chair for Research\, Biostatistics\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Deep generative models\, such as Variational Autoencoders (VAE) and diffusion probabilistic models\, have transformed high-dimensional data modeling. However\, these approaches often rely on variational approximations or computationally intensive ordinary differential equation (ODE) solvers\, trading exact Bayesian inference for scalability. In this talk\, I present the Bayesian Deep Noise Neural Network (B-DeepNoise)\, a framework originally developed for density regression that possesses inherent yet under-explored generative capabilities. Unlike standard Bayesian neural networks that place priors only on network weights\, the B-DeepNoise framework injects stochastic noise into every hidden layer of a deep architecture. We show that this construction is mathematically equivalent to a deep hierarchical latent variable model\, yielding rich conditional distributions through layer-wise noise propagation. By exploiting piecewise-linear activation functions\, specifically ReLU function\, we derive a closed-form Gibbs sampling algorithm that enables asymptotically exact posterior inference\, avoiding the approximation errors commonly associated with variational methods. I will demonstrate how this framework unifies three closely related tasks: (1) uncertainty quantification in regression\, (2) density regression for complex conditional distributions\, and (3) extensions to generative modeling\, where layer-wise noise injection enables flexible sample generation and data imputation. These results bridge flexible deep learning architectures with rigorous Bayesian inference and computational statistics\, providing a principled approach to density learning and generative modeling.
UID:143254-21892556@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143254
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260116T112209
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260116T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | High Frequency Gravitational Waves & Strings
DESCRIPTION:High frequency gravitational waves are likely to become an important observable in cosmology and high energy physics. \nAfter briefly discussing the stochastic gravitational wave background predicted by  the standard model of particle physics (and cosmology)\,\nI will discuss the high frequency gravitational waves from an early  universe in a hagedorn phase. Related aspects of string thermodynamics and flux compactification will also be discussed.
UID:143128-21892185@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143128
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260119T084242
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260122T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260122T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"Divergent Small Bodies: Interstellar Interlopers and Dark Comets\"\n\nIn recent years\, two entirely new classes of planetesimals have been discovered in the solar system: interstellar interlopers and dark comets. These still-enigmatic objects are challenging our understanding of the behavior and properties of comets and asteroids. In this talk\, I will review what has been learned to date from the known interstellar objects and dark comets\, highlighting the attributes that are difficult to reconcile with previous models of planetesimal behavior. In particular\, I will focus on the discovery and characterization of the third interstellar object 3I/ATLAS. I will discuss its properties in the context of the host population\, with a focus on what it tells us about planet formation throughout the galaxy. The Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) is poised to further transform our understanding of these classes of objects\, and I will discuss the feasibility of future discoveries via ground-based observations as well as possible intercept missions.
UID:144100-21894656@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144100
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260116T151511
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260123T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260123T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Donglin Zeng\, Professor\, Department of Biostatistics\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:  Dynamic treatment regimens (DTRs) are sequential decisions over one or more stages that tailor treatments to individual characteristics and their intermediate outcomes. For many chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D)\, benefit-risk tradeoff is usually an important concern for decision making in the sense that treatments with a higher benefit may lead to an increased risk of adverse outcomes (e.g.\, more intensive insulin treatment may lead to more hypoglycemia events). It is thus desirable to learn the optimal DTRs while constraining the risk to be within a tolerable range. In this talk\, we propose a learning framework for this purpose.  The framework allows the risk constraint to be imposed either at each stage for an acute risk outcome\, or cumulatively over all the stages for a long-term risk outcome. Using surrogate loss functions in empirical risk minimization\, the optimal DTRs are obtained by solving a sequence of weighted support vector machine problems in a backward fashion.  Theoretically\, we show that the estimated DTRs are Fisher consistent and we further provide the convergence rates for the value and risk functions associated with the estimated DTRs. Lastly\, the proposed method is demonstrated via simulation studies and an application to a two-stage clinical trial for treating T2D.
UID:144000-21894509@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144000
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260112T165447
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260123T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260123T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | CFT Data\, QFT RG Flows\, and the Fuzzy Sphere
DESCRIPTION:The CFT data -- scaling dimensions and OPE coefficients -- of high dimension operators contains valuable information about the theory and its deformations\, but is traditionally unobtainable outside of integrable models. We will review how the fuzzy sphere regulator allows numeric access to much of this data in the 3d Ising model\, and show how to exploit the emergent conformal generators of the theory to significantly improve it.  We discuss some of the applications of this data\, including tests of the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis and the spectrum of masses of the QFTs in the vicinity of the critical point.
UID:143130-21892186@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143130
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science,Seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260122T101228
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260128T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260128T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Programmable Topology in Hybrid Light-Matter Systems
DESCRIPTION:Quantum geometry has emerged as a new framework that unites different disciplines and underpins novel transport and nonlinear phenomena in topological states of matter. In this colloquium\, I will discuss an emerging system for topological studies: designable hybrid light-matter fluids. By integration of 2D material excitations — such as moiré excitons and Fermi polarons — with engineered photonic crystals\, we create a platform where topology can be designed and dynamically controlled.
UID:144293-21895126@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144293
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260129T083417
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260129T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260129T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:Erik’s Title: Addressing Type Ia Supernova Systematics in the Era of Precision Cosmology\n\nAbstract: Various cosmological parameters such as H0 and S8 measured using Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) have been shown to be in tension with measurements from the early universe. I look to improve cosmological parameter measurements and test the limits of SNe Ia by focusing on some of the top systematics for SN Ia cosmology: (i) intrinsic scatter\, by leveraging the near-infrared (NIR) and (ii) peculiar velocities\, by leveraging galaxy groups. With the DEHVILS sample\, one of the largest uniform NIR samples of SN Ia light curves\, I take advantage of the fact that NIR light is less affected by dust to better characterize intrinsic scatter. Using the low-redshift sample from Pantheon+ combined with a pilot program using the AAT spectrograph\, I demonstrate the benefits for averaging the redshifts of galaxy groups to correct for peculiar velocities and motivate a future full scale analysis using redshifts from DESI as well as 4MOST. With the impending arrival of both the Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time\, which we show will greatly benefit from accounting for peculiar velocities\, and the Roman Space Telescope\, which will observe in the NIR and need a well understood low-redshift anchor SN sample\, we encourage an increased effort to define more galaxy groups and further analysis on SNe Ia in the NIR.\n\nNicholas’s Title: Mapping the high redshift universe with HI: towards a more complete picture of Cosmic Dawn\n\nAbstract: Next-generation radio telescopes promise to revolutionize our understanding of early structure formation by using the 21cm line from neutral hydrogen as a tomographic tracer. In particular\, they have the potential to probe deep into the Epoch of Reionization and Cosmic Dawn\, constraining the radiative processes of the first stars and galaxies. In this talk\, I'll present an overview of 21cm cosmology and discuss recent results from 21cm radio telescopes in constraining the astrophysics of Cosmic Dawn\, and will discuss near-term opportunities ahead of us as next-gen\, multi-wavelength telescopes aim to paint a more complete picture of Cosmic Dawn.
UID:144747-21895804@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144747
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260119T101618
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Pierre Bellec\, Associate Professor\, Department of Statistics\, Rutgers University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: The talk will explore properties of the iterates obtained from iterative algorithms in high-dimensional linear regression problems\, in the regime where the feature dimension is comparable with the sample size.  Examples of common iterative algorithms covered by the analysis include Gradient Descent (GD)\, proximal GD and their accelerated variants such as Fast Iterative Soft-Thresholding (FISTA)\, as well as Stochastic Gradient Descent (SDG). For these estimators\, we will introduce estimators for the generalization error of the iterate for any fixed iteration along the trajectory. These estimators are proved to be root-n consistent under Gaussian designs.  Applications to early-stopping are provided: when the generalization error of the iterates is a U-shape function of the iterations\, the estimates allow to select from the data an iteration that achieves the smallest generalization error along the trajectory.  Time permitting\, we will introduce debiasing corrections and valid confidence intervals for the components of the true coefficient vector from the iterate at any finite iteration.
UID:143257-21892564@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143257
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260125T184755
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T130000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:LAGS | AI from a Real-Life Data Scientist
DESCRIPTION:Abstract:\nMichigan Physics graduate Tim Olson will share insights and learnings from ten years of industry experience. He will share an overview of his career path leading from theoretical physics at Michigan to applied research and development for the space domain at Slingshot Aerospace\, with brief detours to other interesting topics along the way\, and discuss tips and strategies for successfully transitioning from academia to industry.\n\nBio:\nDr. Timothy Olson is the Manager for Advanced Concepts at Slingshot Aerospace\, driving research and development of patent-pending technologies for intelligent decision and behavior modeling in space environments. He also supports space domain awareness at Slingshot through analytics\, predictive modeling\, conjunction assessment\, and anomaly detection. Prior to Slingshot\, Tim received a PhD in theoretical physics from the University of Michigan\, studying amplitudes and holography with Henriette Elvang. After graduate school\, he worked on geospatial and remote sensing applications at Maxar Technologies. Subsequently\, Tim spent five years at Yahoo where he developed novel algorithms and patented systems to detect and prevent fraudulent activity in the complex\, fast-paced digital advertising domain\, leading initiatives to address new activity patterns and risk vectors in emerging technology spaces. Tim's broad experience spans fundamental science research and academic publications through technology development and deployment of mature\, customer-facing software products.
UID:144451-21895376@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144451
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Free,Graduate Students,Physics
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260206T030401
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Energy Correlators in Particle Physics\, QFT and Gravity
DESCRIPTION:Detector operators\, of which the average null energy operator provides the most famous example\, arise as direct theoretical models of asymptotic measurements in collider experiments. In QFT\, detector operators are expressed in terms of \"light-ray operators\"\, whose correlation functions provide an interesting class of non-perturbatively well-defined observables. \n\nIn this talk\, I will give an overview of light-ray/ detector operators\, and attempt highlight the different perspectives and motivations for studying these operators\, coming from the CFT\, amplitudes and phenomenological communities. I will then present recent measurements of these correlators in experiment\, as well as applications to positivity bounds on OPE coefficients.
UID:143131-21892188@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143131
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science,Seminar,Talk
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260114T104637
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260130T163000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Sociocultural Anthropology Colloquium | “Hopesick: Care and Community in America’s Opioid Crisis”
DESCRIPTION:“For many Christians\, the belief that God can and does act directly in the world can be a tremendous source of hope. Against seemingly insurmountable challenges\, there is a sense that the miraculous may truly be possible. And yet\, things don’t always work out. In this talk\, I explore these dynamics of hope and disappointment through the life of a young woman living with opioid use disorder in Central Appalachia. Drawing on five years of collaborative ethnographic fieldwork in non-denominational churches and clinics providing Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)\, this talk considers the theological and interpersonal stakes of hope and despair in Appalachian communities living through the on-going opioid crisis. In it\, I explore the vernacular use of the term ‘hopesick’ as a possible alternative to concepts of co-dependent resentment\, compassion fatigue\, and abandonment. Moving beyond moments of hopesick rage and grief\, the later sections of the talk explore what we might learn from recovering ‘hopefiends’ who have found less risky ways to engage with the euphoric highs of hope so that they may continue on with greater compassion for themselves and others.”\n\nChina Scherz is the Kristin Yudt Collegiate Professor of Global Affairs in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame\, Scherz was an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Virginia. She earned a Ph.D. in medical anthropology from the Universities of California at San Francisco and Berkeley and a B.A. in anthropology from the University of California at Berkeley. Scherz’s work examines how health and well-being are fostered through care\, connection\, and community. Across a series of projects\, she has also explored how people decide who they should care for and how they ought to care for them and the ways in which spiritual experiences intersect with processes of ethical transformation.
UID:143772-21893993@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143772
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,american culture,Anthropology,colloquium,Global Health,Health,Health & Wellness,Sociology
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260108T071840
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260202T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260202T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Small-scale Lyman alpha forest cosmology: Constraints from high-resolution quasar surveys
DESCRIPTION:We present a new cosmological analysis of the small-scale (k ≈ 1-8 h/Mpc) Lyman-α forest 1D flux power spectrum (P1D)\, using high-resolution quasar spectra from XQ100 and KODIAQ-SQUAD interpreted with the PRIYA simulation based emulator. The Lyα P1D is a unique probe of structure formation on Mpc scales\, sensitive to dark matter models and also tracing astrophysical processes such as He II reionization and feedback. PRIYA is the first simulation suite to jointly span cosmological parameters and inhomogeneous He II reionization\, enabling a full exploration of the covariance between cosmology and astrophysics at these scales. With this framework\, we infer cosmological constraints from the XQ100 and KODIAQ-SQUAD P1D\, finding agreement between XQ100 and eBOSS cosmology\, while KODIAQ-SQUAD shows a biasedly high matter clustering driven by high-column-density absorber selection. High-resolution P1D data  provides tighter constraints on the IGM thermal history and absorber abundance than medium-resolution surveys\, offering complementary information to DESI. This complementarity can help break degeneracies between IGM physics and cosmology in future DESI Lyα forest P1D analyses.
UID:143459-21893207@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143459
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260202T095545
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260204T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260204T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | Supersonic Currents to Cavity-Altered Superconductors
DESCRIPTION:I will discuss the use of scan probe microscopy to gain microscopic insight into two separate quantum phenomena in solids.\n\nIn the first experiment\, we explore how electrons in ultra-clean solids can behave as a viscous fluid\, enabling transport far from the textbook ohmic or ballistic regimes. I will discuss a bilayer-graphene electronic de Laval nozzle that accelerates carriers to supersonic speeds\, producing a viscous electron shock. Discontinuities in transport and local potential flattening observed by Kelvin probe microscopy are consistent with a compressible\, hydrodynamic flow that breaks the electronic sound barrier\, opening a path to intrinsically nonlinear devices that exploit shocks.\n\nIn the second experiment\, I will discuss how we can affect superconductivity by engineering a material’s electromagnetic environment. Using a “dark” hyperbolic cavity formed by hexagonal boron nitride interfaced with the molecular superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)₂Cu[N(CN)₂]Br (κ-ET)\, we realize resonant coupling between hBN hyperbolic modes and a molecular vibration implicated in pairing. We use magnetic-force microscopy to detect  the Meissner response at the interface of the two materials. We observe a marked suppression of superfluid density at the interface—an effect absent in non-resonant controls.\n\nBio: Abhay Pasupathy is a professor in the physics department at Columbia University (since 2009)\, and is also a group leader in the Condensed Matter and Materials Science Division at Brookhaven National Laboratory (since 2020). His research interests are in understanding the emergent properties of quantum materials\, using microscopic and spectroscopic tools such as the scanning tunneling microscope\, the atomic force microscope and angle resolved photoemission.
UID:144218-21894877@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144218
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260129T161017
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260205T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260205T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"Investigating the Effects of SMBH Feedback on Galaxy Morphology using FIRE-2 Simulations\"\n\nIn the local universe\, low-mass irregular galaxies (stellar mass ~ 10^9 M_sun) and Milky Way mass disk galaxies (stellar mass ~ 10^10 M_sun) are typically star-forming\, while massive\, elliptical galaxies (stellar mass ~ 10^11 M_sun) are usually “quenched” or not forming stars. Simulations have shown that supermassive black hole (SMBH) feedback shuts down star formation in these massive galaxies and is required to reproduce the observed galaxy population at low redshift. The details of how SMBH Feedback corresponds to galaxy morphology are still not fully understood. To elucidate the effects of SMBH Feedback on galaxy morphology\, we analyze a subset of 9 Milky Way-mass galaxies with live SMBH feedback from the Feedback In Realistic Environments (FIRE) simulations. Using circularity (epsilon = J_z/J_c(E)) as a proxy for morphology\, we investigate how the presence of SMBH feedback energetics\, like heating and outflows/winds\, disrupts star formation and the subsequent morphological evolution of galaxies over cosmic time. We find that SMBH feedback reduces star formation across three evolutionary phases corresponding to spheroidal\, thick disk\, and thin disk morphologies. The effect of SMBH during the disk formation phase results in more spheroidal-shaped galaxies under SMBH Feedback than without.
UID:144801-21895955@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144801
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260129T125956
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260206T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260206T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Ann Lee\, Professor\, Department of Statistics & Data Science\, Carnegie Mellon University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Scientific inference often involves inferring internal key parameters that determine the outcome of a complex physical phenomenon. The data themselves may come in the form of a labeled set that implicitly encodes the likelihood function\; for example\, in the form of (i) pairs of parameters and observable data according to a mechanistic (simulator) model\, or as (ii) observed data and parameters 'measured' with high precision via an auxiliary experiment. We refer to inference in both intractable likelihood settings as \"Likelihood-Free Inference'\" (LFI). The application of neural density estimators and generative models to scientific LFI settings is becoming increasingly widespread. However\, high-posterior density (HPD) regions derived from these density estimators do not necessarily have a high probability of including the true parameter of interest\, even if the posterior is well-estimated and the labeled data have the same distribution as the target distribution. Furthermore\, if the prior distribution is poorly specified\, then the HPD regions could severely undercover and/or be biased\, thereby leading to misleading scientific conclusions. In this talk\, I will present new LFI methodology and algorithms for leveraging neural density estimators to produce confidence regions that have (i) nominal frequentist coverage for any value of the (unknown) parameter\, even with just one observation (sample size n=1)\, and (ii) smaller average area (yielding higher constraining power) if the prior is well-specified. I will illustrate our methods on examples from astronomy and high-energy physics\, and discuss where we stand and what challenges still remain.
UID:143585-21893425@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/143585
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260130T095013
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260211T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260211T140000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Interdisciplinary QC-CM Seminar | Strong Terahertz electrodynamics in emergent 2D materials
DESCRIPTION:Terahertz (THz) sensing and imaging are critical in both quantum information technology and biomedical sensing because THz frequencies (0.1-10 THz) resonate with key low-energy information carriers (e.g.\, coherent phonons and magnons) in quantum materials and molecular vibrations in biological matter (e.g.\, skin tumor tissues and blood cells). In addition\, materials with THz response are essential building blocks for the next generation telecommunication technology. However\, the widespread use of THz technology has long been hindered by a lack of materials with strong THz light-matter interactions for high-performance devices.\n\nIn this talk\, I will present our recent advances in two-dimensional (2D) quantum materials to overcome these limitations by leveraging their unique topological properties and exploiting the resulting strong light-matter interactions. One remarkable example is the recently discovered nonlinear Hall effect (NHE) in 2D topological semimetals\, mediated by their diverging quantum geometrical properties [1-3]. In the first part of the talk\, I will report how we use this new notion to demonstrate the long-sought THz sensing metrics [4]. Specifically\, we have experimentally studied the unique interplay among the quantum geometrical properties\, gate-tunable electron correlation and THz electrodynamics in atomically thin topological semimetals TaIrTe 4 . Building upon the nonlinear Hall effect as a new mechanism for THz rectification\, we have observed a large zero-bias responsivity (~ 0.3 A/W)\, ultralow NEP (~pW/Hz 1/2 )\, broadband THz response (0.1 to 10 THz) and ultrafast intrinsic speed (~ ps) at room temperature. The device performance can be further enhanced by introducing gate-tunable electron correlations. Thanks to the new topological physics and strong electron correlation\, the demonstrated device metrics show tremendous advantages over the attainable THz detectors based on other 2D materials and conventional technology. Beyond light probing\, the rich interplay physics in this platform also allows using light to induce more exotic order. If time permits\, I may present our ongoing efforts along this way.\n\nDetecting terahertz waves is only one half of the equation\, in the second half of the talk\, I will introduce our report of colossal THz emission from a van der Waals (vdW) ferroelectric semiconductor NbOI 2 [5]. Using THz emission spectroscopy\, we observe a THz generation efficiency that is an order of magnitude higher than that of ZnTe. We uncover the underlying generation mechanisms tied to its substantial ferroelectric polarization by investigating the dependence of THz emission on excitation wavelength\, incident polarization and fluence. Leveraging the long-lived coherent ferron-mediated THz emission\, we further demonstrate the ultrafast coherent amplification and annihilation of the THz emission and associated coherent ferron oscillations by using an ultrafast double-pump scheme.\n\nReferences:\n\n[1] Q. Ma et al.\, Nature 565\, 337 (2019).\n[2] K. Kang et al.\, Nature Materials 18\, 324 (2019).\n[3] J. Xiao et al.\, Nature Physics 16\, 1028 (2020).\n[4] T. Xi et al.\, Nature Electronics 8\, 578 (2025).\n[5] S. Subedi et al.\, Advanced Optical Materials 13\, 2403471 (2025).\n\nShort Bio: \nDr. Xiao is an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from August 2021. Prior to joining Madison\, Dr. Jun Xiao worked as a postdoctoral scholar with Prof. Aaron Lindenberg and Prof. Tony Heinz at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. He earned his Ph.D. in applied science and technology from UC Berkeley (2018) under Prof. Xiang Zhang’s supervision. He received  his bachelor’s degree in physics from Nanjing University (2012). His research experience and interests focus on structure-property relationships and light-matter interactions in 2D quantum materials for robust quantum computing\, efficient energy conservation and high-performance THz optoelectronics. His findings are published in many high-impact journals including Nature\, Science\, Nature Physics\, Nature Nanotechnology\, Nature Electronics and Physical Review Letters. He is the recipient of the 2023 NSF CAREER Award.
UID:144832-21895993@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144832
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260211T094327
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260211T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260211T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CANCELLED - Department Colloquium |  Is there Another Earth?
DESCRIPTION:Most stars in our galaxy have one or more planets orbiting them.  Their diversity is astounding\, with observed bulk densities ranging over a factor of 100.  Yet there is only one planet that is confirmed to sustain life as we know it: our own.  Current searches for life on planets around other stars planned with next generation ground- and space-based telescopes seek identical twins of Earth.  How likely is it that we will find one and detect unambiguous signs of life around it?  Perhaps the only thing harder than proving a planet hosts life is proving that it doesn’t.  We are beginning to understand which aspects of the Solar System make Earth a suitable place for the biochemical origins of life\, as well as assessing how common such systems are.  With new instruments such as the CGI on NASA’s Roman Space Telescope (launching this year)\, as well as METIS on the European Southern Observatories 39-meter ELT (with first light planned for 2029)\, we can detect small planets in both reflected light as well as thermal emission around stars like the Sun.  This enables resolution of the radius-albedo ambiguity\, determination of its energy budget\, and the search for an active greenhouse effect\, with the possibility of identifying the responsible molecules in the spectra of its atmosphere.  Doing this for even a small sample of systems will yield fundamental insights into these diverse atmospheres\, confronting our theories of planet formation and evolution.  These could be necessary steps to understanding potential biosignatures in these atmospheres and ultimately help answer the question “Are we alone?”.
UID:145065-21896611@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145065
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260122T014447
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T120000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Quantum Research Institute | Towards Quantum Control and Sensing with 227ThO Molecules and Other Radioactive Molecules for Fundamental Symmetry Test
DESCRIPTION:In-Person: West Hall 411\nZoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/99497477868?jst=2\n\nAbstract:\nThe Standard Model of particle physics accurately describes all fundamental particles discovered so far. However\, it is unable to address two great mysteries in physics\, the nature of dark matter and why matter dominates over antimatter throughout the Universe. Novel theories beyond the Standard Model may explain these phenomena. These models predict very massive particles whose interactions violate time-reversal (T) symmetry and would give rise to an electric dipole moment (EDM) along the spin of electron and nucleon. Thus\, searching for EDM provides a powerful probe to these new physics and sheds light on the mystery of the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe. \nThis talk outlines the roadmap to establish a new generation EDM measurement at Michigan State that can outperform the current generation of precision measurements testing hadronic T-violations. We report our ongoing effort at Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) to perform quantum control and sensing of 227ThO molecules and other radioactive molecules. These pave the way for quantum-enhanced test of fundamental symmetry\, projecting to constrain T-violating new physics in 10~100 TeV energy range\, exceeding what the Large Hadron Collider and its future upgrade could probe.\n\nBio:\nBorn in Hefei\, China\, I embarked on an international academic journey that took me from Singapore where I spent my undergraduate to Munich\, Germany\, where I earned both my MS and PhD. While my academic focus stays in physics\, my true passion lies in the exploration of diverse fields\, driven by curiosity. During my doctoral studies at the Technical University of Munich and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics\, I pioneered a nonconventional technique leveraging centrifugal force to decelerate molecular beams to a complete standstill.\n\nMy academic journey led me to Harvard University\, where I delved into precision molecular spectroscopy\, contributing to the investigation of fundamental symmetries in nature. Notably\, I achieved a groundbreaking milestone by measuring the most precise bound on the electron electric dipole moment\, utilizing cold Thorium Monoxide molecules as a quantum sensor.\n\nCurrently based at FRIB and MSU\, I am at the forefront of building a groundbreaking precision spectroscopy experiment. This initiative aims to synergize the rare isotope resources at FRIB with cutting-edge quantum technology in atomic and laser physics. The goal is to push the boundaries of fundamental symmetry testing\, marking a significant contribution to the field and further advancing our understanding of the physical universe.
UID:142384-21890779@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/142384
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Astronomy,Chemistry,Electrical And Computer Engineering,Electrical Engineering And Computer Science,Materials Science,Physics,Quantum,Quantum Computing,Quantum Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260202T094257
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"Shooting for the Stars: Jet-Wind Interactions and their Role in Understanding Jet Physics\"\n\nRelativistic Jets carry vast amounts of energy and magnetic flux from accreting black holes into the interstellar and intergalactic medium. They are routinely invoked as key sources of feedback in structure formation. And yet\, after over 60 years of study\, the mechanisms through which they couple with their environment\, and even their fundamental properties like particle content\, velocity\, and instantaneous power are still poorly understood. I will discuss a mechanism by which we can shed light on some of the outstanding questions in jet physics: Their interaction with stellar winds\, on scales from Galactic X-ray binaries to supermassive black holes in galaxy clusters.
UID:144903-21896126@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144903
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260210T082234
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260213T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260213T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Luke Miratrix\, Professor of Education\, Faculty Director Doctor of Education Leadership Program\, Harvard University
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Matching promises simple and transparent causal inferences for observational data\, making it an attractive approach in many settings\, especially given its easily communicated and intuitive rationale. Matching methods “match” treated units to control units with similar covariates\, with the goal of achieving joint covariate balance between treated and control units\, as would be expected in a randomized experiment. In practice\, however\, standard matching methods often perform poorly compared to more recent approaches such as response-surface modeling and balancing. Finding close matches for treated units becomes particularly challenging when there are many covariates and overlap is low\, which can lead to imbalanced matched treatment groups\, biased effect estimates\, or low effective sample sizes. Building on a host of literature\, including synthetic control methods\, classic matching approaches\, and coarsened exact matching\, we propose Caliper Synthetic Matching (CSM) to address challenges with finding quality matches while preserving simple and transparent matching diagnostics. CSM\, a version of radial matching\, is an adaptive caliper matching method that utilizes locally built synthetic controls to adjust for inexact matches. By combining adaptive calipers and synthetic controls\, CSM produces data-driven bounds on potential extrapolation biases while exploiting local linearity to interpolate in a principled manner. Due to the local nature of CSM\, we can also detect which units are more difficult to match and assess degree of overlap.  We can even locally adapt caliper width to more tightly control bias in information dense regions. We show that CSM belongs to the monotonic imbalance bounding (MIB) class of matching methods\, and that it improves upon the bias bounds for popular MIB methods such as coarsened exact matching. We finally give theoretical results on an inferential strategy that allows for reuse of controls by different treated units (matching with replacement).
UID:144783-21895841@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144783
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260204T075230
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260218T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260218T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | The Final Fermilab muon g-2 result
DESCRIPTION:The muon magnetic moment anomaly arises due to quantum interactions of muons and the vacuum\, mostly due to quantum electrodynamics (QED)\, but with contributions from ALL Standard Model interactions as well as Beyond-Standard-Model physics. The Fermilab muon g-2 experiment employed a 50m circumference 1.45 T magnetic storage ring and measured the precession of muons with respect to the momentum of the cyclotron orbits for six years. The precision of the final Fermilab result\, 127 ppb\, combines statistically limited measurement of the muon precession and measurement of the magnetic field averaged over the muon storage volume employing novel magnetometry and analysis techniques developed at UM. The Standard Model calculation\, based on known physics\,  is confounded by the strong interaction and has incorporated new approaches based on Lattice Gauge Theory. Experiment and theory are currently consistent\, though the theory uncertainty has gotten worse while the experimental uncertainty has improved. In this talk I will tell the story of this precision measurement.
UID:145023-21896558@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145023
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260203T131553
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260219T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260219T162000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"Listening to a raindrop: 20 years of water spectroscopy of planet-forming disks\"\n\nIt is only 20 years that we have access to observe water in planet-forming regions around other stars\, the places where exoplanets -including potentially habitable rocky planets- are forming. Two decades is just a blink of an eye\, and samples are still limited to a few hundred disks in nearby star-forming regions. I will provide an overview of all the data and the discoveries that have been obtained so far\, describe the revolution that JWST is currently providing\, and look forward to what is coming next. In particular\, I will discuss the current prospects to trace and locate regions and processes that are proposed as fundamental in planet formation\, the “snowline” and water delivery by icy pebble migration through the disk. If there’s time\, I will end the talk with a little surprise.
UID:144981-21896235@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144981
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260213T092615
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Fred Feinberg\, Handleman Professor of Management\, Ross School of Business\, Professor of Statistics (by courtesy)\, Department of Statistics\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Expert adjudications are ubiquitous in high-stakes decision-making\, from grant reviews and academic hiring to elite evaluations in the arts and athletics. In these settings\, panels of judges score candidates across sequential stages\, and these scores are aggregated into a consensus ranking. Standard practice typically employs arithmetic averaging\, often supplemented with ad-hoc \"corrections\" for outliers or scale differences. However\, such approaches suffer from three core statistical problems: (1) Scale Heterogeneity\, where judges exhibit varying levels of discrimination and range-restriction\; (2) Information Loss\, where the longitudinal \"trajectory\" of a candidate is sidestepped in favor of stage-specific snapshots\; and (3) Nonignorable Missingness\, where conflict-of-interest (COI) recusals can introduce systematic bias.\n\nWe develop a hierarchical Bayesian framework that addresses these issues simultaneously. First\, we treat observed scores as generators of ordinal tie-blocks\, bypassing the \"cardinality fallacy\" and modeling the probability of observed ranks. Second\, we link sequential rounds via a fusion model with LKJ correlation priors\, allowing the model to borrow strength across the tournament while regularizing the latent covariance. Third\, we introduce a novel Informative Missing Data Likelihood (MDL) that treats COI recusals as a form of informative censoring. When judges abstain from rating their own students or collaborators\, standard approaches invoke a \"Missing Completely at Random\" (MCAR) assumption. Our MDL instead retains recused candidates in the \"risk set\" as censored alternatives\, correcting for the potential bias in win probabilities that occurs when high-caliber competitors are systematically excluded from a judge’s denominator. The model combines a Plackett–Luce formulation for tied data (implemented via Elementary Symmetric Polynomials) with judge-specific discrimination parameters that automatically downweight poorly-calibrated raters\, and the full posterior can be efficiently sampled via Hamiltonian Monte Carlo\, allowing full uncertainty quantification in downstream estimands.\n\nWe apply this framework to a high-stakes international competition — to be revealed during the talk! — featuring dozens of candidates\, multiple rounds\, and nearly 20 elite judges. Analysis suggests that the standard scoring method and the MDL-augmented model produce distinctly different results: they disagree on the winner and posterior advancement probabilities\, driven almost entirely by the differential treatment of collaborator-based recusals. Sensitivity analysis reveals that these outcomes are largely contingent on the assumed missing data mechanism. By making these untestable assumptions explicit\, we provide a more transparent and principled foundation for high-stakes adjudication in grant panels\, hiring committees\, and both athletic and artistic judging.
UID:144784-21895842@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144784
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260219T091800
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260220T130000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Life After Grad School Seminars  |  I’m no expert – embracing the dynamics of industrial research
DESCRIPTION:You are an expert. At this moment\, as a University of Michigan graduate student\, you may be in fact\, amongst the world’s experts in your field. It took hard work to get there – hours in the classroom\, more hours in the lab – physical or virtual. Here you are – at the top of your game. Then you get a job in industry\, and your first project – and it has very little to do with your expertise. It can be alarming and disarming. And it can be the start of an incredible ride and fulfilling career. In this edition of the Life After Graduate School seminar series\, Joel will review how adaptability and agility have brought him opportunities he never imagined\, and satisfaction he celebrates daily.\n\nBio: Joel McDonald is the Technical Director for Dow’s MobilityScience segment\, where he leads Dow’s efforts to deliver innovative solutions to automakers and their suppliers worldwide. He has held a variety of technical and strategy leadership positions at Dow over the 16 years of his career\, with a particular emphasis on battery materials\, electronics\, and coatings. Before Dow\, Joel was a Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Labs in New Mexico\, where he explored fundamental reaction kinetics in energetic materials. Joel completed his PhD in Applied Physics at the University of Michigan in 2007 under the advisement of Prof. Steven Yalisove\, where his dissertation focused on the interaction between ultrashort pulsed lasers and materials. A native of Michigan\, Joel enjoys traveling adventures with his wife and two children\, fishing the local rivers and streams with his dad and bud
UID:145390-21897228@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145390
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Alumni,Applied Physics,Life After Graduate School,Physics
LOCATION:West Hall - 267B
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260202T102637
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260223T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260223T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Dark Energy Dynamics\, Spatial Curvature\, Neither\, or Both?
DESCRIPTION:Observations over the last two and half decades have persuaded cosmologists that (as yet only indirectly detected) dark energy is by far the main component of the energy budget of the current universe. I review a few simple dark energy models\, including the currently-standard ΛCDM cosmological model\, and compare their predictions to observational data\, to derive cosmological parameter constraints and to study consistency of different data sets. I summarize observational constraints on dark energy dynamics and spatial curvature\, two parameters that extend away from the time-independent cosmological constant dark energy and flat spatial hypersurfaces of the standard ΛCDM model. I also summarize observational constraints on the Hubble constant. I conclude with a list of my favorite open cosmological questions.
UID:144906-21896131@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144906
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260219T054806
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260224T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260224T170000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:CM-AMO Seminar | Classical mechanics as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics
DESCRIPTION:In our recent publication (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1402-4896/ae3a20)\, we show that classical mechanics can be recovered as the high-entropy limit of quantum mechanics. That is\, the high entropy masks quantum effects\, and mixed states of high enough entropy can be approximated with classical distributions. The mathematical limit hbar to 0 can be recovered by decreasing entropy of pure states to minus infinity\, in the same way that non-relativistic mechanics can be recovered mathematically by increasing the speed of light c to plus infinity. Physically\, these limits are more appropriately understood as a high entropy limit and low speed limit respectively\, representing approximations that are independent of underlying mechanism. With this approach\, the classical limit is both formally and conceptually similar to the non-relativistic limit\, and is independent of interpretation. It also gives an intuitive understanding to the Dirac correspondence principle: it is looking for a theory with lower entropy bound that\, at high entropy\, recovers classical mechanics. Given that the Moyal bracket is the unique one-parameter Lie-algebraic deformation of the Poisson bracket\, quantum mechanics is the only theory that can provide such a lower bound on the entropy.
UID:145653-21897638@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145653
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260202T062717
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260225T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260225T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium | X-ray vision in the age of free-electron lasers: Making the invisible visible
DESCRIPTION:For well over a century x rays have been a powerful tool for probing atomic-scale structure due to their short wavelength and relatively weak interaction with matter.  As sources have become ever more brilliant\, scientists have been able to probe the microscopic world with more and more exquisite detail. In the past couple of decades free-electron lasers have provided the most intense laboratory source of x rays with femtosecond pulse durations---short enough to capture the fastest vibrations in solids\, and the making and breaking of chemical bonds.  In this colloquium\, I'll present a few examples of how we utilize these remarkable light sources to gain new insight into material properties.  I’ll present a novel method for studying non-equilibrium lattice dynamics in the time domain[1] which we’ve used to identify a novel lattice instability in photoexcited SnSe[2]\, as well as identify the changes in interatomic forces that drive it [3].  The high brightness further allows us to isolate valence electron density within the atomic bonds[4].  I’ll show how we’ve been able to view the local nonlinear response to sub-bandgap excitation in the prototypical semiconductor silicon[5].  These results advance our goals of developing a mechanistic understanding\, and novel methods of controlling\, the remarkable properties of materials on their fundamental length and time scales.\n\n[1] M. Trigo\, et al.\, Fourier-transform inelastic x-ray scattering from time- and momentum-dependent phonon-phonon correlations. Nat. Physics\, 9(12):790–794\, 2013.\n[2] Y. Huang\, et al.\, Observation of a novel lattice instability in ultrafast photoexcited SnSe. Phys. Rev. X\, 12(1):011029\, 2022.\n[3] Y. Huang\, et al.\, Nonthermal bonding origin of a novel photoexcited lattice instability in SnSe. Phys. Rev. Lett. 131:156902\, 2023\n[4] T. E. Glover\, et al.\, X-ray and optical wave mixing. Nature\, 488(7413):603–608\, 08 2012.\n[5] C. Ornelas-Skarin\, et. al.\, Second-order microscopic nonlinear optical susceptibility in a centrosymmetric material: Application to imaging valence electron motion. Phys. Rev. X\, 16:011006\, 2026.
UID:144106-21894670@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144106
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260218T082906
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260225T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260225T180000
SUMMARY:Social / Informal Gathering:Maze in Blue
DESCRIPTION:Join us on Wednesday\, February 25\, 2026 from 5-6 PM in 302 West Hall!
UID:145654-21897639@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145654
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 302
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260220T124737
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260227T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260227T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | The String Landscape\, precisely
DESCRIPTION:Compactifications of higher dimensional string theories offer perhaps the most promising ``top-down’’ path toward realistic models of our universe. In the way stands the notorious difficulty of computing the 4d effective action beyond tree level\, and a lack of concrete embeddings of Standard Model-like physics with a sufficiently long lived vacuum. In this talk\, after reviewing the current status of such compactifications (the “string landscape”)\, I will present recent and ongoing works aimed at these problems. Concretely\, I will discuss work on string dualities that can be used as a tool to evaluate certain quantum corrections in flux compactifications\, as well as upcoming work featuring new ensembles of top-down Standard Model constructions using type IIB string theory. Finally\, I’ll report on progress in evaluating the classical superpotential in type IIB compactifications on Calabi-Yau orientifolds.\n\nBased on works with Federico Compagnin\, Jim Halverson\, Björn Hassfeld\, and Elijah Sheridan
UID:145154-21896740@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145154
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science,Seminar,Talk
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260226T145456
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260304T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260304T170000
SUMMARY:Conference / Symposium:LITP Workshop on Quantum Black Holes
DESCRIPTION:Talks will take place in 340 West Hall on March 4 - 7\, 2026
UID:145516-21897454@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145516
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Physics Workshop,Science,Workshop
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260226T145456
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260305T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260305T170000
SUMMARY:Conference / Symposium:LITP Workshop on Quantum Black Holes
DESCRIPTION:Talks will take place in 340 West Hall on March 4 - 7\, 2026
UID:145516-21897455@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145516
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Physics Workshop,Science,Workshop
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260226T145456
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260306T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260306T181500
SUMMARY:Conference / Symposium:LITP Workshop on Quantum Black Holes
DESCRIPTION:Talks will take place in 340 West Hall on March 4 - 7\, 2026
UID:145516-21897456@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145516
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Physics Workshop,Science,Workshop
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260226T145456
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260307T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260307T170000
SUMMARY:Conference / Symposium:LITP Workshop on Quantum Black Holes
DESCRIPTION:Talks will take place in 340 West Hall on March 4 - 7\, 2026
UID:145516-21897457@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145516
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Physics Workshop,Science,Workshop
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260225T091422
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260309T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260309T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | A frequentist view on cosmological neutrinos and dark-energy constraints
DESCRIPTION:The DESI galaxy survey has recently placed the tightest constraint on the sum of neutrino masses to date. For such effects “below the detection limit”\, where data can only infer upper bounds\, Bayesian and frequentist methods can give important complimentary information. I will begin with an overview of the frequentist profile-likelihood method\, its advantages and limitations. Using a frequentist and Bayesian toolbox\, I will discuss neutrino mass constraints from Planck and DESI data. In particular\, I will focus on the impact of different assumptions about the neutrino mass hierarchy on the inferred mass bounds. Further\, I will compare Bayesian and frequentist constraints on evolving dark energy from recent cosmological data.
UID:145458-21897372@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145458
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260226T095838
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260311T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260311T140000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Interdisciplinary QC-CM Seminar | Synchrotron-based near field imaging of polar domain walls in Ni_3 TeO_6
DESCRIPTION:Domain walls are leading platforms for the development of ultra-low power switching and memory devices due to their ability to move\, be created and erased in real time\, and mitigate heat flux. Interface vs. wavelength size effects unfortunately preclude the measurement of phonons by traditional spectroscopic techniques\, making it difficult to unravel the primary excitations of the lattice and the symmetries that they represent across these functional interfaces. In this work\, we employed synchrotron-based near-field infrared nanospectroscopy to image 180◦ polar domain walls in multiferroic Ni_3 TeO_6. This is a unique platform because\, in addition to hosting polar and chiral domains that are interlocked with one another\, Ni_3 TeO_6 displays both charged and neutral interfaces depending upon the direction allowing the development of structure-property relations. Comparison of the contour\, fixed distance\, and fixed frequency plots reveals that charged walls are twice as wide as (and less stable than) the neutral interfaces due to additional strain created by the on-end chiral helices. Chirality is responsible for much of the interface stiffness and the hardening of certain phonons at the walls. The largest frequency shift\, for instance\, takes place in a mode consisting of a NiO_6 octahedral contraction and rotation along c\, modifying the force constant by approximately 1%. Frequency shifts at walls of both types indicate that polarization switches via an Ising-type mechanism due to structural constraints associated with interlocked chirality. Our estimates also reveal that phonon lifetimes are on the order of 1 ps or less\, with marked changes at the charged and neutral walls. The ability to quantify the consequences of charge accumulation at a functional interface in terms of phonon lifetimes opens new avenues for heat management in domain wall-based devices.\n\nReference: A. M. Sargent\, K. A. Smith\, X. Xu\, K. Du\, S.-W. Cheong\, L. Wehmeier\, G. L. Carr\, and J. L. Musfeldt\, Near-field infrared imaging of polar domain walls in Ni_3 TeO_6\, J. Applied Physics 138\, 055302 (2025).
UID:145460-21897375@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145460
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260219T150451
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260313T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260313T110000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Statistics Department Seminar Series: Maggie Makar\, Assistant Professor\, Computer Science and Engineering\, University of Michigan
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Machine learning models are often deployed in settings where typical assumptions fail: agents strategically manipulate inputs\, distributions shift\, and sequential decisions are prohibitively high-dimensional. I argue that causal structure provides a principled way to address these challenges. By viewing causal assumptions as structural constraints that restrict the space of plausible data-generating processes\, we can leverage them to obtain more robust and efficient estimators.\nFirst\, I will show how causal reasoning can be used to detect strategic misreporting and gaming in predictive models. The key insight is that\, unlike genuine behavioral adaptation\, misreporting does not causally influence downstream variables. By leveraging this asymmetry\, we obtain identification strategies that distinguish manipulation from legitimate change.\nSecond\, I will demonstrate how exploiting causal structure in reinforcement learning can reduce effective dimensionality and improve statistical efficiency. Structural assumptions induce conditional independencies that constrain the data-generating process\, enabling more stable estimation and sharper sample complexity guarantees.\nFinally\, I will introduce minimally orthogonal causal inference. While classical orthogonalization removes first-order sensitivity to nuisance estimation\, we show that weaker\, targeted orthogonality conditions are often sufficient for valid inference. This perspective leads to simpler estimators and improved finite-sample behavior without sacrificing asymptotic guarantees.
UID:145746-21897773@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145746
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:seminar
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260308T060207
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260313T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260313T190000
SUMMARY:Other:Paint & Sip - General Body Meeting Event
DESCRIPTION:Come join the Willie Hobbs Moore Chapter of the National Society of Black Physicists a general body meeting PAINT & SIP. We will chat about our chapter and elections
UID:146214-21898664@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/146214
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:
LOCATION:West Hall
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260304T114528
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260317T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260317T120000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Learning Theory in the AI for Science Era: From Classical Foundations to Operator Learning
DESCRIPTION:Operator learning has emerged as a powerful paradigm in scientific computing\, with applications including surrogate modeling of partial differential equations and data-driven simulation of complex experimental systems\, even in the absence of explicit governing equations. In this talk\, I will discuss operator learning through the lens of statistical learning theory and identify several new learning-theoretic phenomena that arise in this setting. I will then focus on the role of data collection protocols and show that transitioning from passive (i.i.d sampling) to active data collection can fundamentally change which operator classes are learnable. Moreover\, even for operator classes learnable under both protocols\, active data collection can significantly improve sample efficiency\, sometimes yielding exponential gains over passive approaches. I will conclude by highlighting open problems and exciting future directions in active data collection and\, more broadly\, in operator learning.
UID:146169-21898615@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/146169
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Dissertation
LOCATION:West Hall - 438
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260209T105309
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T160000
SUMMARY:Reception / Open House:Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Open House
DESCRIPTION:Curious about Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering? Come hang with us at the NA&ME Open House!\n\n🗓 March 19th | 1–4 PM\n📍 Marine Hydrodynamics Lab\, West Hall (1085 S. University Ave\, Ann Arbor)\n\nCheck out our labs\, take a ride on the tow tank carriage\, chat with students and professors\, learn what makes our major unique\, and of course grab some snacks and swag. \nDon’t miss it!
UID:145237-21896910@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145237
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Engineering,Michigan Engineering,Naval Architecture And Marine Engineering,Undergraduate Students
LOCATION:West Hall - 126
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260303T154317
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T162000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:The Department of Astronomy 2025-2026 Colloquium Series Presents:
DESCRIPTION:\"CECILIA: A Benchmark Sample for Studying Galaxy Enrichment at Cosmic Noon\"\n\nA significant fraction of all stars in the Universe today formed during a 2-3 Gyr period around z~1-3\, when both cosmic star-formation rate density and quasar number density reached their peak values. As a result\, this epoch---commonly known as \"Cosmic Noon\"---represents a key phase in galaxy evolution and has been studied extensively over the last decade. In recent years\, our ability to characterize galaxies at these redshifts has improved dramatically thanks to the capabilities of JWST\, which has made it possible to detect extremely faint emission lines sensitive to a variety of physical properties\, including gas temperature and hard ionizing radiation. I will review recent results from CECILIA\, a Cycle 1 JWST program that obtained ultra-deep (30-hour) spectra of typical star-forming galaxies at Cosmic Noon\, extending down to relatively low-mass (10^7.5 solar masses) Milky Way progenitor analogues that have <5% solar O/H in their interstellar medium. These findings include one of the most detailed analyses to date of multi-element chemistry in the distant Universe\, as well as intriguing evidence for differences in these galaxies' massive star populations and the impact of stellar feedback. I will also discuss how deep spectroscopic samples like CECILIA are leading to new best practices for measuring the metallicity of nascent galaxies and highlight future prospects for combining these unique data with other ground- and space-based campaigns.
UID:146153-21898596@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/146153
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:astronomy,astrophysics
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260212T164810
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260319T193000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:What I Wish I Had Known Before Law School
DESCRIPTION:Planning to attend law school in the fall? Thinking about applying to law school in the future? Join our panel discussion featuring lawyers & law students sharing their experiences as applicants\, students\, and professionals working in the legal field\, and the advice they wish they’d had before law school.\n\nFood will be served and attendees will be entered for a chance to WIN one of 3 FREE 7Sage LSAT prep packages.
UID:145354-21897163@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145354
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Advising,Law,Law School,Lsa,Lsa Honors,Lsa Newnan Academic Advising Center,Panel,Pre-law,Sessions
LOCATION:West Hall - 411 West Hall
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260304T131358
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260320T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260320T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar | Revisiting Matrix String Theory
DESCRIPTION:I will revisit matrix string theory as a possibly non-perturbative formulation of the superstring S-matrix\, and discuss its implications and tests.
UID:145155-21896741@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145155
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science,Seminar,Talk
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260213T130040
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260323T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260323T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar
DESCRIPTION:TBA
UID:145459-21897374@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145459
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260210T163732
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260327T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260327T163000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:Sociocultural Anthropology Colloquium | “Seeking Shade in Sunny Mozambique: Comfort\, Care\, and Colorism”
DESCRIPTION:“In Mozambique\, shade is a precious resource secured through a mix of foresight and improvisation. Shade is also a special topic of conversation. Attending to the material culture of shade and to embodied ways of engaging built and natural environments\, I explore how thermal desires and expectations shape social relations in the Mozambican city of Inhambane\, while locating shade-seeking practices within hierarchies of care and labor\, or what I call the cultural politics of sweat. Thinking with scholars of thermal colonialism\, I show how narratives around thermal dis/comfort also reveal\, and sometimes obscure\, entrenched forms of colorism rooted in colonial imaginaries of the tropics and settler intimacies that continue to produce privilege and exclusion in Mozambique today. Shade-seeking\, then\, is not simply about keeping cool\, though it certainly is about that too.”\n\nDr. Archambault is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Concordia University and co-editor of AFRICA: Journal of the International Institute. Her work is based on ethnographic research in southern Mozambique and focuses on themes of intimacy\, suburbanization\, affect\, and embodiment. Cutting across much of her research is an interest in how materiality and temporality intersect in the crafting of lives worth living. She is the author of “Mobile Secrets: Youth\, Intimacy and the Politics of Pretense in Mozambique” (2017)\, and her recent work has been published in American Ethnologist\, Journal of Southern African Studies\, Critique of Anthropology\, and City & Society. She is currently working on a book project on well-being and the cultural politics of sweat in Mozambique.
UID:144853-21896023@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/144853
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:AEM Featured,Africa,African Studies,Anthropology,Sociology
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260306T121955
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260401T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260401T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Department Colloquium |  The Bootstrap Program for the Strong Force
DESCRIPTION:In the 1960s\,  the dominant approach to the strong interaction was the S-matrix bootstrap: the idea that the hadronic spectrum and scattering amplitudes could be determined from the general principles of causality and unitarity. This program culminated in the Veneziano amplitude which gave birth to string theory\, but was abandoned as an approach to the strong force after the identification of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) as the microscopic theory of hadron physics. Yet QCD at low energies remains largely unsolved. I will describe how modern bootstrap methods\, powered new theoretical insights and computational techniques\, allow us to revisit this classic program with unprecedented rigor.  Consistency of pion scattering — with minimal assumptions about the lightest resonances — leads to the emergence of Regge trajectories from the bootstrap bounds. The bootstrap approach becomes particularly sharp in the limit of a large number of colors. The low-lying spectrum of the extremal solutions shows a tantalizing\, and still somewhat mysterious\, quantitative proximity to the real-world meson masses. I will discuss what we are learning from these results and outline open questions on the path toward a bootstrap solution of large N QCD.
UID:146256-21898732@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/146256
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260224T084355
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260406T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260406T160000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:HEP-Astro Seminar | Shining a light on the Dark Sector: Probing Dark QCD Signatures with the ATLAS Experiment
DESCRIPTION:The particle nature of dark matter remains one of the most significant open questions in high energy physics. The lack of a definitive signal in traditional searches for WIMP-like dark matter has motivated an increased focus on so-called dark sector scenarios\, in which the Standard Model (SM) is extended with new particles that are neutral under the SM gauge group but charged under new \"dark forces\"\, interacting with the SM only through an additional mediator particle. A particularly compelling class of these models is dark QCD\, where the dark sector contains its own confining gauge group\, analogous to SM QCD\, giving rise to a spectrum of composite dark states. These models can produce striking collider signatures\, including displaced vertices\, jets containing invisible constituents\, and emerging jets\, whose charged particle content gradually emerges as the dark states decay back to the SM. These signatures pose significant challenges for standard reconstruction techniques\, requiring the development of novel identification strategies. In this talk\, I will present recent ATLAS efforts to probe dark QCD signatures\, including searches for exotic decays of the Higgs boson to long-lived particles\, the first ATLAS search for emerging jets\, and the reconstruction techniques that enable the identification of these topologies. Together\, these results illustrate how ATLAS is expanding its reach into dark sector parameter space and opening new avenues in the search for dark matter.
UID:145859-21897962@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145859
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Physics,Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260224T150916
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260409T120000
SUMMARY:Workshop / Seminar:Quantum Research Institute | Quantum Spin-Mechanics with Color Centers in Diamond: A Potential Platform for Quantum Computing
DESCRIPTION:In-Person: West Hall 411\nZoom: https://umich.zoom.us/j/91761768567?jst=2\n\nAbstract:\nIn a spin-mechanical system\, electron spins are coupled to vibrations of a nanomechanical resonator.  Coherent interactions between single spins and single phonons take place in the quantum regime of spin-mechanics.  A network of these resonators can enable phonon-mediated coupling between distant electron spin\, leading to a mechanical quantum network of spin qubits and providing an experimental platform for developing spin-based quantum computers.  \nIn this talk\, I will discuss our recent advance in achieving ultracoherent GHz diamond nanomechanical resonators and in developing mechanical quantum networks of spin qubits in diamond.  Localization and localization phase transitions induced by deterministic onsite potentials in a mechanical network are also exploited for the realization of extended network connectivity\, which is deemed essential for large-scale fault tolerant quantum computers. \n\nBio:\nHailin Wang received B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in physics from the University of Science and Technology of China and the University of Michigan in 1982 and 1990\, respectively. He was a research investigator at the University of Michigan and subsequently a staff consultant at AT&T Bell Laboratories. He joined the University of Oregon in 1995 where he is now a professor of physics. Dr. Wang has made important contributions to the current understanding of coherent as well as incoherent optical processes in semiconductor nanostructures. He also made the first experimental demonstration of amplitude squeezed light from an injection-locked diode laser and developed a fused silica optical resonator that feature highly directional evanescent tunneling. His work on exciton spin coherence and biexciton coherence has recently led to the first demonstration of electromagnetically induced transparency for interband optical transitions in semiconductors. His current research interest includes optical manipulation of quantum coherences in semiconductors and especially its application in both classical and quantum information processing. Dr. Wang is a recipient of an NSF-CAREER award and is a fellow of the Optical Society of America.
UID:142261-21890281@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/142261
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:Astronomy,Chemistry,Computer Science And Engineering,Electrical And Computer Engineering,Electrical Engineering And Computer Science,Physics,Quantum,Quantum Computing,Quantum Science
LOCATION:West Hall - 411
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260216T151348
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260410T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260410T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar |
DESCRIPTION:tbd
UID:145576-21897544@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145576
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science,Seminar,Talk
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260206T031105
DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260417T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260417T160000
SUMMARY:Lecture / Discussion:HET Seminar |
DESCRIPTION:tbd
UID:145156-21896742@events.umich.edu
URL:https://events.umich.edu/event/145156
CLASS:PUBLIC
STATUS:CONFIRMED
CATEGORIES:High Energy Theory Seminar,Physics,Science,Seminar,Talk
LOCATION:West Hall - 340
CONTACT:
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR