Brandon Bauer ’24 (physics, math, and computer & data science) presented a poster, “Numerical Study of Single-Inclusive Longitudinal-Transverse Double-Spin Asymmetries in Electron-Nucleon and Proton-Proton Collisions,” at the APS Division of Nuclear Physics Meeting in New Orleans, LA.  The research was performed over the summer with Dr. Daniel Pitonyak, assistant professor of physics, and Cody Shay ’24 (physics) . The work was supported by Dr. Pitonyak’s National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.

“Finite-Function-Encoding Quantum States,” the results of work done by LVC Mathematical Physics Research Group members Alex Heilman ’19 (physics), Ezekiel Wertz ’18 (physics), and Dr. David Lyons, professor of mathematical sciences, was published in the prestigious peer-reviewed science journal Quantum. This article is joint work with a research group at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.

Dr. Stephanie Blanda, assistant professor of mathematical sciences, was invited to give a “Role Model” talk at the 34th Annual Glenna Hazeltine Women in Mathematics, Science, and Technology Conference on April 5. She spoke with a group of local middle and high school girls regarding her experiences in math and computer science. Dr. Blanda’s talk was titled “From Applied Mathematics to App Development—The Many Hats of a Professor.”

Student researchers Ashley Swogger ’23 (mathematics) and Jesse Arnold ‘23 (mathematics) have become published co-authors with Dr. David Lyons, professor of mathematical sciences, in an article detailing the results of their summer 2021 research project. Their article, “Local unitary classes of states invariant under permutation subgroups,” published in the top-tier research journal Physical Review A [Phys. Rev. A, 105:032442, 2022], is about the theory and applications of entangled quantum states. With this achievement, The LVC Mathematical Physics Research Group celebrates 20 years of collaborative student-faculty research with this achievement.

Dr. David Lyons, professor of mathematical sciences, published an undergraduate textbook, “Introduction to Groups and Geometries.” According to the MathVista project website, “This free, online test is designed for a one-semester undergraduate mathematics course that combines an introduction to group theory with an introduction to modern geometries using the Kleinian paradigm.”

Joshua Miller ’21, a physics and math double major, was selected for the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship Program. This highly competitive program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy national labs, enables undergraduates to conduct research with some of the most talented scientists in the world. Miller will work on nuclear physics research this summer at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Virginia.

Dr. David Lyons, professor of mathematical sciences, gave two invited lectures for the Perry Lecture Series at Eastern Illinois University. The lectures, “Spooky Action: Scientific and Philosophical Challenges in the Era of Quantum Technology” and “Mathematical Symmetries in Quantum Information Science,” were given Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, respectively. The latter presentation was part of the university’s colloquium for math and science students and faculty.

Dr. Stephanie Blanda, assistant professor of mathematical sciences, Dr. Ashley McFalls, assistant professor of neuroscience, Dr. Liz Sterner, assistant professor of chemistry, and Dr. Jenna Marx, assistant professor of psychology, attended an event at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion to honor Women in STEM Oct. 17. The event was sponsored by the STEM-UP Network, whose goal is to “deliver strategies, relationships, and a strong community to women so they can flourish, prosper, and advance personally and in their STEM careers.”

Dr. Sean Droms, assistant professor of mathematics, gave a talk at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in San Diego, Calif., last week. Dr. Droms’ presentation, Reading Mathematics is a Learnable Skill, highlighted how the LVC Mathematical Sciences Department focuses on teaching transferable skills, particularly technical reading and communication.

Timothy Dewald, assistant professor of mathematical sciences, was a popular media ask heading toward the August partial solar eclipse in Lebanon. Professor Dewald, who has taught astronomy at LVC, was interviewed by WGAL NBC and the Lebanon Daily News on how to properly—and safely—view the eclipse.