Colloquium Series

Colloquium Series

The Colloquium Series is a set of academic talks and presentations organized by various schools, such as the School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences. These events feature speakers from both within and outside the university, covering a wide range of topics in their respective fields.

Fall 2026 speakers

Speaker: Shalmali Bandyopadhyay (UT Martin)
Title: TBA
Date: 9/03/2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Speaker: Henri Schurz (Southern Illinois University)
Title: 40 Years of Academic Life: Stochastic Dynamical Systems, SDEs, and SPDEs
Date: 9/17/2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Speaker: Jeremy Alm (Southern Illinois University)
Title: TBA
Date: 10/01/2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Speaker: Ivan Ricardo (Maastricht University, Netherlands)
Title: TBA
Date: 10/15/2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Speaker: Dubravka Ban (Southern Illinois University)
Title: TBA
Date: 11/05/2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Speaker: TBA
Title: TBA
Date: 11/19/2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Spring 2026 speakers

Speaker: Tevian Dray
Title: The Octonionic Eigenvalue Problem
Date: 4/16/2026
Time: 3:30-4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Speaker: Likai Chen
Title: Adaptive MOSUM: Testing for Multiscale Change-Points in High_Dimensional Time Series.
Date: 2/26/2026
Time: 3:30 -4:30 pm
Place: Neckers A 156

Speaker: Julianne Rainbolt
Title: “Supercharacter Theories Constructed Using the Degrees of Irreducible Characters and Using the Sizes of Conjugacy Classes.
Date: 1/29/2026
Time: 3:30 - 4:40 pm
Place: Neckers 156

Fall 2025 speakers

Speaker: Soo Jeong Lee
Assistant Professor of Economics in the School of Analytics, Finance, and Econoomics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Title: “Simple Approaches to Inference with Difference-in-Differences Estimators with Small Cross-Sectional
Sample Sizes,”(joint work with Jeffrey M. Wooldridge)
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: Kenneth Price
Professor University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Title: Two Truths and Lie Color Algebra
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: David (Yang) Yang
Assistant Professor of Finance in the School of Analytics, Finance, and Economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Title: Analyst Emotions and M&A Outcomes: Evidence from Conference Calls
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Place: Neckers 156

Spring 2025 speakers

Speaker: Professor Marcelo C. Medeiros
Department of Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champain
Title: Balancing Flexibility and Interpretability: A Conditioner Linear Model Estimation via Random Forest
Date: 5/01/2025
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: R. Dennis Cook
University of Minnesota
Title: Partial least squares regression: HIghlights from what we learned in the past decade.
Date: 4/03/2025
Time: 3:00 pm
Place: Zoom link

https://zoom.us/j/93142924001?pwd=HM5mvjV2MJsUyjMhkw8v45abYflVNZ.1

Abstract:

Partial least squares (PLS) regression, which has been available for about 45 years, is a dimension reduction method that was designed to reduce the number of predictors p without requiring that the sample size n be large. It was developed mostly in Chemometrics, where it is now ingrained as a core method. There are perhaps hundreds of papers on PLS in the Chemometrics literature and new papers appear regularly.

And yet I think it fair to conclude that PLS regression has not been embraced by statistics communities as a core method, or even as a serviceable alternative that might sometimes be useful. Nor does there seem to be a common understanding as to why PLS regression should not be used. This seems a bit odd in view of the prevalence of PLS regression across the applied sciences.

Perhaps this is as it should be — perhaps not.

Along with Liliana Forzani and others, I have been studying PLS regression for the past decade. I will discuss highlights of our findings, including aspect of its history, interpretation, methodology, a few asymptotic results and perhaps some surprises. For instance, in some regressions, PLS estimators converge at the root-n rate without regard to the asymptotic relationship between n and p. One of my overarching conclusion is that PLS regression should be judged as a core statistical method and included in core curricula.

events/dennis-cook-4.03.20251.pdf#poster

Speaker: David Goldberg
Professor, Purdue University and Director of Math Alliance
Title: Some aspects of the Langlands program, and efforts to broaden participation in the quantitative sciences
Date: 3/27/2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: Jeremy Alm
Associate Dean, Lamar University
Title: Combinatorial Problems in Relation Algebra +
Leadership in a School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
Date: 3/25/2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: Christian Wolf
Professor, The City College of New York
Title: Vision, Leadership Style and Research
Date: 3/20/2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: Toka Diagana
Chair and Professor, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Title: Leadership Experience and Takeaways:
How They Can Benefit the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at SIU Carbondale.
Date: 3/18/2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: Dimitri Kagaris, Professor, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.
Title: Linear Finite State Machines with Applications.
Date: 2/13/2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Place: Neckers 156

Speaker: Wesley Calvert, Professor SIUC
Title: What is the "typical" behavior of an algebraic field?
Date: 1/23/2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Place: Neckers 156

Fall 2024 Speakers

Speaker: Dr. Joseph Hundley
Title: Introduction to Functorial Descent
Date: 10-17-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: In the theory of automorphic representations, one of the main problems is to construct so-called liftings from representations of smaller matrix groups to those of larger matrix groups. Along with it comes a naturally complementary problem - that of recognizing when a representation of a larger group is a lift, and recovering the representation it was lifted from. Functorial descent is a method, developed by Ginzburg, Rallis and Soudry in the classical groups, of approaching this problem. I will introduce the main ideas with examples from classical groups, and comment on some challenges and new phenomena which emerge in some recent attempts to push the theory into the exceptional groups.

Speaker: Brendan Martin, Imperial College London
Title: NIRVAR: Network Informed Restricted Vector Autoregression
Date: 10-10-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: High-dimensional panels of time series arise in many scientific disciplines such as neuroscience, finance, and macroeconomics. Often, co-movements within groups of the panel components occur. Extracting these groupings from the data provides a course-grained description of the complex system in question and can inform subsequent prediction tasks. We develop a novel methodology to model such a panel as a restricted vector autoregressive process, where the coefficient matrix is the weighted adjacency matrix of a stochastic block model. This network time series model, which we call the Network Informed Restricted Vector Autoregression (NIRVAR) model, yields a coefficient matrix that has a sparse block-diagonal structure. We propose an estimation procedure that embeds each panel component in a low-dimensional latent space and clusters the embedded points to recover the blocks of the coefficient matrix. Crucially, the method allows for network-based time series modelling when the underlying network is unobserved. We derive the bias, consistency and asymptotic normality of the NIRVAR estimator. Simulation studies suggest that the NIRVAR estimated embedded points are Gaussian distributed around the ground truth latent positions. On three applications to finance, macroeconomics, and transportation systems, NIRVAR outperforms competing models in terms of prediction and provides interpretable results regarding group recovery.

Spring 2024 Speakers

Speaker: James T. Gill, Saint Louis University
Title: Distributional Limits, Doubling Metric Spaces, and Lemma
Date: 4-18-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156>br />Abstract: In 2001 Benjamini and Schramm proved that the distributional limit of a random graph with bounded degree is almost surely recurrent with respect to the random walk. To prove this fact they devised an interesting lemma about finite point sets in the plane. Since then this same lemma has been used several times in different contexts. In particular, in joint work with S. Rohde, we used it to show that the uniform infinite planar triangulation is almost surely a parabolic Riemann surface. In further investigation by the speaker it has been found that the conclusion of this lemma holds in any doubling metric space. In fact, the metric doubling condition is equivalent to the property described in the lemma.

Graduate Students "Double-Header" Colloquium
Speaker: Taniya Chandrasena, SIUC
Title: Stochastic SEIR(S) Model with Random Total Population
Date: 4-11-24
Time: 3:00-3:25 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: The stochastic SEIR(S) model with random total population and random transitions is given by the system of stochastic differential equations:
dS=(-βSI+μ(K-S)+αI+ζR)dt-σ_1 SIF_1 (S,E,I,R)dW_1+σ_4 RF_4 (S,E,I,R)dW_4+σ_5 S(K-N)dW_5
dE=(βSI-(μ+η)E)dt+σ_1 SIF_1 (S,E,I,R)dW_1-σ_2 EF_2 (S,E,I,R)dW_2+σ_5 E(K-N)dW_5
dI=(ηE-(α+γ+μ)I)dt+σ_2 EF_2 (S,E,I,R)dW_2-σ_3 IF_3 (S,E,I,R)dW_3+σ_5 I(K-N)dW_5
dR=(γI-(μ+ζ)R)dt+σ_3 IF_3 (S,E,I,R)dW_3-σ_4 RF_4 (S,E,I,R)dW_4+σ_5 R(K-N)dW_5,
where σ_i>0 and constants α, β, η, γ, ζ, μ≥0. K>0 represents the maximum carrying capacity of total population N. The SDE for the total population N=S+E+I+R has the form
dN(t)=μ(K-N)dt+σ_5 N(K-N)dW_5
on D_0=(0,K). The goal of our study is to prove the existence of unique, Markovian, continuous time solutions on the 5D prism
D={ (S,E,I,R,N)∈R_+^5: 0≤S, E,I,R≤K, N=S+E+I+R≤K }.

Then, using the method of Lyapunov functions, we prove the asymptotic stochastic and moment stability of disease-free and endemic equilibria. Finally, we use numerical simulations to illustrate our results. This is based on the joint work with Prof. Henri Schurz, which was submitted for publication.

Speaker: Mohammed Mousa A M Alshamrani, SIUC
Title: Simple Smale Flows with a Three-Band Template
Date: 4-11-24
Time: 3:30-3:55 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: A Smale flow is a structurally stable flow with one-dimensional invariant sets. We study Smale flow with chain recurrent sets consisting of an attracting closed orbit, a repelling closed orbit, and a saddle set that is a suspension of a full 3-shift. We use tools from template theory to construct and visualize nonsingular Smale flows in the 3-sphere.

Speaker: Dipanjan Mazumdar, School of Physics and Applied Physics, SIUC
Title: Materials-by-design approach
Date: 3-28-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: Traditional materials discovery research has relied on what could be described as Edison-like, where several trials are performed to refine a property or by chance. A more recent approach relies on a guided approach where several potential materials are pre-screened theoretically, and only the most promising materials are attempted experimentally. This is often termed a “materials-by-design” approach to accelerate discovery and commercial deployment. This effort is now a federal government initiative under the DMREF program (Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future). In this talk, I will discuss my experience using such an approach. I will share my collaborative work with theorists in identifying new magnetic materials and efforts to realize them experimentally, the challenges of the present approach, and how machine-learning approaches can help overcome these obstacles.

Speaker: Shanik Chandrasena, SIUC
Title: Stochastic SEIR(S) model with nonrandom total population
Date: 4-4-24
Time: 3:30-3:55 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: In this study we are interested on the following 4-dimensional system of stochastic differential equations. dS=(-βSI+μ(K-S)+αI+ζR)dt-σ_1 SIF_1 (S,E,I,R)dW_1+σ_4 RF_4 (S,E,I,R)dW_4
dE=(βSI-(μ+η)E)dt+σ_1 SIF_1 (S,E,I,R)dW_1-σ_2 EF_2 (S,E,I,R)dW_2
dI=(ηE-(α+γ+μ)I)dt+σ_2 EF_2 (S,E,I,R)dW_2-σ_3 IF_3 (S,E,I,R)dW_3
dR=(γI-(μ+ζ)R)dt+σ_3 IF_3 (S,E,I,R)dW_3-σ_4 RF_4 (S,E,I,R)dW_4 with variance parameters σ_i≥0 and constants α,β,η,γ,μ ζ≥0.
This system may be used to model the dynamics of susceptible, exposed, infected and recovering individuals subject to a present virus with state-dependent random transitions. Our main goal is to prove the existence of a bounded, unique, strong (pathwise), global solution to this system, and to discuss asymptotic stochastic and moment stability of the two equilibrium points, namely the disease free and the endemic equilibria. In this model, as suggested by our advisor, diffusion coefficients can be any local Lipschitz continuous functions on bounded domain D={(S,E,I,R)∈R_+^4:0<S,E,I,R<K,S+E+I+R<K} with fixed constant K>0 of maximum carrying capacity. At the end we carry out some simulations to illustrate our results. This is based on joint work with Prof. Dr. Henri Schurz (SIU), already submitted for publication and currently in revision process.

Speaker: Rong Fan, Pfizer Inc.
Title: A rank-based approach to improve the efficiency of inferential seamless phase 2/3 clinical trials with dose optimization
Date: 3-21-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: To accelerate clinical development, seamless 2/3 adaptive design is an attractive strategy to combine phase 2 dose selection with phase 3 confirmatory objectives. As the regulatory requirement for dose optimization in oncology drugs shifted from maximum tolerated dose to maximum effective dose, it’s important to gather more data on multiple candidate doses to inform dose selection. A phase 3 dose may be selected based on phase 2 results and carried forward in phase 3 study. Data obtained from both phases will be combined in the final analysis. In many disease settings biomarker endpoints are utilized for dose selection as they are correlated with the clinical efficacy endpoints. As discussed in Li et al. (2015), the combined analysis may cause type I error inflation due to the correlation and dose selection. Sidak adjustment has been proposed to control the overall type I error by adjusting p-values in phase 2 when performing the combined p-value test. However, this adjustment could be overly conservative as it does not consider the underlying correlations among doses/endpoints. We propose an alternative approach utilizing biomarker rank-based ordered test statistics which takes the rank order of the selected dose and the correlation into consideration. If the correlation is unknown, we propose a rank-based Dunnett adjustment, which includes the traditional Dunnett adjustment as a special case. We show that the proposed method controls the overall type I error, and leads to a uniformly higher power than Sidak adjustment and the traditional Dunnett adjustment under all potential correlation scenarios discussed.

Speaker: Adrian Clingher, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Title: On Complex Surfaces of Type K3
Date: 2-29-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: K3 surfaces are classical objects in complex algebraic geometry, with a rich history dating back to early studies by E. Kummer in 1864. In modern times, research in this area has led to interesting applications in fields as diverse as lattice theory, modular forms, cryptography, and theoretical physics (string theory). In this talk I will present the general properties of K3 surfaces, and also discuss several recent results on a particular class of such objects – K3 surfaces of high Picard rank.

Speaker: Cheng-Yao Lin, School of Education, SIUC
Title: Ten Different Ways to Answer Why A Negative Times A Negative Is A Positive
Date: 2-22-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156Abstract: Why a negative times another negative is always equal to a positive answer? This is one of the most commonly asked questions in mathematics classes in middle and high school. In this session we will discuss ten different ways to answer why a negative times a negative is a positive. We will use some real–world examples to explain this concept.

Speaker's Website

Speaker: Jurek "Jerzy" Kocik, SIUC
Title: Metamorphic Life of Circles: Unexpected Connections
Date: 2-15-24
Time: 3:00-4:00 pm
Place: Neckers 156
Abstract: In mathematical physics, spinors bring insight into the inner structure of matter. Quite similarly, the spinors of (2+1)-dimensional Minkowski space provide a fresh look at Apollonian disk packings and provide novel results including a parametrization of the integral packings, a fractal visualization of the Apollonian depth function, an alternative derivation of the Descartes' configuration, and more. On the other hand, Apollonian disk packing may be interpreted as a “space-time crystal”. These two seemingly different representations meet strikingly.