Mia Minnes Cornell University
111 Malott Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
minnes at math.cornell.edu
       
 
 
Research and Publications

My main research interests lie in mathematical logic. Currently, I am focussing on automata and automatic structures. Automata theory has been used to study groups (e.g. Thurston's work on the word problem), has applications in model checking and verification questions (e.g. in databases), and has been used in solving engineering problems such as (near) optimal control of hybrid systems. I am interested in model theoretic properties of automatic structures (for example, looking at decidability and model-theoretic complexity questions). Another direction of my research relates to decision procedures for mathematical systems using variants of finite automata (deciding the reals under addition via Buchi automata, hence giving an alternate algorithm for linear programming). Further work is on classifying mathematical objects using finite state transducers and exploring their effectiveness properties.

 
 
  • A survey of Automatic Structures (with B. Khoussainov)
    Invited paper in Proceedings of Logic Colloquium 06 LCsurvey.pdf.

  • Model Theoretic Complexity of Automatic Structures (with B. Khoussainov)
    Preprint (as of July 23, 2007) AutRanks.pdf
    Extended Abstract accepted to the 5th Annual Conference on Theory and Applications of Models of Computation (TAMC 08).

  • Unary Automatic Locally Finite Graphs:An Algorithmic Perspective (with B. Khoussainov and J. Liu)
    Preprint (as of July 5, 2007) unary.pdf
    Extended Abstract accepted to the 5th Annual Conference on Theory and Applications of Models of Computation (TAMC 08).

  • Polynomial Time Algorithms for the Isomorphism Problem of Classes of Automatic Structures (with J. Liu)
    In preparation.

  • Mixed and Integer Linear Programming using Automata Techniques
    Unpublished AutDec.pdf


 
  For a full CV, please see Minnes08.pdf.  
       
 
       
Education
 Teaching
  
 
PhD Mathematics (2008),
Advisor: Anil Nerode
Cornell University

MS Mathematics,
Cornell University (2006)

MS Computer Science,
Cornell University (2006)

BScE Mathematics & Engineering,
Queen's University (2003)

BA Philosophy,
Queen's University (2003)
Instructor
Calculus I (Cornell Fa07)

Teaching Assistant
Mathematical Logic (Cornell Sp05), Vector Calculus (Cornell Fa05), Calculus I for Engineers (Queen's 01-03), Calculus II for Engineers (Cornell Fa04), Linear Algebra for Engineers (Queen's 01-03)

Assistant to course coordinator
Calculus I (Cornell Fa06, Fa07), Calculus II (Cornell Sp06, Fa06)

Organizer
Cornell Teaching Seminar (2004-2006, with K. Camenga; 2007, with E. Carta, D. Terry), Cornell TA Mentoring Program (2005, with K. Camenga and M. Pivarski), Cornell TA Training Workshop (2005-2007)
 		 
       
 
     
Awards and Fellowships

  • Graduate Student Teaching Award Cornell math department award for lucid and engaging teaching, and contributions as a teaching mentor and role model, 2007.

  • Battig Prize Cornell math department award for excellence and promise in mathematics research, 2006.

  • NSERC PGS Canadian graduate research award, 2003-2008.

  • Cornell Fellowship Cornell entry fellowship for graduate studies, 2003-2004.

  
 
     
Service and Outreach

  • 4-H Career Explorations Conference (Cornell, 2007): Organizing the math department's first entry into the "University U" program for teens aged 13 and 14.

  • Expanding Your Horizons (Cornell, 2004 - 2006): Helped develop and run workshops for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls in areas of math such as game theory, probability, and minimal surfaces.

  • Prospective Graduate Student Weekend (Cornell, 2003 - 2006): Organized and ran (along with a committee) the recruitment weekend for students admitted to the PhD program in the math department.

  • Member of the Curriculum Committee (Queen's, 2000 - 2003): Participated in decisions regarding the courses in the mathematics & engineering program.
  
Professional Affiliations

  • Association for Symbolic Logic
  • American Mathematical Society
  • Association for Women in Math
  
 

This page last modified on 6/02/2008.