Miriam Abecasis, junior mathematics and software engineering honors student, recently won the Outstanding Poster Award at the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) MathFest in Sacramento, CA. Her poster, “Harmonic Content of String Networks: A Physical Application of Quantum Graphs,” was presented at the Research in Motion Poster Session of the convention on Aug. 8.
Abecasis’ poster was based on her undergraduate research project in the field of quantum graphs, which she developed under the guidance of Torrey Gallagher, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematics. Her work was supported by a competitive grant from the Independent Colleges and Universities of New Jersey (ICUNJ), which she received as part of the ICUNJ Undergraduate Research Symposium.
As part of her project, Abecasis constructed and tested a physical apparatus to explore how the harmonic spectrum of connected string networks compares to predictions from a theoretical quantum graph model. This hands-on approach allowed her to connect abstract mathematical theory with real-world physical systems.
Abecasis presented her findings at the ICUNJ Undergraduate Research Symposium, held at Bell Works on April 1. Later in the summer, her research gained national recognition when she presented her poster at the MAA MathFest. She is currently working with Gallagher to prepare a manuscript for submission to a physics journal.
The Mathematical Association of America is the world’s largest community of mathematicians, students, and enthusiasts. The mission of the MAA is to advance the understanding of mathematics and its impact on our world. Every summer, MAA MathFest presents the latest in mathematical research and education to diverse audiences worldwide.
