As you prepare to embark on your senior thesis, ask yourself:
- What are you hoping to gain out of your senior thesis experience?
- Would you prefer to do an expository thesis or a research thesis?
- What would you like the role of computing to be in your thesis?
- What kinds of arguments in mathematics do you enjoy the most and why?
- What would you like to do after graduating from Reed?
While I’ve always liked projects that combine different areas of mathematics, over the years I’ve come to realize that the phenomena, questions, methods, and arguments I like the most are those anchored in analysis. This year, I’m looking to support theses in the following topics:
- Random Fourier series.
- Filtering as estimation.
- Integrability of the periodic Toda lattice.
- Mixing as decay of correlations in ergodic theory.
- Resonances in the circular restricted three-body problem.
Some topics involve randomness and some don’t, but all of them build on the theory in MATH 321 Real Analysis. If you haven’t taken 321 yet, that is OK and you can work in parallel with that class in the Fall. All of these topics can lead to expository theses, while only some of them are tied to concrete theoretical research projects I have. I won’t state the research problems here, just ask me if you’re interested. If you have any questions, ideas of your own, or would like to discuss any of these topics in person, please send me an email to arrange a time to meet.
ALEXANDER MOLL 