Category: News Postings

Postdoc at Neuchâtel

A senior postdoc (MA) position for 4 years (renewable for 2 more years) is available at the University of Neuchatel. We also have an opening for a professorship in commutative algebra or algebraic geometry and the idea is that the new MA could collaborate with them in the future. Knowledge of French is required, because the position comes with light teaching duties. The deadline for applying is November 15. Please find the announcement here:

Position in commutative algebra at Neuchâtel

The University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland) invites applications for a position of professor (open rank). Algebraic geometry and commutative algebra are listed as areas of interest. Knowledge of the French language is not needed to apply, but there is an expectation that the new professor will be able to teach in French after an adaptation time. You will find the job advertisement here https://www.unine.ch/sciences/home/emploi.html.

If you have any questions on the position, the Swiss research environment, etc, please feel free to contact Elisa Gorla at elisa.gorla@unine.ch.

Shiro Goto (1946-2022)

We are deeply saddened to share with the community the news of the passing of Shiro Goto on July 26, 2022, at the age of 76. In accordance with the mind of the bereaved family, this announcement has been delayed.

Shiro Goto, courtesy of Kei-ichi Watanabe.

The following is a note we received from Ryo Takahashi:

“Shiro made important contributions to commutative algebra. His early works include the ones about the foundational theory of graded rings with Kei-ichi Watanabe and about the Eisenbud-Goto conjecture. He also deeply investigated the ring structure of blow-up algebras, and the integral closedness of ideals. His main interest in recent years was in establishing the theory of almost Gorenstein rings. He was also a great advisor of a lot of both formal and informal students. His passing is a big loss to our community.”

The following is a note we received from Kei-ichi Watanabe:

“Shiro Goto’s death has left a great void in my life. I had not met him since 2019 because of the covid pandemic, so I will always remember him as energetic and eager for mathematics. Indeed, as I heard from his younger friends, he talked about mathematics problems just a few days before he passed away.

I first met Goto in 1971, at a conference on commutative algebra in Yokohama. Those days Professor Nagata was in Kyoto, and Professor Matsumura was in Nagoya, and we, in Tokyo, had no teacher in commutative algebra. I was running a seminar with I. Kimura, S. Tachibana, and Y. Matsuura, and we agreed to invite Goto to that seminar. The invitation was successful after several tries, and ever since then Goto became a very important figure at the seminar.

The seminar met twice a week; we eagerly studied every interesting topic in commutative algebra in detail, hours at a time, as well as several topics in algebraic geometry. We did not know about our futures: I had a job of “Assistant” at that time, and it took a few years for Goto to get a degree and a job.

In this manner, Goto and I wrote up “On graded rings, I” and then “On affine semigroup rings” (with N. Suzuki), “The structure of one-dimensional F-pure rings,” etc. Also, Goto and I participated in the famous conference “Analytic Methods in Commutative Algebra” in 1979, at George Mason University. We traveled together, full of anxiety — this was our first travel outside Japan.

In 1978, Goto and I organized a symposium in commutative algebra; it later became known as “The 1st Japan Symposium on Commutative Algebra.” It has been organized annually by various commutative algebraists, with “The 43rd Japan Symposium on Commutative Algebra” planned for later this year.

In 1980 I left the seminar, moving to Nagoya Institute of Technology; the seminar was run by Goto at Nihon University, and later at Meiji University. The members of the seminar included Y. Shimoda, K. Yamagishi, K. Nishida, K. Kurano, Y. Nakamura, T. Kawasaki, and many others; the complete list would be far too long, but I should say that I myself have greatly benefitted from the “Goto Seminar.” The seminar began at 1:00 p.m. and speakers went through every detail of the proofs, while Goto and others raised many questions.

Every commutative algebraist knows Goto’s work. His theorems are very deep and sometimes unexpected; he thinks very deeply. He was really great as a mathematician, and also powerful as a teacher and an organizer. He sometimes said to me proudly, “this is how to nurture young students.” We, in Japan, have benefited from many international seminars organized by him. We will remember Goto and his work forever.”

Position in Genova

The Department of Mathematics of the University of Genova is advertising a position of “Ricercatore di tipo a)” in algebra for 3+2 years.
The deadline to apply is 07/07/2022, the call for application can be found at this link: https://concorsi.unige.it/home/procedure/3352
According to the call the research activity will be in the field of combinatorial commutative algebra.
Please do not hesitate to contact Matteo Varbaro for further information.

Gaetana Restuccia (1947-2022)

We are deeply saddened to share with the community the following message we received from Marilena Crupi and Rosanna Utano:

We are deeply sad to inform you that our teacher Professor Gaetana Restuccia (1947-2022) passed away on February 27, 2022. Since 1980 Gaetana Restuccia has been the leader of the research group of Commutative Algebra in Messina. She has inspired two generations of young algebrists and has been a very appreciated teacher. She has encouraged her students to study abroad, organized some international conferences and schools, inviting prominent algebrists in Messina and establishing strong collaborations from all parts of the world. It is a big loss for all of us.

https://www.unime.it/it/informa/notizie/il-cordoglio-dellateneo-la-scomparsa-della-profssa-restuccia

 

Nick Baeth (1978 – 2021)

We are deeply saddened to share with the community the news of the passing of Nick Baeth. Below is a notice with an opportunity to offer condolences to the family.

Nicholas Ryan Baeth

Update:

A celebration of Nicholas Baeth’s life will be held at Franklin and Marshall College on Sat., April 2 at 11:00 AM (US Eastern) in Bonchek Lecture Hall, LSP142. It will also be livestreamed at the link below, which will be accessible at 10:30 AM (US Eastern) that morning.

In lieu of flowers, the Baeth family has set up a 529 Education account for Nick’s six-year old son, George. Those wishing to contribute can do so via Venmo. The username is @georgebaeth. The official name on the account is Diana Peloza (Nick’s mother-in-law).

To join the celebration on Zoom:

https://fandm.zoom.us/j/94824621060?pwd=akRxMThCbEVOeWkxdW1YN2I0UzFQdz09

Meeting ID: 948 2462 1060

Passcode: 901702

Wolmer Vasconcelos

We are deeply saddened to share with the community the news of the passing of Wolmer Vasconcelos, at the age of 84.  Here are two news articles about his life, both in Portuguese: 1 2

Vasconcelos was born in Pernambuco, Brasil. He got his PhD in 1966, at the University of Chicago, under Irving Kaplansky. Aron Simis writes (in Portuguese) that “his thesis was an alternative, simpler proof of Serre’s homological characterization of local rings. He started his career at Cornell, and then moved to Rutgers. He wrote more than 120 research papers, and also several books that are well regarded and cited in the commutative algebra community. This community loses one of its most celebrated and beloved members.”