Aaron Abrams is a mathematician with broad interests spanning geometry, topology, combinatorics, and probability. Abrams views mathematics as a social discipline for which collaboration is vital. Accordingly, a key goal undergirding his work as a researcher and an educator is to broaden access to the ideas, tools, methods, and beauty of mathematics.
In more than 20 years as a mathematical researcher, Abrams has contributed to numerous fields. Currently, his primary research focus is in the area of two-dimensional tilings. Earlier work on configuration spaces has been highly influential and has led to innovations in areas such as robotics. A study of lotteries led him to win the Lester R. Ford award for mathematical exposition.
Abrams comes to UVA from Washington and Lee University, where he was a professor of mathematics. He holds degrees in mathematics from two University of California campuses: Davis (undergraduate) and Berkeley (Ph.D.).
