DMATH: towards data science

Department of Mathematics (DMATH): Towards data science

6 Research areas

> Algebra and number theory > Geometry and the mathematical theory of quantisation > Harmonic and geometric analysis > Probability theory and its applications, mathematical finance > Mathematical modelling > Statistics

68 Members

> 14 professors > 28 post-docs and research scientists > 24 doctoral candidates > 2 technical and administrative staff

4 Study programmes

> 1 Bachelor > 2 Masters > 1 Doctoral Programme

Funding and collaborations

> €2.3 million acquired in new research projects (2020) > FNR-funded COVID-19 research effort (€50000) >H2020 ERC Consolidator Grant on Statistical Methods For High Dimensional Diffusions (€1.5 million) > H2020 ERA Chair in Mathematical Statistics and Data Science (€2.5 million) > Esch 2022 exploratory project (€75000)

Publications

148 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals (2019-2020)

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DMATH: a dynamic and innovative department

The Department of Mathematics (DMATH) is a very active department, whose permanent members are world-class researchers in many domains of pure and applied mathematics. With nearly 150 publications in international peer-reviewed journals in 2019-2020, DMATH has confirmed its commitment to ground-breaking research. After many years during which the focus has been mostly on pure mathematics, DMATH has managed to expand its activities in more applied directions such as statistics and probability.

Giovanni Peccati, Head of DMATH

The launch of the new Bachelor in Mathematics and support courses Math Camp and Math Forge represent a turning point. On the one hand, the bachelor increases visibility and flexibility; on the other hand, Math Camp and Math Forge help students to transform their weaknesses into strengths.

In addition, DMATH has been active in setting up an ambitious and varied outreach programme such as Girls Exploring Mathematics, workshops with the Scienteens Lab, math exhibition, MATh.en.JEANS initiative, collaborations with the Luxembourg Science Center, and the production of the comic “Through the Looking Glass”.

New Professors

Yannick Baraud

Yannick Baraud

Arrival: August 2019 as SanDAL ERA Chair Holder Mission: The project Mathematical Statistics and Data Science (SanDAL) aims to create a high-level research group in mathematical statistics and data science. PhD story Jill Ecker

Mark Podolskij

Mark Podolskij

Arrival: July 2020 with ERC Consolidator Grant Mission: The project Statistical Methods for High Dimensional Diffusions (STAMFORD) aims at providing a concise statistical theory for estimation of high dimensional diffusions.

Sarah Scherotzke

Sarah Scherotzke

Arrival: November 2019 as Professor Mission: teaching, supervising students from undergraduate to postdoc and carrying out research in algebra and algebraic geometry. Post-doc story Andrea Seppi

PhD stories

Jill Ecker

Experience at University: Jill Ecker developed a very ingenious technique in algebra to solve important questions in the field Current position: data scientist, Tax Administration, Luxembourg

Andrea Seppi

Experience at University: Andrea Seppi worked on lowdimensional geometry and topology Current position: CNRS researcher, Université Grenoble-Alpes, France

Data science Developing new tools and training high level scientists

In 2019, the University of Luxembourg received a prestigious ERA (European Research Area) Chair grant in Mathematical Statistics and Data Science (SanDAL) within the EU’s Horizon 2020 framework programme. With a budget of € 2.5M for the period 2019-2024, the University is creating a high-level research group in mathematical statistics and data science.

What are the main pillars of this project?

The project conducts fundamental mathematical research in order to build statistical procedures that are both optimal and robust. Our group pursues an innovative approach that allows us to build such procedures in a wide range of statistical frameworks with potential applications in medicine, economics or ecology. Finally, we want to raise awareness and train the younger generation in data science and machine learning techniques. To this end, we organise events for doctoral students and high school students to talk about data science. The new Master of Data Science to be launched in September 2021 will train new generations of high-level data scientists. Innovative research and education are therefore the two main pillars of our project.

How this project will have an impact on the economy?

The project contributes to the industrial and university environment with efficient and innovative statistical procedures. It will also support the training of the data scientists that the country needs to meet the competitive and technological challenges of tomorrow. In doing so, we aim to address the lack of labour market data specialists.

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Bachelor in Mathematics: preparing students for a promising career

The new Bachelor in Mathematics was launched in September 2020 with 40 students. It trains students in the fundamental areas of mathematics and also teaches them concepts of related disciplines, such as physics, computer science or mathematics didactics.

Ivan Nourdin

What are the strengths of this new Bachelor?

Environment: lessons are given in very modern campus equipped with the latest technologies, and a tutoring system is in place

Flexibility: many optional opening courses are offered to students, preparing them for the major scientific challenges of tomorrow. These are either optional courses taught by colleagues from other disciplines or innovative courses such as computer-oriented projects, helping them to develop their understanding and visualization of mathematical objects, as well as their programming, modeling and teamwork skills

Positioning: our training is geared towards excellence, offering academic content taught by renowned international professors and setting up a selection system at entry

What are the job opportunities?

For several years now, we have witnessed a real explosion in the use of mathematics, in fields such as telecommunications, artificial intelligence, epidemic management, imagery and connected cities. Mathematics therefore appears to be a discipline turned towards the future, while being able to count on a prestigious past. For these reasons, the employment opportunities offered by studying mathematics are many and varied. More specifically, many of our former students now work in banking, industry, teaching and research.

How do you help students with difficulties in mathematics?

We have initiated a number of faculty-wide initiatives, like the Math Camp and Forges tutoring activity to help students. In 2019, Math Forge was launched as a bi-weekly math clinic where students from all fields and levels can get help guided by mathematicians working at the University of Luxembourg. In September 2020, the first Math Camp took place with more than a hundred first year students from different fields in order to ease the transition between high school and university.

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