Mike Cummings
I am a PhD student in the Department of Combinatorics and Optimization at the University of Waterloo, working with Oliver Pechenik. My expected graduation year is 2028.
In 2024, I received my master's degree from McMaster University, where my supervisor was Jenna Rajchgot. My master's thesis studied classes of Hessenberg varieties using patch ideals.
Research
My research is in combinatorial algebraic geometry, and I enjoy using computational tools. Recently, I have been thinking about: Springer fibers and varieties related to the flag variety, geometric vertex decomposition, and Frobenius splitting.
I am partially supported by an NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship and a University of Waterloo President's Graduate Scholarship.
Activities
- New paper! Webs and smooth components of two column Springer fibers
- In March, I will be at BIRS for the workshop Cluster Algebras, Webs, and Canonical Bases
- I attend the University of Waterloo's Algebraic and Enumerative Combinatorics Seminar and Tutte Colloquium
Teaching
In Winter 2026, I am the TA for Introduction to Combinatorics (Advanced Level) – Math 249.
Contact
Mike Cummings
he/him/his
mike [dot] cummings [at] uwaterloo [dot] ca
Mathematics and Computer 6311
Department of Combinatorics and Optimization
University of Waterloo
200 University Ave W
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1