Zachary Abel

Welcome! I am a 2nd year Ph.D. candidate in the MIT Mathematics department, and my Research focuses on the interactions between geometry and theoretical computer science. Before MIT I completed a joint Mathematics and Computer Science Bachelor's degree at Harvard University. I have now returned to Kirkland, my former undergraduate house, as a resident tutor with specialties in Math, Computer Science, and Art.

I design and build Mathematical Sculptures, attempting to reveal hidden geometric beauty in office supplies and other modest materials. See these sculpture pages for pictures and mathematical descriptions of this work.

I remain active in teaching math at all levels. After competing in many competitions including Mathcounts (on the Texas team), the International Mathematics Olympiad (on the USA team), and the Putnam competition (on the Harvard team), I have continued coaching for math competitions with, for example, the USA Math Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP), the AwesomeMath Summer Program (AMSP), and the Texas teams of the American Regions Math League (ARML). I enjoy teaching math beyond competitions as well, and regularly give expository lectures at such seminars as the Boston Math Circle, the Harvard Math Table, and the MIT Pure Math Graduate Student Seminar (which I am currently co-organizing). You may browse my expository Writings (including competition training materials) and mathematical Talks on this site. Please also visit my expository math blog, Three-Cornered Things.

I am also a proud alumnus and affiliate of the Canada/USA Mathcamp, the Research Science Institute (RSI) and the Harvard College Program for Research in Science and Engineering (PRISE). I have since returned to the last two as a research mentor and a residential proctor, respectively.

Beyond math, I enjoy swimming, running, juggling, teaching, word games, and puppies.