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FSU Math Research Fellow 2013: Washington Mio


Faculty Awards: Washington Mio, FSU Math Research Fellow 2013

This Fall, the Department of Mathematics will bestow the first inaugural FSU Mathematics Research Fellow Award to Professor Washington Mio for outstanding research contributions in the fields of Geometric Topology and Mathematical Applications to Pattern Analysis.

This award was conceived as a way to recognize distinguished department faculty members for exceptional achievement in research and high standing in their field of specialization. It is fitting that Professor Mio will be the first recipient, exemplifying the best of this department, and setting a high standard for others to follow. His work lies in not one but two areas of mathematics, and reveals the versatility, power and inter-connectedness of pure and interdisciplinary mathematical research, one proud feature of FSU Mathematics as a whole.

In the first part of his career Professor Mio achieved great success in the field of geometric topology, publishing in prestigious journals including a publication in 1993 in the Annals of Mathematics. In the early 2000s, Professor Mio transitioned into his second mathematical career, this time in the applied area of Pattern Analysis, and Biological and Medical Imaging. His research has been very productive, and he has become a leader in the area, serving as principal investigator in several grants from the National Science Foundation and National Institute of Health and participating in collaborative national and international research groups, and supervising undergraduate and graduate students here at Florida State University. Recently, he gave an American Mathematical Society Invited Address entitled "Taming Shapes and Understanding Their Variation" at the Southeastern Sectional Meeting at Oxford, Mississippi.

In addition to his research Washington Mio is a popular teacher and a fine colleague, known for his thoughtful responses, and understated good taste and judgement. Over the last several years, he has played a vital advisorial role in key matters of administration and decision-making within the department while maintaining his research focus.