{"521621":{"#nid":"521621","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Get to Know the School of Math Prof: Joseph Rabinoff","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is your \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/people.math.gatech.edu\/~jrabinoff6\/\u0022\u003Eresearch\u003C\/a\u003E about?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI work in the field of arithmetic geometry. One type of fundamental problem is finding whole-number solutions to equations such as x\u003Csup\u003E5\u003C\/sup\u003E + y\u003Csup\u003E5\u003C\/sup\u003E = z\u003Csup\u003E5\u003C\/sup\u003E, or showing that no such solutions exist. This kind of problem goes back almost 2,000 years to the Greek mathematician Diophantus; hence they are called Diophantine equations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idea behind arithmetic geometry is to first consider the space of solutions to the equation in \u003Cem\u003Ecomplex\u003C\/em\u003E numbers x,y,z. This space is geometric in nature; for instance, if you squint hard enough, the space of solutions to x\u003Csup\u003E5\u003C\/sup\u003E + y\u003Csup\u003E5\u003C\/sup\u003E = z\u003Csup\u003E5\u003C\/sup\u003E starts to look like a donut with six holes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne then makes geometric arguments about this space and uses some very deep theorems to derive the properties of the set of whole-number solutions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMath is worth doing for its own intrinsic beauty and for the subtle understanding about the world that it gives us. Although pure math is not concerned with practical applications, historically it has proved over and over again to be useful in the most surprising and important ways. A recent example is the use of elliptic curves defined over finite fields (an important player in arithmetic geometry) in some of the most advanced encryption algorithms in use today.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat has been the most exciting time so far in your research life?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI spend about 95% of my research time writing and revising papers, doing straightforward verifications, or just plain being stuck. The other 5% is where the \u201caha!\u201d moments happen that make it all worth it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo far the most memorable time was when I solved my Ph.D. thesis problem. For weeks, I had been thinking hard about the same thing. Then one day, just as I was spreading mayonnaise on my sandwich for lunch, I realized what to do to make the final step work. From there, the solution was like a cascade of dominoes, with everything falling exactly into place. That was not only extremely satisfying. It also launched my career: I was one of the first people to use so-called tropical geometry to solve a problem in arithmetic geometry, which strategy has become something of a cottage industry now.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did you find your way to mathematics research?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy father has a Ph.D. in physics, so I grew up assuming I\u2019d get a Ph.D. as well. I was always interested in thinking about math. For instance, in high school, when I realized I didn\u2019t know why the Pythagorean theorem was true, I spent one evening working out a nice geometric proof. Of course this proof had been known since Greek times, but it was satisfying to work something out on my own.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI didn\u2019t get serious about studying math until freshman year of college, when I discovered that I enjoyed my math course more than my physics course.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat advice would you give to a college freshman who wants to be a mathematician?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBeing a mathematician is both an extremely solitary and a very social activity. Learning, understanding, or communicating mathematics takes a large amount of care and rigor. It is best done alone, with no distractions and with long periods of concentration. But you should also interact with a community of peers, to chat about the most compelling things you\u2019ve learned or thought about recently and to work together when you get stuck, which happens daily.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETake intellectual risks. Sign up for a graduate course even if you\u2019re not sure you\u2019ll get an A in it. Go to seminars and expose yourself to concepts you might not understand. Try undergraduate research programs. Never be afraid to tell someone that you\u2019re confused, and ask them to explain something more slowly.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you could not be a mathematician, in what line of work would you be now?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI\u2019d probably be a computer programmer. I\u2019ve always been good with computers. I learned Basic programming when I was around 12.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is the most exciting thing about being a part of Georgia Tech?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe students. I really enjoy teaching upper-level undergraduate math classes. Some students are extremely hard-working and talented. I derive a lot of pleasure from interactions in class and office hours.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are you most surprised about in your encounters with Georgia Tech students?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIndividual students often surprise me greatly. I\u2019ve had very good students who participate in activities such as professional cage fighting, EMT work in ambulances, cheerleading for a major professional sports team, and serious bodybuilding. I never know what to expect when a new student walks into my office.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is an unusual skill, talent, or quality you have now that is not obvious to your colleagues?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI used to be a very good lindy hop dancer. You can find videos on YouTube. Start by searching for the \u003Cem\u003ERock Step Lobstahs\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is your ideal way of relaxation?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe real answer is a movie and a beer, but I\u2019m going to go with jogging. I run about 4.5 miles almost every day, a great way to clear my head. My wife and I just had a baby, though, so all of my routines are up in the air at the moment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat three destinations are still in your travel to-do list?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI have to do a lot of traveling for work, 5-10 conferences all over the world each year. But I would always prefer it if the conference were at Georgia Tech and I could stay at home. So instead of listing places I wish I could visit, I\u2019ll mention the three most interesting places where I\u2019ve attended a conference since I came to Georgia Tech: Fukuoka, Japan; Papeete, French Polynesia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIf you won $10 million in a lottery, what would you with it?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI\u2019d put it in low-risk investments and live off the interest. I never particularly wanted to be rich. I\u2019d much rather have stability than wealth, thus my choice to become a tenured professor. That said, with $10 million, I\u2019d have enough income to build an obscenely powerful personal computer, just for kicks.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Part of a Series of Q\u0026A Miniprofiles for Math Awareness Month"}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Mathematics faculty explain their research, recall highlights of their careers, and share personal insights.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Algebraic geometry researcher and Lindy Hop dancer Joe Rabinoff explains his research, recalls highlights of his career, and shares personal insights."}],"uid":"30678","created_gmt":"2016-04-04 17:48:26","changed_gmt":"2016-10-08 03:21:17","author":"A. Maureen Rouhi","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2016-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2016-04-08T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"521591":{"id":"521591","type":"image","title":"Joseph Rabinoff","body":null,"created":"1459972800","gmt_created":"2016-04-06 20:00:00","changed":"1475895289","gmt_changed":"2016-10-08 02:54:49","alt":"Joseph Rabinoff","file":{"fid":"206059","name":"rabinoff.2016_03.photonormal.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/rabinoff.2016_03.photonormal_1.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/rabinoff.2016_03.photonormal_1.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":23196,"path_740":"http:\/\/tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/rabinoff.2016_03.photonormal_1.jpeg?itok=GEr-7K6u"}}},"media_ids":["521591"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"171888","name":"arithmetic geometry"},{"id":"171889","name":"Joe Rabinoff"},{"id":"170076","name":"Joseph Rabinoff"},{"id":"171877","name":"math career advice"},{"id":"2748","name":"mathematics"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA. Maureen Rouhi\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDirector of Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["maureen.rouhi@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}