Liu’s selection is based on two major accomplishments. First, he did breakthrough research as a Ph.D. student by resolving the Robertson conjecture for topological minors, namely that graphs that do not have a Robertson chain of fixed length as a topological minor are well-quasi-ordered.

Second, Liu developed and refined parts of the classical Robertson-Seymour theory, discovering entirely new methods alongside. In addition, he is honored for displaying an exemplary attitude toward research and scholarship.

Liu received B.S. and M.S. degrees in mathematics from the National Taiwan University, in Taiwan. After completing the Georgia Tech Ph.D. program in Algorithms, Combinatorics, and Optimization in 2014, he joined Princeton University as an instructor. In 2018, he moved to Texas A&M University as an assistant professor of mathematics.

“I am very grateful to Prof. Thomas for his constant support and encouragement during my life at Georgia Tech. His professionalism, passion, and leadership undoubtedly shaped my development.”

School of Mathematics Professor Robin Thomas was Liu’s supervisor at Georgia Tech. Thomas recalls Liu as “a very strong student,” passing the comprehensive examination early and then writing four strong papers in quick succession. This achievement earned Liu the school’s Top Graduate Student Award while only in his second year.  “I expect he will become a regular invitee to Graph Theory meetings in Oberwolfach, Banff, and elsewhere,” Thomas says.

Liu says he “deeply benefited” from ACO, which he describes as a “wonderful multidisciplinary program that integrates three fascinating and active directions in an amazingly terrific way.”

Liu adds: “I am very grateful to Prof. Thomas for his constant support and encouragement during my life at Georgia Tech. His professionalism, passion, and leadership undoubtedly shaped my development.”