WWU’s Mariana Smit Vega Garcia awarded new NSF grant to continue her research into partial differential equations, ‘the language of modern physics’

Professor of Mathematics Mariana Smit Vega Garcia was awarded $208,000 by the National Science Foundation to study partial differential equations (PDEs), the language of modern physics. 

In the 18^th century, mathematicians realized natural phenomena can be explained by relating what happens in a place to what is happening nearby. For example, if you are in a cold room surrounded by heaters, the hot air around you will warm you up. PDEs are laws that describe things in terms of local differences. Fire, waves, fluctuations in the stock market, the melting of ice cubes, the propagation of light, and even magnets are all described by these equations. 

Smit Vega Garcia’s work will focus on two specific families of PDEs. The first is parabolic PDEs which are used to describe time-dependent phenomena including heat transfer and osmosis, such as the melting of ice. The second PDE she will study focuses on modeling combustion.  

“I have been studying partial differential equations for a long time, and I can confirm firsthand they are complicated,” Smit Vega Garcia said about her research. “To be completely honest, I like that they are difficult. This is a bit like hiking: the steeper the climb, the better the view!” 

A portion of the funds from the NSF grant will support two undergraduate researchers and a large conference, “Jumpstart 2026,” focused on first-generation students. The conference will feature mini-courses, research talks and give students an opportunity to have informal conversations with working mathematicians.  The program ran for the first time in 2023, helping 14 students find their path in mathematics.  

“Mariana did a very good job establishing an environment where curiosity is number one and everyone is there to learn and help lift each other up as we pursue similar future paths,” said Wes Schirmer, a senior at Western who attended the conference in summer 2023. “I learned some skills working with new people on problems I was not familiar with before, and that helped me to join a group this summer working on some research. It was interesting to be introduced to math I hadn't previously heard of and helped to expand my knowledge of the field in general.” 

The grant comes on the heels of Smit Vega Garcia being selected as the 2024 Karen EDGE Fellow, which will provide an additional $8,000 per year for the next three years. Smit Vega Garcia plans to use the funds to visit research collaborators. 

The Karen EDGE award, named for Abel Prize winner Karen Uhlenbeck, is awarded by the EDGE foundation, a nonprofit organization with the goal to increase gender and racial diversity and equity in the mathematics community. It is given annually to mid-career mathematicians who belong to an underrepresented minority group.  

Smit Vega Garcia identifies as a Latina woman, two identity groups that are underrepresented in mathematics and even more so in their intersection, she said.  

“While these identities do not intersect with my mathematical research, they play a strong role in how I interact with the mathematical community,” Smit Vega Garcia said. “As a consequence, contributing to a supportive mathematical community has been one of my career goals.” 

Smit Vega Garcia works with many programs dedicated to inclusivity in STEM, including the Association for Women in Mathematics and the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. She even helped develop a set of playing cards featuring female mathematicians called “Notable Women in Mathematics,” designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of AWM.  

Part of her dedication to these programs is to help more people feel represented and welcomed in the mathematics field, she said.  

“Many of us in academia struggle with impostor syndrome. In my case, I am sure this was exacerbated by the fact that I often attended professional events where there were almost no other women besides me or none at all,” she said. “The lack of role models who are ‘like oneself’ can be very detrimental, especially at an early career stage. Besides that, sexism and prejudice are unfortunately still present, even if nowadays in a less overt manner than a decade ago.” 

Smit Vega Garcia also served as the faculty community ambassador in mathematics, a position designed to identify and develop accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as well as serve as a resource for faculty, staff and students. 

“Mariana has been a leader in our department in the areas of accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion since her arrival at Western in 2018,” Mathematics Department Chair David Hartenstine said. “She helped improve departmental practices regarding equity and diversity and worked toward recruiting students from diverse backgrounds to our programs and to our discipline in general. She is an excellent teacher who balances a commitment to academic challenge with personalized support to all of our students and builds inclusive welcoming class environments.” 

To learn more about Jumpstart and Smit Vega Garcia’s research, visit her website https://wp.wwu.edu/smitvem/.