American Student Does Mathematical Research at HSE
Nicholas Howell is a PhD student at University of Oregon. He came to HSE Faculty of Mathematics on the invitation of his research advisor Vadim Vologodsky to do research during two months. In his interview Nick talks about his time in Moscow.
I am from the United States. I have lived in central New York state, in a small town in Minnesota, and I went to Minneapolis for my undergraduate studies. Now I am working on my dissertation at University of Oregon, in the small city of Eugene, OR. This is my first visit to Russia. It seems to me it is rare for Americans to visit Russia; at least, I know very few people who have done this. My friends in the U.S. are all very interested to hear what life in Moscow is like.
I was first told about the HSE by my advisor, Prof. Vadim Vologodsky. I found that the energy and enthusiasm here are great! While here I have mostly been thinking about my research, planning a talk in the geometric structures seminar, and attending various seminars, including seminars of the Laboratory of Algebraic Geometry.
I think that Moscow is a really wonderful city: I have enjoyed the culture and food, parks, convenient public transportation, but most especially the people here have been very nice to me. I like what I have seen of the university, but I admit that I spend most of my days working, so I have not explored it very much.
I have attended several seminars and discussed mathematics with a few students, and they have been very friendly; some of them showed me around the city. There are also a couple of mathematics students in my dormitory, and we talk regularly.
I have not attended very many classes, as most are not directly related to my study, but I have attended several lectures which have been very stimulating, at HSE, Steklov Mathematical Institute, and the Independent University. The style of lectures here is much better than in the United States, in my opinion. They are longer, which allows more time for discussion.
In Moscow I stayed at the dormitory. The staff have been very nice to me, and having easy access to the kitchen and gym is wonderful. It is even possible to ski to the Faculty from the dorm (when there is enough snow).
I do hope to visit HSE again in July – it would be nice to see Moscow in the summer.
Vadim Vologodsky
See also:
‘AI Enables Researchers to Tackle More Complex and Important Problems’
In late July 2026, Dmitry Rybin, a graduate of the HSE Faculty of Mathematics who is now working in China, used ChatGPT to disprove a longstanding mathematical hypothesis. In an interview with the HSE News Service, he discussed AI's ability to make discoveries in mathematics, reflected on his time at HSE University, and spoke about his doctoral research at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
‘The Conference Strengthened Our Sense of Belonging to the International Mathematics Community’
From July 13 to 17, 2026, the HSE Faculty of Mathematics hosted the international conference ‘Moduli, Dynamics, and Integrability,’ bringing together leading mathematicians from Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, and other countries.
Fair Division: How Mathematics Helps to Divide the Indivisible
How can items be allocated among participants so that no one feels short-changed? Alexander Karpov, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences, and his Singaporean colleague, Prof. Warut Suksompong, set out to find a mathematical answer to this question. In this interview, they discuss how a model of rational preferences is constructed, why one cannot rely on a simple sum of values, and where an algorithm that asks a minimal number of questions can be useful.
HSE Students Win Gold Medals at International Mathematics Olympiad in Turkmenistan
The VI Open Mathematical Olympiad for University Students (OMOUS-2026) was held in Ashgabat, bringing together teams from Russia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and the UAE. Around 600 students took part in the competition.
'Sometimes, Finding Ways to Solve Problems Feels Like Trying to Cross Mountains without a Map'
Yulia Zaitseva became interested in mathematics in third grade, when her parents enrolled her in a math club, and she now holds a PhD. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, she explains what an algebraic variety is, discusses operations beyond addition and multiplication, and shares her love for Kolomenskoye Park.
Tying Knots, Eating Sweets, and Playing Go: HSE University Celebrates Chinese New Year
On February 18, 2026, a celebration of Chinese New Year was held in the central atrium of the Pokrovka building. The festive programme showcased the rich traditions of the holiday, including dance and violin performances, folk games, and a tea ceremony. The event was organised by HSE University's Chinese Culture Club and the Support and Career Centre for International Students and Alumni.
Mathematician from HSE University–Nizhny Novgorod Solves Equation Considered Unsolvable in Quadratures Since 19th Century
Mathematician Ivan Remizov from HSE University–Nizhny Novgorod and the Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences has made a conceptual breakthrough in the theory of differential equations. He has derived a universal formula for solving problems that had been considered unsolvable in quadratures for more than 190 years. This result fundamentally reshapes one of the oldest areas of mathematics and has potential to have important implications for fundamental physics and economics. The paper has been published in Vladikavkaz Mathematical Journal.
‘Our Subject Is Absolute Truth in the Literal Sense’
What path does one have to follow to become a theoretical mathematician? Is there such a thing as a ‘mathematical personality’? And is it really true that all mathematicians are a bit eccentric? Valery Gritsenko, Professor at the Faculty of Mathematics and Head of the International Laboratory for Mirror Symmetry and Automorphic Forms, talks about 13-year-long referee reports and good films about mathematics.
HSE Scholars Win Young Russian Mathematics Contest
Associate Professor Yulia Zaitseva of the Faculty of Computer Science’s Big Data and Information Retrieval School and Research Assistant Ekaterina Nistyuk of the Laboratory on Algebraic Transformation Groups have been named among the winners of the Young Russian Mathematics research grant competition. Also among the awardees is Vladislav Pokidkin, a PhD student at the Faculty of Mathematics.
HSE UNITY FEST 2025: Cross-Cultural Communication and the Synthesis of Traditions
HSE UNITY FEST, a large-scale, three-day celebration of national cultures, has taken place at HSE University. The event was an opportunity to make new friends and experience a true sense of unity, and visitors could immerse themselves in the cultures of different nations, explore their traditions and values, and take part in workshops and games. Students shared their impressions of the event with the HSE News Service.