Sophie Raynor
Modular operads and the mathematics of complex networks
I am a mathematician and lecturer at James Cook University, Bebegu Yumba campus, working in the College of Science and Engineering. In 2022, I have also taught in the College of Arts, Society and Education (CASE) at JCU. Before moving to JCU, I was a post-doctoral researcher at the Centre of Australian Category Theory (CoACT), Macquarie University. My research is in the general area of operad theory, with a focus on modular operads and their foundations. My aim is to develop modular operadic techniques to improve our understanding of complex networks. I also have a lifelong interest in inclusive maths education.
I believe that (pure) mathematics can make a significant contribution in the search for enduring solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems. As a working mathematician, it is my responsibility to critically examine my assumptions, practices and institutions, and work to highlight and dismantle barriers to opportunity for participation in mathematical enquiry.
News
- I'm incredibly honoured to have received a 2022 JCU Inclusive Teaching award.
- Valentina Wheeler and I are organising the AustMS Early Career Workshop to be held on 5 December, preceeding the main 2022 meeting of the AustMS at UNSW.
- My paper, together with Luci Bonatto, Safia Chettih, Abigail Linton, Marcy Robertson and Nathalie Wahl on An infinity operad for normalized cacti has been published in Topology and its Applications.
- Indigenising University Mathematics conference at the University of Newcastle 20-21 September 2021. Here are my reflections. (With corrections to the version included in the MQ Maths and Stats October newsletter.)
- My long paper on Graphical combinatorics and a distributive law for modular operads has been published in Advances in Mathematics. These errata have been communicated to the editor at Advances.
- The preprint of my paper on Brauer diagrams, modular operads and a nerve theorem for circuit algebras is available on the arXiv.
