Dmitry Vaintrob, South Eugene High School, Eugene, Oregon
Western Region Silver Medal Winner

The string topology BV algebra, Hochschild cohomology and the Goldman bracket on surfaces

Dmitry Vaintrob's project seeks to establish a connection between two different areas of mathematics. This connection may lead to new applications in theoretical physics pertaining to research on string theory and mirror symmetry. With a focus on topological objects in mathematics, Mr. Vaintrob's work taps into insights which are universal and applicable in any field. His mentor was Pavel Etingof, MIT Professor of Mathematics.

Mr. Vaintrob, a senior, is hoping to translate a lifelong fascination with mathematics into a career teaching on a college level. His project is the latest example of mathematic problem solving that has been encouraged by his parents since childhood. Mr. Vaintrob volunteers in two libraries, in his high school and the mathematics library at the University of Oregon. He is also the organizer of the math club in his school. Mr. Vaintrob is a pianist who enjoys reading classical literature and carrying the Russian tradition of memorizing poetry. He is fluent in Russian, French and English.