August 6, 2025
We are thrilled to announce that Lauren Mossman, a graduate student in Applied Mathematics working with Professor Fernanda Valdovinos, has been awarded the highly competitive Simons Dissertation Fellowship—a remarkable recognition of her academic excellence, research promise, and dedication to the field of mathematics.
The Simons Dissertation Fellowship is a distinguished honor awarded to outstanding graduate students in mathematics during the final years of their Ph.D. program. Created in memory of Jim Simons, the late co-founder of the Simons Foundation, the fellowship reflects his enduring commitment to advancing mathematical research and supporting the next generation of scholars.
Lauren, currently entering the fourth year of her Ph.D. journey, stood out among applicants nationwide for her innovative research on ecosystem dynamics. Her dissertation explores how species interactions—both trophic and non-trophic—shape ecosystem dynamics. She introduces a new framework for classifying non-trophic interactions based on how they modify habitat quantity and quality, offering fresh insights into ecological resilience and management.
Her work spans theoretical modeling and field applications, including a case study of Chile’s rocky intertidal zones and analyses of ecosystem responses to threats like overharvesting and species invasions.
The Simons Dissertation Fellowship will provide her with critical support as she continues to pursue cutting-edge work in applied mathematics, allowing her to focus deeply on her dissertation and further elevate the impact of her research.
Please join us in congratulating Lauren Mossman on this outstanding achievement!