ResearchGo Top
[May 2011] Back in the UK now, searching for new projects and anticipating exciting new challenges. Those looking to get in contact can reach me at andrew{at}ajwilson{dot}co{dot}uk and find my CV here.
[Jan 2011] Currently, I am visiting the University of Sydney working on a del Pezzo package for Magma with Martin Bright, Gavin Brown and Steve Donnelly. Hopefully, this will eventually dovetail with some code of Gavin and Martin's that calculates Riemman-Roch spaces. This will allow us to calculate the 'worst' (G-invariant) divisors in the pluri-anti-canonical linear systems --- i.e. a calculator for lct_m(X,G), where G is a finite group acting bi-regularly on a (possibly du Val) del Pezzo X.
[Sep 2010] Recently, I have completed my PhD (abstract) under Dr Ivan Cheltsov at the University of Edinburgh. In my thesis I calculate global log canonical thresholds on smooth del Pezzo G-surfaces (where G is a finite group acting bi-regularly the surface such that the invariant Picard rank is one), finding that lct=lct_m for m=1,2 or 4; that is, that the global log canonical threshold is realised by a G-invariant divisor in the first, second or fourth anti-canonical linear system. I use these to classify the G-surfaces into G-exceptional and G-weakly-exceptional. There are applications of these results to the existence of Kähler-Einstein metrics, convergence of the Kähler-Ricci itteration and to certain conjugacy questions in higher rank Cremona groups.
Mathematics
Below are some of my mathematical writings, with varying levels of accuracy...any mistakes / comments can be emailed to me at andrew {at} ajwilson {dot} co {dot} uk.
- [Apr 2011] Del Pezzo Surfaces and Group Actions on Algebraics Varieties in Magma, Report on my time at Magma
- [Jan 2011] Del Pezzo Surfaces with Many Symmetries, joint pre-print with Ivan Cheltsov
- [Sep 2010] Smooth Exceptional del Pezzo Surfaces, PhD thesis (abstract)
- [Dec 2006] The Lüroth Problem, First year report for PhD
- [Sep 2006] Birational maps and blowing things up, Talk for the Geometry Club, University of Edinburgh
- [Feb 2005] A Glance Through the Gate: Clifford's Geometrical Algebra, Honours Dissertation for MSci
- [Sep 2004] Creating aperiodic tilings of the plane with exotic rotational symmetry, Report for Nuffield Foundation Undergraduate Research Bursary
Miscellaneous
- [Mar 2010] Finite Subgroups of Cremona Groups, Poster and mug design (with Ivan Cheltsov)
- [Apr 2010] Insights on Ethical Consumption, Knowledge Transfer Poster design (with Margarita Kominou)
EducationGo Top
- [2010 - 2011] PGCert in University Teaching (In Progress), University of Edinburgh
- [2006 - 2010] PhD supervised by Ivan Cheltsov "Smooth Exceptional del Pezzo Surfaces", University of Edinburgh
- [2002 - 2005] MSci in Mathematics, University of Glasgow (2.1 degree classification)
- [1999 - 2002] Electronic & Elec. Engineering, University of Glasgow
- [1997 - 1999] Highers: McLaren High School, Callander (ABAAA : Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Music, Physics)
Received Awards
- [2006 - 2009] EPSRC scholarship for PhD in Algebraic Geometry
- [Summer 2004] Nuffield Foundation Undergraduate Research Bursary in Science (URB/01796/G) 'Creating aperiodic tilings of the plane with exotic rotational symmetry' with Prof Peter Kropholler
- [2004] Lamont prize for 'an excellent performance' in the Junior Honors seminars
EventsGo Top
Conferences / Workshops
- [6th - 10th Dec 2010] Birational Geometry (Shokurov's 60th), ICMS, Edinburgh, Scotland
- [21st - 22nd Jun 2010] Quotient Singularities and Related Problems, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
- [14th - 15th May 2010] Finite Subgroups of Cremona Groups II, University of Edinburgh
- [29th - 30th Mar 2010] Finite Subgroups of Cremona Groups I, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
- [30th Mar - 8th Apr 2009] Recent advances in the higher dimensional minimal model program, POSTECH, Pohang, South Korea
- [11th -14th Nov 2008] Analytic and algebraic aspects of the MMP and higher dimensional classification, Institut Fourier, Grenoble
- [12th - 18th Oct 2008] Higher Dimensional Algebraic Geometry, Workshop organized by C. Hacon and S. Kovàcs, Mathematisches Forschungsinstitut Oberwolfach (Photos)
- [13th - 18th Mar 2008] Explicit methods in three-folds, Weekend workshop, Warwick University
- [14th - 25th Jan 2008] del Pezzo surfaces and related problems, POSTECH, Pohang, South Korea
- [12th - 20th Dec 2007] Higher dimensional minimal model program, Conference, Warwick University
- [1st - 6th Nov 2007] Introduction to the recent breakthroughs in the higher dimensional minimal model program, Weekend workshop, Warwick University
- [18th Jun - 6th Jul 2007] Geometry of complex projective varieties and the minimal model program, Summer school in Mathematics, Institut Fourier, Grenoble
- [9th - 10th Jan 2005] Prospects in Mathematics, University of Durham
Talks
- [10th Feb 2011] Computing invariant global log canonical thresholds in Magma, Computational Algebra Seminar, University of Sydney
- [1st Dec 2010] Computing log canonical thresholds and applications, Geometry Club, University of Edinburgh
- [21st Jun 2010] Alpha-invariant of Tian and exceptional quotient singularities, University of Edinburgh
- [15th Mar 2010] Alpha-invariant of Tian and subgroups of Cremona groups, University of Edinburgh
- [1st Apr 2009] Smooth exceptional del Pezzo surfaces, POSTECH, Pohang, South Korea
- [17th Jan 2008] Group-invariant log canonical thresholds, POSTECH, Pohang, South Korea
- [28th Sept 2007] Log canonical thresholds, Geometry Club, University of Edinburgh
- [30th Sept 2006] Birational maps and blowing things up, Geometry Club, University of Edinburgh
- [23rd Nov 2006] Be Rational! - Some rationality criterion for varieties, PG Colloquium, University of Edinburgh
- [22nd Nov 2006] Castelnuovo's Rationality Criterion, Complex algebraic surfaces guest lecture, University of Edinburgh
- [5th Dec 2006] The Lüroth Problem, First Year PhD Talk, University of Edinburgh
TeachingGo Top
Current teaching
[Nov 2011] Looking for for an experienced tutor to help with your upcoming exams? I can help, contact me at tutor{at}ajwilson{dot}co{dot}uk.
- [Nov - Dec 2011] Undergraduate Tutor (private), Self-employed
Past teaching
- [2009 - 2010] Course Lecturer, University of Edinburgh
- [Semester 1 2010/11] Af0: Applicable Maths 0 (foundation)
- [Semester 1 2010/11] AM/MM1: Mathematics for 1st and 2nd year music technology students
- [Semester 1 2009/10] Af0: Applicable Maths 0 (foundation)
- [Jun - Jul 2009 & 2010] Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools (LEAPS) Tutor, University of Edinburgh
- [2006 - 2010] Undergraduate Tutor, University of Edinburgh
- [Semester 1 2010/11] MSS: Mathematical Study Skills
- [Semester 1 2010/11] Honours 2: Foundations of Calculus / Several Variable Calculus
- [Semester 2 2009/10] Mathsbase: Drop-in Tutorial
- [Semester 2 2009/10] Mi4: Mathematics for informatics students
- [Semester 2 2009/10] Honours 1: Geometry & Convergence / Group Theory
- [Semester 1 2009/10] AM3/MM3: Mathematics for 2nd year engineers
- [Semester 1 2009/10] Mathsbase: Drop-in Tutorial
- [Semester 1 2009/10] Mi1: Mathematics for informatics students
- [Semester 1 2009/10] Mi3: Mathematics for informatics students
- [Semester 1 2009/10] MSS: Mathematical Study Skills
- [Semester 2 2008/09] Mathsbase (during exam time)
- [Semester 2 2008/09] Honours 2: Geometry & Calculus of Variations / Linear Algebra
- [Semester 2 2008/09] Mi2: Mathematics for 1st year informatics students
- [Semester 2 2008/09] Mathematical Communication and Computation Skills - Maple tutor
- [Semester 1 2008/09] Honours 2: Several variable calculus / Foundations of calculus
- [Semester 1 2008/09] Mi1: Mathematics for 1st year informatics students
- [Semester 1 2007/08] AM3 / MM3: Mathematics for 2nd year engineers
- [Semester 1 2007/08] AM1 / MM1: Mathematics for 1st year engineers
- [Semester 2 2006/07] AM2 / MM2: Mathematics for 1st year engineers
- [Semester 1 2006/07] AM3 / MM3: Mathematics for 2nd year engineers
- [Semester 1 2006/07] Mathsbase: Drop-in tutorial
- [Semester 2 2005/06] Honours 1: Geometry & Convergence / Group Theory
- [Semester 2 2005/06] Mathsbase: Drop-in tutorial
- [10th - 14th Apr 2007] Demonstrator, Edinburgh Science Festival
- [Jan - May 2006] Standard Grade Tutor (Private), Self-employed
- [Autumn 2004] Master-Class Tutor, Royal Institution of Great Britain
- [2002 - 2006] Open-Day Student Assistant, University of Glasgow
ContactGo Top
E: andrew {at} ajwilson {dot} co {dot} uk

