TTU Math Chair Named AMW 2025 Fellow

10.23.2024 | Jenna McAlister

 

Photo:  Portrait of Magdalena Toda

The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) has named Magdalena Toda of as one of its seven fellows for 2025. Toda, who serves as the department chair of mathematics and is also a professor at Texas Tech, is recognized for her outstanding leadership in supporting women and girls in mathematics. Toda and the other eight fellows will be recognized during the AWM Reception on Jan. 10, 2025.  
 
In addition to her service on AWM and various local and national committees advocating for equity, her academic contributions are notable. Toda's research focuses on differential geometry and its applications across fields such as molecular biology, fluid dynamics and geometric image analysis. Her early work emphasized moving frame methods and Lie group theory, culminating in her Ph.D. dissertation on generalized Lie-algebraic representations of pseudospherical surfaces. Over the years, she has developed a keen interest in the geometric aspects of integrable systems in physics and engineering, particularly in nonlinear fluid flows and protein folding. 
 
Since 2009, her work has extended to studying Willmore surfaces and flows, drawing connections between geometric structures and real-world applications in microbiology and biophysics. This multidisciplinary approach not only enriches the mathematical community but also enhances the understanding of complex biological processes. 
 
The AWM Fellows Program honors members who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to the advancement of women in mathematics, consistent with the organization's mission to foster a thriving, inclusive community for women and girls in the mathematical sciences.