Thu, 27 Nov 2025

16:00 - 17:00
L5

TBA

Yadh Hafsi
(OMI visitor)
Abstract

TBA

Thu, 20 Nov 2025

15:00 - 16:00
L2

Global and local regression: a signature approach with applications

Prof. Christian Bayer
(Weierstrass Institute Berlin)
Abstract

The path signature is a powerful tool for solving regression problems on path space, i.e., for computing conditional expectations $\mathbb{E}[Y | X]$ when the random variable $X$ is a stochastic process -- or a time-series. We provide new theoretical convergence guarantees for two different, complementary approaches to regression using signature methods. In the context of global regression, we show that linear functionals of the robust signature are universal in the $L^p$ sense in a wide class of examples. In addition, we present a local regression method based on signature semi-metrics, and show universality as well as rates of convergence. 

 

Based on joint works with Davit Gogolashvili, Luca Pelizzari, and John Schoenmakers.

 

 

Please note: The MCF seminar usually takes place on Thursdays from 16:00 to 17:00 in L5. However, for this week, the timing will be changed to 15:00 to 16:00.

PhD positions are available in Computational Research, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ). DKFZ is Germany's largest biomedical research institute with its core site in Heidelberg, where computational scientists work at the forefront of AI and cancer research. They combine interdisciplinary approaches from computer science, medical informatics, physics, biology, bioinformatics and statistics to analyze and understand complex biological and medical data.

The motion of a surfactant-laden bubble in a channel or a Hele-Shaw cell
Griffiths, I Howell, P Booth, D Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Fri, 21 Nov 2025
13:00
L6

Intrinsic bottleneck distance in merge tree space

Gillian Grindstaff
(Oxford University)
Abstract

Merge trees are a topological descriptor of a filtered space that enriches the degree zero barcode with its merge structure. The space of merge trees comes equipped with an interleaving distance dI , which prompts a naive question: is the interleaving distance between two merge trees equal to the bottleneck distance between their corresponding barcodes? As the map from merge trees to barcodes is not injective, the answer as posed is no, but as proposed by Gasparovic et al., we explore intrinsic metrics dI and dB realized by infinitesimal path length in merge tree space, which do indeed coincide. This result suggests that in some special cases the bottleneck distance (which can be computed quickly) can be substituted for the interleaving distance (in general, NP-hard).

We are currently inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Professor Massimiliano Gubinelli at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford. This is a three-year, fixed-term position, funded by an UKRI Frontier research grant. The successful candidate will be expected to take up this post as soon as possible, with a latest start date of1st October 2026.

We are currently inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work with Professor Massimiliano Gubinelli at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford. This is a 30 month, fixed-term position, funded by a Simons Foundation research grant. The successful candidate will be expected to take up this post as soon as possible, with a latest start date of1st October 2026.

Despite being Week 5 of term, it's never too late to get involved in student-led societies! The Invariants still have lots of events coming up this side of Christmas, including a talk by Giulia Celora on The Mathematics of Biological Self-Organisation, a hot chocolate social, and their Integration Bee! 

More details on all events can be found on their website: https://www.invariants.org.uk/events 

Subscribe to