Tristen Brisky

My name is Tristen, and I am a senior majoring and submatriculating in mathematics with a minor in economics. I am broadly interested in algebra and number theory, specifically topics surrounding the Langlands program.

I have been fortunate to find several Penn faculty who have facilitated my interest in algebraic structures, specifically through supervised reading courses. These independent studies have allowed me to explore topics of interest by reading textbooks and meeting with professors weekly to discuss the content and its relevance to modern research. Moreover, my work at Penn provided me with the experience necessary to undertake research projects at Ohio State and Michigan over the past two summers.

Feel free to contact me with any questions about research or academics in general. As a first-generation, low-income student from rural Wisconsin, I felt unprepared for Penn academics; I didn’t know what math research consisted of until after my first year of college. My RPA has been invaluable in helping me get research opportunities, and I hope to pass on my experiences to assist fellow Penn students. I look forward to hearing from you!

• Undergraduate researcher at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor’s Math REU, supervised by Elad Zelingher (Summer 2025)
• Several reading courses supervised by Penn mathematics professors Daniel Krashen (Fall 2023 – Present), David Harbater (Fall 2024), Dennis DeTurck (Fall 2024), and Julia Hartmann (Summer 2023)
• Barry Goldwater Scholarship (March 2025)
• Undergraduate researcher at Ohio State’s Math REU, supervised by David Penneys (Summer 2024)