Marie-Hélène Tomé, a senior Mathematics major, will be awarded the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) 35th Annual Alice T. Schafer Prizes for Excellence in Mathematics by an Undergraduate Woman.
Tomé's research interests are in number theory and algebraic geometry. Through her participation in numerous research experiences, she has built an impressive body of work, including a solo paper published in the Journal of Number Theory. Her mentors praise her intuition, describing her as a fast learner and a deep thinker. They have indicated that she is already producing work at the level of a strong Ph.D. student and believe she will become a leading researcher. She has received numerous awards for her scholarship, including a Goldwater Scholarship and a National Merit Scholarship.
In addition to her mathematical abilities, her mentors commend her commitment to serving the mathematical community. Her contributions include volunteering in math circles, TA-ing for several courses, and serving on various STEM clubs on campus.
AWM invited Tomé to comment on her nomination. Here is what she said:
"I am honored and humbled to have been selected as a recipient of the Alice T. Schafer prize. I would like to thank the AWM for their work supporting women in mathematics.
I would like to thank the Department of Mathematics at Duke University for nurturing me and my professors who have helped me grow into the person I am today. I would like to thank my nominator Professor Samit Dasgupta for believing in me. I am grateful for the mentorship of Professor Lillian Pierce who showed me the beauty of number theory and geometry. I am grateful to Professor Kirsten Wickelgren for encouraging me to stick with commutative algebra and whose teaching and mentorship have inspired me to pursue algebraic geometry. I am grateful to Professor Jayce Getz for making difficult subjects accessible to undergraduates and for guiding me through research that is both rewarding and challenging. I would also like to thank Professor Robert Calderbank whose abstract algebra course and dedication to teaching encouraged me to pursue pure mathematics.
I am incredibly grateful to have been afforded the opportunity to participate in the UVA REU in Number Theory and the SMALL REU at Williams College. These research experiences have been an integral part of my journey in mathematics. I would like to thank Professor Ken Ono for seeing the potential in me and for helping me to find my own path. I would like to thank Professor Steven J. Miller for encouraging me to challenge myself and for his unwavering support. I continue to be inspired by his dedication to his students.
I would like to thank my coauthors and friends who have helped me to find joy in difficult times and with whom it has been a pleasure to share the good ones. I would like to thank my parents, my sister, and my grandparents without whom I would not be where I am today."
The annual Alice T. Schafer Prize for Excellence in Mathematics by an Undergraduate Woman was established by the Executive Committee of the AWM in 1990. The prize is named for Alice T. Schafer (1915–2009), one of the founders of AWM and its second president, who contributed greatly to women in mathematics throughout her career.
The 2025 AWM Alice T. Schafer Mathematics Prizes will be presented during the Joint Awards Celebration at the 2025 Joint Mathematics Meetings in Seattle, W A.
