About

Dr Cian O'Brien

I am currently working as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer in NUI Galway. Broadly, my research interests are generally in the areas of combinatorics of graphs and matrices, with a specific focus on structures relating to alternating sign matrices.

Research Output

Experience

Research

My main objects of study are alternating sign matrices, which are (0,1,-1)-matrices in which the non-zero entries of each row and column alternate in sign, beginning and ending with 1. Particular objects of interest to me include alternating signed bipartite graphs and related edge colouring problems, alternating sign hypermatrices and related Latin-like square structures, finite subgroups of GL(n,Q) generated by alternating sign matrices, and algebraic structures relating to alternating sign matrices when their entries are considered to be elements of F_3.

Teaching

Lecturer

Programming for Science and Finance.

Tutor

Group Theory, Linear Algebra, Discrete Mathematics, Algebraic Structures.

Lead Lecturer

Algebra modules for the "Professional Diploma in Mathematics for Teaching", in conjunction with the University of Limerick.

SUMS

Tutor in NUI Galway's undergraduate mathematics support drop in centre, SUMS.

Committees

Board of the School of Mathematics, Statistics & Applied Mathematics

Postgraduate Representative, 2019-2020

NUI Galway SIAM Student Chapter

Vice President, 2019-2020

Secretary, 2017-2019

NUI Galway Mathematics Society

Treasurer, 2017-2020