Lilit Martirosyan Advocates for Mathematics Research on Capitol Hill

Lilit Martirosyan, associate professor of mathematics at UNCW, recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to represent the mathematics community in national research advocacy and leadership efforts.

In January, Martirosyan spoke at the Association for Women in Mathematics session on women in mathematical physics. She presented her research on tensor categories, mathematical structures that help explain deep patterns connecting symmetry, geometry and physics. Her talk was supported by an American Mathematical Society grant.

As part of Joint Mathematics Meetings Hill Day, Martirosyan was among nearly 290 mathematicians nationwide who received formal advocacy training and then met directly with members of Congress to argue for sustained federal investment in mathematics research and graduate education. These meetings emphasized the central role of mathematics in science, technology, national competitiveness and workforce development.

“Speaking with members of Congress about research was a rare and meaningful experience,” she said. “Those conversations shape long-term priorities, and it is important that mathematicians are present when they happen.”

One particularly meaningful part of the visit was advocating alongside Kaitlyn Hohmeier, a former UNCW Honors student mentored by Martirosyan. After completing her honors thesis under Martirosyan’s guidance, Hohmeier went on to secure an NSF-funded graduate position at UNC–Chapel Hill. Together, they spoke about the importance of research pathways, mentorship, and federal funding in supporting students and early-career researchers in mathematics.

“Supporting students through nationally competitive opportunities such as the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is one of the most rewarding aspects of mentoring,” Martirosyan said. “These early research experiences play a critical role in launching successful graduate careers.”

Martirosyan also met with Congresswoman Valerie Foushee and visited both North Carolina senators’ offices, where she advocated for continued federal support for mathematics research, graduate education and the broader STEM workforce.

Martirosyan is a leader of WINART, one of the two largest international research networks in mathematics for women, connecting researchers in noncommutative algebra and representation theory. She also serves in a leadership role connected to the Heidelberg Laureate Forum, which brings together award-winning researchers in mathematics and computer science with young researchers and leading scientists from around the world.