Michael Ackermann

Tell us about your research.

My area of research is data-driven reduced order modeling, and my advisors are Serkan Gugercin and Steffen Werner.  I don't have a dissertation title just yet, but it will involve data driven modeling of dynamical systems for sure!

Congratulations on receiving the Simons Dissertation Fellowship! What does this recognition mean to you, and how has it shaped you as a researcher?

Receiving the Simons Dissertation Fellowship in Mathematics was a huge honor! While being able to self-fund research assistantships and conference travel is important to me, receiving this kind of recognition for my work means even more. It feels good to know that others value the research I have done and plan to do for the rest of my PhD.  Receiving this fellowship gives me the confidence that I have what it takes to become a tenured professor.  Of course, I didn’t do this alone.  I couldn’t have reached this point in my career without my advisors, Serkan and Steffen, who have been endlessly inspiring and supportive.

You’ve been busy with leadership roles, conferences, and even national lab research. Can you share some of the highlights?

I am an officer of our SIAM student chapter and Graduate Student Organization.  I am helping to organize the 2026 Young Mathematicians in Model Order Reduction conference at Virginia Tech.  This is a 100% student run conference, and 2026 will be the first year it is held in America!  I have spoken at numerous conferences, most recently at the Householder Symposium held at Cornell University, and I will be speaking at the Joint Math Meetings in D.C in January.  This summer, I was an intern with Sandia National Lab’s Computer Science Research Institute in Albuquerque, NM.  I am continuing to work with the National Lab as a year-round intern.

What's a memory from your time as a graduate student at Virginia Tech that made you think `wow, this is why I'm here'?

The first time I presented a proof of a new result to my advisor.  It was a surprising result, so I really had to convince him it was true. I realized that in that moment, I was the only person who knew about this result! It was such a cool feeling to finally be THE expert on a topic, and I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since!

What advice would you give to new graduate students?

Do not neglect your hobbies.  You can’t succeed in graduate school if you’re miserable.  Make time for friends and activities that make you happy!

Speaking of hobbies, what keeps you happy and helps you recharge?

Trailrunning! Specifically in the Pandapas Pond area.  I train for trail ultra marathons, and will compete in the Mountain Masochist 50k in November.  I also enjoy backpacking, hiking, lifting, and cooking.

What are your future career plans?

I hope to get a tenure track position at a research university, after a post doc!