My research lies at the intersection of geometry, topology, combinatorics, probability, and the mathematical social sciences. I have worked on fair division and voting, combinatorial fixed-point theorems, triangulations of polytopes, random walks, and—more recently—the randomness complexity of differential privacy. Many of these projects have involved undergraduate collaborators.
Academic profiles: Google Scholar · ORCID · Curriculum vitae
Jump to: research areas · refereed publications · society reports · other scholarly writing · dissertation
Research areas
- Fair division, voting, and social choice
- Combinatorial topology and fixed-point theorems
- Triangulations and polytopes
- Probability, random walks, and differential privacy
Publication note. In pure mathematics, authorship is conventionally alphabetical; an asterisk (*) marks an undergraduate coauthor. Linked preprints may differ slightly from the published versions. This list is current through July 2026.
Refereed publications
2025
C. L. Canonne, F. E. Su, and S. P. Vadhan, “The randomness complexity of differential privacy,” 16th Innovations in Theoretical Computer Science Conference (ITCS 2025), LIPIcs 325 (2025), 27:1–27:21. PDF · full version · DOI
2024
F. E. Su, “For human flourishing, build mathematical virtues, not just skills,” in Proceedings of the 14th International Congress on Mathematical Education, vol. II (East China Normal University Press / World Scientific, 2024), 619–626. PDF · DOI
2021
R. Alvarado, M. Averett, B. Gaines, C. Jackson, M. L. Karker, M. A. Marciniak, F. E. Su, and S. Walker, “The Game of Cycles,” The American Mathematical Monthly 128 (2021), 868–887. arXiv · DOI
2020
K. Nyman, F. E. Su, and S. Zerbib, “Fair division with multiple pieces,” Discrete Applied Mathematics 283 (2020), 115–122. arXiv · DOI
2019
F. Meunier and F. E. Su, “Multilabeled versions of Sperner’s and Fan’s lemmas and applications,” SIAM Journal on Applied Algebra and Geometry 3 (2019), 391–411. arXiv · DOI
F. E. Su and S. Zerbib, “Piercing numbers in approval voting,” Mathematical Social Sciences 101 (2019), 65–71. arXiv · DOI
2018
T. Seacrest* and F. E. Su, “A lower bound technique for triangulations of simplotopes,” SIAM Journal on Discrete Mathematics 32 (2018), 1–28. arXiv · DOI
2017
F. E. Su, “Mathematics for Human Flourishing,” The American Mathematical Monthly 124 (2017), 483–493. Reprinted in The Best Writing on Mathematics 2018. Winner of the 2018 Paul R. Halmos–Lester R. Ford Award. PDF · DOI
B. Kuture*, C. Loa*, O. Leong*, M. Sondjaja, and F. E. Su, “Proving Tucker’s lemma with a volume argument,” Contemporary Mathematics 685 (2017), 223–230. arXiv · DOI
2014
F. E. Su, “The Lesson of Grace in Teaching,” 2013 Haimo Award Lecture, in The Best Writing on Mathematics 2014 (Princeton University Press, 2014). PDF
M. Davis, M. E. Orrison, and F. E. Su, “Voting for committees in agreeable societies,” Contemporary Mathematics 624 (2014), 147–157. arXiv · DOI
M. M. Klawe, K. L. Nyman, J. N. Scott*, and F. E. Su, “Double-interval societies,” Contemporary Mathematics 624 (2014), 135–146. arXiv · DOI
Z. Landau and F. E. Su, “Fair division and redistricting,” Contemporary Mathematics 624 (2014), 17–36. arXiv · DOI
A. Niedermaier*, D. Rizzolo*, and F. E. Su, “A Tree Sperner Lemma,” Contemporary Mathematics 625 (2014), 77–92. arXiv · DOI
2013
K. Nyman and F. E. Su, “A Borsuk–Ulam equivalent that directly implies Sperner’s lemma,” The American Mathematical Monthly 120 (2013), 346–354. PDF · DOI
2012
S. Gupta, P. Rockstroh*, and F. E. Su, “Splitting fields and periods of Fibonacci sequences modulo primes,” Mathematics Magazine 85 (2012), 130–135. arXiv · DOI
2011
F. E. Su, “The agreeable society theorem,” in T. Shubin, D. F. Hayes, and G. L. Alexanderson, eds., Expeditions in Mathematics (Mathematical Association of America, 2011). DOI
2010
F. E. Su, “Teaching research: encouraging discoveries,” The American Mathematical Monthly 117 (2010), 759–769. Reprinted in The Best Writing on Mathematics 2011. PDF · DOI
D. Berg*, S. Norine, F. E. Su, R. Thomas, and P. Wollan, “Voting in agreeable societies,” The American Mathematical Monthly 117 (2010), 27–39. arXiv · DOI
J. Cloutier*, K. Nyman, and F. E. Su, “Two-player envy-free multi-cake division,” Mathematical Social Sciences 59 (2010), 26–37. arXiv · DOI
2008
C. J. Haake, A. Kashiwada*, and F. E. Su, “The Shapley value of phylogenetic trees,” Journal of Mathematical Biology 56 (2008), 479–497. arXiv · DOI
2007
D. Rizzolo* and F. E. Su, “A fixed point theorem for the infinite-dimensional simplex,” Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications 332 (2007), 1063–1070. arXiv · DOI
G. Spencer* and F. E. Su, “The LSB theorem implies the KKM lemma,” The American Mathematical Monthly 114 (2007), 156–159. arXiv · DOI
2005
T. Prescott* and F. E. Su, “A constructive proof of Ky Fan’s generalization of Tucker’s lemma,” Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A 111 (2005), 257–265. PDF with errata · arXiv · DOI
A. Bliss* and F. E. Su, “Lower bounds for simplicial covers and triangulations of cubes,” Discrete & Computational Geometry 33 (2005), 669–686. arXiv · DOI
2004
D. Hensley and F. E. Su, “Random walks with badly approximable numbers,” in Unusual Applications of Number Theory, DIMACS Series 64 (American Mathematical Society, 2004), 95–101. PDF · arXiv · DOI
T. Prescott* and F. E. Su, “Random walks on the torus with several generators,” Random Structures & Algorithms 25 (2004), 336–345. arXiv · DOI
2003
F. W. Simmons and F. E. Su, “Consensus-halving via theorems of Borsuk–Ulam and Tucker,” Mathematical Social Sciences 45 (2003), 15–25. PDF · DOI
A. T. Benjamin, C. R. H. Hanusa*, and F. E. Su, “Linear recurrences through tilings and Markov chains,” Utilitas Mathematica 64 (2003), 3–17. PDF
2002
J. A. De Loera, E. Peterson*, and F. E. Su, “A polytopal generalization of Sperner’s lemma,” Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A 100 (2002), 1–26. PDF · DOI
A. L. Gibbs and F. E. Su, “On choosing and bounding probability metrics,” International Statistical Review 70 (2002), no. 3, 419–435. arXiv · DOI
E. Peterson* and F. E. Su, “Four-person envy-free chore division,” Mathematics Magazine 75 (2002), 117–122. PDF · DOI
C. J. Haake, M. G. Raith, and F. E. Su, “Bidding for envy-freeness: a procedural approach to n-player fair-division problems,” Social Choice and Welfare 19 (2002), 723–749. PDF · DOI
2001
F. E. Su, “Discrepancy convergence for the drunkard’s walk on the sphere,” Electronic Journal of Probability 6 (2001), paper no. 2, 1–20. PDF · arXiv · DOI
2000
M. G. Raith and F. E. Su, “Procedural support for cooperative negotiations: theoretical design and practical implementation,” in Advances in Decision Technology and Intelligent Information Systems, vol. I (IIAS, 2000), 31–36. PDF
A. T. Benjamin, J. J. Quinn, and F. E. Su, “Phased tilings and generalized Fibonacci identities,” Fibonacci Quarterly 38 (2000), 282–288. PDF
A. T. Benjamin, J. J. Quinn, and F. E. Su, “Counting on continued fractions,” Mathematics Magazine 73 (2000), 98–104. PDF · DOI
F. E. Su, review of Cake-Cutting Algorithms: Be Fair if You Can, by J. Robertson and W. Webb, The American Mathematical Monthly 107 (2000), 185–188. PDF · DOI
F. E. Su, “A LeVeque-type lower bound for discrepancy,” in Monte Carlo and Quasi-Monte Carlo Methods 1998 (Springer-Verlag, 2000), 448–458. PDF · DOI
1999
F. E. Su, “Rental harmony: Sperner’s lemma in fair division,” The American Mathematical Monthly 106 (1999), 930–942. Winner of the 2001 MAA Merten M. Hasse Prize. PDF · DOI
1998
F. E. Su, “Convergence of random walks on the circle generated by an irrational rotation,” Transactions of the American Mathematical Society 350 (1998), 3717–3741. PDF · DOI
1997
F. E. Su, “Borsuk–Ulam implies Brouwer: a direct construction,” The American Mathematical Monthly 104 (1997), 855–859. PDF · DOI
Society reports
2021
T. Inniss, J. Lewis, I. Mitrea, K. Okoudjou, A. Salerno, F. E. Su, and D. Thurston, Towards a Fully Inclusive Mathematics Profession, report of the AMS Task Force on Understanding and Documenting the Historical Role of the AMS in Racial Discrimination (American Mathematical Society, 2021). PDF
2018
NCTM Writing Team, Catalyzing Change in High School Mathematics: Initiating Critical Conversations (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2018). book · executive summary
Professional & public writing
2026
F. Su, “Interview with Ken Ono on The Man Who Knew Infinity,” MAA FOCUS, Feb./Mar. 2026, 42–45. article
2025
R. Levy and F. Su, “Dialoguing Through Difference,” MAA FOCUS, Aug./Sep. 2025, 34–36. article
2023
F. Su and A. C. Hanbury, “Math Isn’t Good for You. It’s Good for Us.,” Common Good, Dec. 2023.
F. Su, “Persisting in Problem-Solving: Melanie Matchett Wood, MacArthur Fellow,” MAA FOCUS, June/July 2023. article
M. Dorff, D. Haunsperger, J. Quinn, H. Soto, and F. Su, “How and Why Not to Sunset Mathematics Programs,” MAA FOCUS, June/July 2023.
2022
J. A. De Loera and F. Su, “Calculus isn’t the only option. Let’s broaden and update the current math curriculum,” The Sacramento Bee, June 5, 2022. article
F. Su, “Points of View: Making Space for Wonder, Joy, and Deeper Understanding in Mathematics,” chapter 2 of Success Stories from Catalyzing Change in Mathematics (NCTM, 2022).
T. Inniss, J. Lewis, I. Mitrea, K. Okoudjou, A. Salerno, F. Su, and D. Thurston, “Towards a Fully Inclusive Mathematics Profession—One Year Later,” Notices of the American Mathematical Society 69 (2022), no. 7, 1214–1219. PDF
F. Su, “Can Mathematics Be Spiritual?,” John Templeton Foundation / Big Think, 2022. article
F. Su, “Finite Disappointment, Infinite Hope: The 2021 Iris M. Carl Equity Address,” Mathematics Teacher: Learning and Teaching PK–12 115 (2022), 598–599. PDF · DOI
2020
F. E. Su, “A Word From… Francis Su, Vice President of the AMS,” Notices of the American Mathematical Society 67 (2020), 1661–1662. PDF
2019
F. E. Su, “Should I Quit Mathematics?,” in Living Proof: Stories of Resilience Along the Mathematical Journey (American Mathematical Society, 2019); reprinted in Notices of the American Mathematical Society, Oct. 2019. PDF
F. E. Su, foreword to A Mathematician’s Practical Guide to Mentoring Undergraduate Research, by M. Dorff, A. Henrich, and L. Pudwell (American Mathematical Society, 2019).
2018
F. E. Su, foreword to Mathematics for Sustainability, by J. Roe, R. deForest, and S. Jamshidi (Springer, 2018).
2017
F. E. Su, “Five Reflective Exam Questions,” MAA Teaching Tidbits Blog, Mar. 2017. related essay
F. E. Su, “MathFeed: The Math News App,” MAA FOCUS, Dec./Jan. 2017, 30–31. article
2016
F. E. Su, “Race, Space, and the Conflict Inside Us,” MAA FOCUS, Oct./Nov. 2016, 42–43. PDF
F. E. Su, “Proof School,” MAA FOCUS, Aug./Sep. 2016, 24–26.
F. E. Su, “The Value of Struggle,” MAA FOCUS, June/July 2016, 20–21. PDF
F. E. Su, “CIMAT: Mathematics in Guanajuato,” MAA FOCUS, Apr./May 2016, 30–31.
F. E. Su, “Reflection on Math Awareness Month,” Notices of the American Mathematical Society 63 (2016), 356.
F. E. Su, “Snapshots from my centennial year,” MAA FOCUS, Feb./Mar. 2016, 36–37.
F. E. Su, “The secret mathematical menu,” MAA FOCUS, Dec./Jan. 2016, 28–30. PDF
2015
F. E. Su, “Mathematical microaggressions,” MAA FOCUS, Oct./Nov. 2015, 36–37. PDF · article
F. E. Su, “Some guidelines for good mathematical writing,” MAA FOCUS, Aug./Sep. 2015, 20–22. PDF
F. E. Su, “To the mathematical beach,” MAA FOCUS, June/July 2015, 18–19. PDF
F. E. Su, “An organization for all of us,” MAA FOCUS, Apr./May 2015, 8–9.
2014
F. E. Su, “Solve this math problem: the gender gap,” Los Angeles Times, Aug. 25, 2014. article
2012
B. Mayfield and F. E. Su, “The AWARDS Project: Promoting Good Practices in Award Selection,” MAA FOCUS, Oct./Nov. 2012, 18–19. PDF · article
2004
F. E. Su, “Magical Miscellany,” Math Horizons, Feb. 2004, 28–29.
A. J. Bernoff and F. E. Su, “Putnam, Pizza, and Problem-Solving,” Math Horizons, Sep. 2004.
Dissertation
F. E. Su, Methods for Quantifying Rates of Convergence for Random Walks on Groups, Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard University, 1995. Advisor: Persi Diaconis. Harvard record
Publication list updated July 2026.