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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joan Birman (born 1927) is an American topologist, specializing in braids and knot theory. Her book Braids, Links, and Mapping Class Groups has become a standard introduction, with many of today's researchers having learned the subject through it. Birman is currently Research Professor Emeritus at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she has been since 1973.

[edit] Education

Birman received her B.A. (1948) in mathematics from Barnard College and an M.A. (1950) from Columbia University. She received her Ph.D. in 1968 from the Courant Institute (NYU) under the supervision of Wilhelm Magnus.

[edit] Career

Birman's first position was at the Stevens Institue of Technology (1968-1973). She also was a visiting professor at Princeton University during part of this period. In 1973, she joined the faculty at Barnard College.

[edit] References

• Allyn Jackson and Lisa Traynor, Interview with Joan Birman, AMS Notices, January 2007, Volume 54 , Number 1