People
Simon Rubinstein-Salzedo
Founder and Director, Kaleidoscope Circles
Founder and Director, Euler Circle
Simon received his PhD in mathematics from Stanford University in 2012 under the direction of Akshay Venkatesh in algebraic number theory. He has done research in many areas of mathematics, including number theory, algebraic geometry, combinatorics, game theory, probability, and complex analysis, and he has also published three books on mathematics. Before founding Euler Circle, Simon taught mathematics at Stanford University and Dartmouth College.
In addition to his teaching at universities, Simon has been teaching mathematics to advanced middle-school and high-school students for over two decades and is extremely popular among his students. He was previously the lecturer for Program II at the Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC), where he taught algebraic topology. He also worked at The Art of Problem Solving and has taught at many math events and run many math circles in the Bay Area. He is also a coach of the San Francisco Bay Area ARML team and has coached the team to six national championships. His greatest claim to fame in life is probably having a factoring trick named after him.
Simon has also successfully directed mathematics research projects for high-school students, leading to several original papers coauthored with students. His papers can be found on his website. Outside of mathematics, Simon is also an avid musician, chess player, and calligrapher.
Please contact him at simon@eulercircle.com.
Kathryn L. McGill
Director, Curie Circle
Kathryn received her PhD in physics from Cornell University in 2018, working with Paul McEuen on various experiments involving 2D materials. Her dissertation, Two-Dimensional Materials: From Berry Curvature to Wrapping a Microsphere, mainly explores the optoelectronic and mechanical properties of single-layer molybdenum disulfide. Before joining Kaleidoscope Circles, Kathryn worked at the University of Florida as an assistant instructional professor of physics.
As a part of her deep exploration of physics teaching and outreach, Kathryn has self-produced various physics-themed internet projects. While pursuing her PhD, Kathryn ran a YouTube channel called The Physics Factor that focused on the human side of doing physics, featuring Soft Matters, a series that features interviews with Cornell physics professors about their lives and work. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kathryn wrote a blog called Physics, Explained, which sprouted from her idea to write an introductory physics textbook, one blog post at a time.
In addition to her love of physics, Kathryn enjoys being a dog mom, reading, hiking, crocheting, and playing the viola, among other minor hobbies.
If you are interested in learning more about the physics Kathryn has contemplated over the years, please see her list of publications. You may reach her kathryn.mcgill@kalcircles.com for any physics questions or comments you may have.
Daniel Naylor
Teaching Assistant, Euler Circle
Daniel Naylor is a Statistics PhD at UC Irvine, and completed his undergraduate in mathematics at UCSB's College of Creative Studies. His primary interests are in statistics and data science, namely Bayesian methods, statistical modeling, probability theory, and real analysis. Outside of stressing about math, he likes to play video games, especially narrative-driven single-player games.
Shoshana Elgart
Teaching Assistant, Euler Circle
Shoshana Elgart is an undergraduate student at Stanford University, especially interested in dynamical systems and combinatorics, with a side of graph theory. She is fascinated by the applications of math to interdisciplinary questions, and absolutely loves teaching, having previously gotten to work as a teacher at the Cambridge Math Circle and a summer camp TA at the Berkeley Math Circle. Outside of math, she enjoys baking, playing chess, and hiking.
Benjamin Vakil
Teaching Assistant, Euler Circle
Benjamin Vakil is a sophomore math major at the University of Connecticut. Math-wise, he is currently interested in Number Theory, both of the analytic and algebraic flavors. He is very passionate about math education and is always happy to talk, especially with students. Outside of math, he likes to sing and study history. He grew up in Palo Alto, California.
Lucy Vuong
Teaching Assistant, Euler Circle
Lucy Vuong is a rising senior at Harvard double concentrating in mathematics and folklore. She is primarily interested in geometry and especially low-dimensional topology, but is always exploring where math might take her next! She has course assisted for various undergraduate math classes at Harvard, including Abstract Algebra and Classical Geometry, and in her free time she enjoys puzzle games, dancing, and calligraphy.
Ethan Martirosyan
Teaching Assistant, Euler Circle
Ethan Martirosyan has recently graduated from the College of Creative Studies at UCSB with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. His special interests include analysis and topology. Outside of school, he enjoys going for long walks on the beach.