Javier Moreno

Math

I'm interested in the interaction between differential algebra and model theory (a branch of mathematical logic.) My work is focused on developing extensions of Kolchin's Differential Galois Theory to more general contexts using so-called geometric stability methods. In my dissertation (pdf) I introduced a non-linear differential Galois theory for iterative differential fields in positive characteristic. In collaboration with Rahim Moosa and Ómar León (University of Waterloo), I am now exploring the possibility of extending the Galois theory of linear difference (and difference-dfferential) equations to a non-linear (strongly normal) setting in (hopefully) arbitrary characteristic.

Fiction

I write fiction in Spanish. A collection of some of my short stories entitled Lo definitivo y lo temporal was published by Fondo Editorial EAFIT on October 2008. On September 2010, I released the e-book Inframundo, a brief collection of short paranormal fiction. Additionally, I've written articles for El Espectador, Ochoymedio.info, Pie de Página, El Malpensante, The Quarterly Conversation and Arcadia. I am also member of the editorial team of HermanoCerdo, an e-magazine in Spanish on literature and martial arts.

I blog at Rango Finito.

Papers and Slides

Papers

Iterative differential Galois theory: a model theoretic approach, J. Symbolic Logic, Volume 76, Issue 1 (2011), 125-142.

Slides and Talks

Uses of internality: An updated description of my research, making emphasis on the equational approach to differential Galois theory (Model Theory Seminar, McMaster University, March 2011.)
A few things logic can say about differential equations: A presentation of my research for a broad audience of mathematicians (Pure Math Colloquium, University of Waterloo, March 2011.)
Some applications of model theory to differential Galois theory: Slides for an introductory talk on the subject for model theory students (Model Theory at Kirishima, Japan, March 2010.)
Model theory and differential Galois theory, an introduction: Rough notes for a (quite elementary) talk at the Logic Seminar (University of Waterloo, January 13th, 2010.)
Iterative differential equations and Galois groups: Slides for my job talk (Université Lyon 1, May 6th, 2008.)
Strongly normal extensions of iterative differential fields: Slides for a short talk I gave at the Atelier MODNET de Théorie des modèles des corps (Luminy, France, November 15th, 2007.)

Random bits

I was born in Bogotá, Colombia. I grew up in Lorica, Colombia. I am left handed. I endured the rigours of military training. I like ninjas, robots, structure, parallelisms, brevity, mojitos and friendship. I am an advocate of open culture and free software. I believe that science, technology and mathematics should be accesible to everyone. I have lived in too many places already. I rather prefer to stay at home. I take pictures. I am married to Mónica Guzmán. She is a neuroscientist with a weakness for neurodegenerative disorders. Plinio is the name of our Spanish cat. He is an antropologist, sociologist and diletante who was allegedly born in 1903. In London, Ontario, where we now live, we adopted Gonta, our second cat. He is a survivor. On September 9th 2010 our son, Mauricio Arturo, was born. Unfortunately, he died three days later. He was beautiful. We miss him.

Academic Bio

I did my undergrad at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Then, I went to Urbana, Illinois, to pursue graduate studies. While writing my dissertation, I spent some time in Leeds, UK, and Barcelona, Spain. From 2008 to 2010 I was a postdoctoral researcher at the Institut Camille Jordan, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. From January to December 2011 I'm a postdoctoral fellow at the department of pure mathematics of the University of Waterloo.

Contact

Questions, concerns, requests, &c.
bluelephant@gmail.com