Brendan Hassett
Professor of Mathematics
Dr. Hassett's website
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Dr. Brendan Hassett is a member of the Rice Mathematics department. His research is in the field of algebraic geometry and the geometry of solutions to algebraic equations. Dr. Hassett has co-organized the Texas Algebraic Geometry Seminar, a conference at Rice held jointly with the University of Texas-Austin and Texas A&M University, for which he received support from the National Science Foundation and Rice University.
“Brendan Hassett is one of those rare people around whom great things happen in abundance. These range from his research in algebraic geometry—which spans several distinct subfields and has earned him an international reputation for excellence and several important awards and positions—to his patient, thoughtful and considerate mentoring of large herds of students and young scholars both at Rice and elsewhere. It encompasses the clarity of his lectures and the insight in his expository writing. He is the true Rice scholar: at the cutting edge of contemporary mathematical investigations, sought out by colleagues around the world for leadership, but always willing to spend time with a student. We are greatly privileged to have Brendan on our faculty,” asserts Dr. Michael Wolf, chair of Mathematics.
What does Dr. Hassett like about Houston and Rice? “The job opportunities for my spouse, dynamic immigrant communities, especially the Chinese community, the collegial environment of the Mathematics department, the quality of the residential environment and the schools near the Rice campus brought me here,” he says, adding, “questions from my students—trying to answer basic questions from young people can lead to wonderful research projects.”
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Dr. Hassett holds degrees from the Nichols School in Buffalo, Yale College, and Harvard University. When not conducting research, Dr. Hassett enjoys reading, music, and spending time with his family, wife Eileen Cheng (attorney at LyondellBassell Industries) and son William Hassett (age 5).
Dr. Hassett’s favorite websites: