UBC Mathematics is pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Rechnitzer has been appointed Head of the Department for a five-year term, effective July 2026. This appointment reflects Dr. Rechnitzer’s continued support of mathematical research and top-quality instruction.

Dr. Rechnitzer is a dedicated professor and educator who joined UBC in 2007. His research focuses on combinatorics and statistical mechanics with a focus on lattice models, random walks, and exact enumeration. Much of Dr. Rechnitzer's work involves developing new mathematical tools and algorithms to solve challenging problems related to polymers and phase transitions. 

As Department Head, Dr. Rechnitzer will provide strategic leadership for one of the world’s leading mathematics departments, supporting excellence in research and education. “As I step into my role as Head, I look forward to helping our colleagues and students channel their energy and creativity into studying, teaching, applying, and researching mathematics,” Dr. Rechnitzer shared. 

As AI continues to transform our world at an unprecedented pace, Dr. Rechnitzer recognizes the importance of ensuring that the UBC Department of Mathematics evolves alongside these changes. “The rapid development of AI tools brings both remarkable promise and deep uncertainty. Over the coming years, our department will explore and help our community to decide AI's proper place in our teaching and research, knowing that this task will have to adapt as the technology evolves.”

Dr. Rechnitzer earned his PhD in mathematics from the University of Melbourne in 2001. During his doctoral studies, he completed part of his research at LaBRI, Université Bordeaux 1. Following his doctorate, he held postdoctoral fellowships at York University and the University of Toronto from 2000 to 2002 before returning to the University of Melbourne as an Australian Research Council (ARC) Postdoctoral Fellow, a position he held from 2002 to 2006. 

As an innovator in mathematical education, Dr. Rechnitzer co-authored the free, open-source CLP Calculus textbook series with Dr. Joel Feldman and Dr. Elyse Yeager, making high-quality learning resources accessible to students worldwide. He also developed PLOM, an open-source online grading platform that streamlines assessment and supports effective teaching.

We congratulate Dr. Rechnitzer on this well-earned appointment and look forward to his leadership in shaping the future of the UBC Mathematics Department.