Pavel Etingof
Faculty Advisor
Pavel Etingof is Professor of Mathematics in the Mathematics Department at MIT. Pavel received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Yale University. Pavel’s research interests are noncommutative algebra, representation theory, and mathematical physics. Pavel led mathematics research programs for high school students at the Clay Mathematics Research Academy, the Research Science Institute (RSI), and SPUR at MIT. He co-founded MIT PRIMES program and has served as its Chief Research Advisor since 2010. Pavel’s students have won multiple top awards at national science competitions for high school students.
When Pavel isn’t doing math, he enjoys mycology and can be found identifying, collecting, and cooking mushrooms for fun(gi).
Slava Gerovitch
Program Director
Slava Gerovitch is Senior Lecturer in the Mathematics Department at MIT. Slava received his PhD from MIT’s Science, Technology and Society Program. His research interests include social and cultural history of mathematics, cybernetics, astronautics, and computing. Slava co-founded MIT PRIMES program and has served as its director since 2010. He also directed several Math Department’s research and reading programs for undergraduates and high school students: RSI and SPUR (2012-2021), and DRP and UROP+ programs (2014-2021).
He has taught at MIT since 1999, but when nobody is watching, writes poetry!
John Urschel
Menezes Challenge Lecturer
John Urschel is an assistant professor in the MIT Math Department and a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows. John received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from MIT. His research interests include graph theory, numerical analysis, and theoretical computer science. John has a passion for teaching and mentoring students, having supervised a number of research projects and directed reading programs for MIT undergraduates.
When John is not doing math, he likes to spend time with his two small children, play board games, play the guitar, and exercise occasionally.
Trajan Hammonds
Academic Director
Trajan finished his PhD in mathematics at Princeton in 2025. His research interests are in number theory and analysis. Trajan was an academic mentor at MathROOTS in 2023 and 2024, and was assistant academic coordinator in 2025. He was a student in 2015. Outside of math, Trajan loves to watch basketball, play pickleball, and cook new recipes.
Paige Bright
Residential Director
Paige is a Ph.D. student in the MIT mathematics department, and was previously a M.Sc. student at the University of British Columbia. Before beginning graduate school, Paige received a S.B. in mathematics from MIT. In the past, she has been a residential counselor, academic mentor, and assistant residential director for √mathroots and she is currently a coordinator for MIT’s PRIMES Circle program. In her free time, Paige likes blogging and spending way too much time at coffee shops.
Rita Zambrano
Assistant Residential Director
Rita is a 4th year undergraduate student at MIT in the department of civil and environmental engineering. She is pursuing graduate studies in systems engineering and controls with applications to societal systems. (She still does math, she promises!) Rita was a student at √mathroots in 2021 and a residential counselor in 2025. In her free time, Rita enjoys music, theater, and rock climbing.