Ilhan Izmirli

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By profession, I am a mathematician.  I got my Ph.D. at The American University, Washington D.C.  Currently, I teach at the Department of Statistics in George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.

 

My major research interests are history of mathematics and the relationships between mathematics and other disciplines, such as physics, philosophy, and music.  I have presented numerous papers on these and related topics at international conferences throughout the world.

 

My interest in music began when I got my first guitar at the age of 14.  I have always been fascinated in folk music, in particular, due to my Ukrainian Jewish background, in Eastern European folk music.  The chord structures in most of my compositions strongly reflect this influence.

 

When I am not teaching my classes or conducting my research, I can be found taking long walks with my dogs, composing music, and playing the alto balalaika with The Washington Balalaika Society orchestra.