Date & Time:
April 28, 2026 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Location:
Kent 101
04/28/2026 03:30 PM 04/28/2026 04:30 PM America/Chicago Clayton Mizgerd (UIC)- Sampling colorings on bounded-degree graphs Kent 101

Abstract: A seminal conjecture of Jerrum states that the Glauber dynamics on q-colorings of a graph mix rapidly whenever $q \geq \Delta+2$. We will discuss the history of this problem and the partial progress before showing a new result that $q > (1+o(1))\Delta$ suffices for optimal mixing time guarantees on graphs of girth at least 11.

We will briefly describe the techniques involved. First is a more careful treatment of the non-Markovian coupling of Hayes and Vigoda. We then prove a local uniformity result for the Metropolis dynamics. Finally, we are able to get rapid mixing from an arbitrary start using these tools.

Based on joint work with Vishesh Jain and Eric Vigoda.

Speakers

headshot

Clayton Mizgerd

PhD student, University of Illinois Chicago

Clayton Mizgerd is a fourth year PhD student at the University of Illinois Chicago advised by Vishesh Jain and Dhruv Mubayi. His research interests include Markov chains, random graph theory, and extremal combinatorics.

Related News & Events

two people reading a book
UChicago CS News

HAVI Award Supports UChicago Researchers Pairing AI with Bayesian Statistics to Decipher the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries

Oct 14, 2026
headshot
UChicago CS News

Todd Frank Dupont, Inventive Computational and Applied Mathematician, 1942–2026

Oct 14, 2026
headshot
UChicago CS News

What Are Data Centers, And Why Do They Need So Much Power? An Expert Explains

Oct 08, 2026
distinguished speaker header
UChicago CS News

Distinguished Speaker Series 2026-27

Oct 07, 2026
robot and crowd
In the News

Learning is a blast – and a bang – at the South Side Science Festival

Oct 07, 2026
computer showing data sets
UChicago CS News

At EPIC, MSCAPP Students Used Data to Surface Overlooked Policy Questions

Oct 02, 2026
headshot grid
UChicago CS News

Four UChicago CS students named to Siebel Scholars class of 2027

Sep 18, 2026
headshot
UChicago CS News

A University of Chicago Computer Scientist Pushes Past a Long-Standing Math Barrier

Sep 15, 2026
graphic
Video

Advancing Actionable AI Weather Forecasts For Developing Economies: Laude Institute Moonshots Grant

Aug 26, 2026
headshot
In the News

Illinois-Led Regional Quantum Hub NSF HQAN Renewed to Pursue Industry-Ready Computing and Workforce Development

Aug 25, 2026
hadron collider
UChicago CS News

When Artificial Intelligence Meets Physics Beneath the French-Swiss Border

Aug 21, 2026
headshot
UChicago CS News

Managing Director Nita Yack Among Six UChicago Staff Members Honored With Staff Impact Awards In Inaugural Year

Aug 12, 2026
arrow-down-largearrow-left-largearrow-right-large-greyarrow-right-large-yellowarrow-right-largearrow-right-smallbutton-arrowclosedocumentfacebookfacet-arrow-down-whitefacet-arrow-downPage 1CheckedCheckedicon-apple-t5backgroundLayer 1icon-google-t5icon-office365-t5icon-outlook-t5backgroundLayer 1icon-outlookcom-t5backgroundLayer 1icon-yahoo-t5backgroundLayer 1internal-yellowinternalintranetlinkedinlinkoutpauseplaypresentationsearch-bluesearchshareslider-arrow-nextslider-arrow-prevtwittervideoyoutube