Dr. Matthew Zabka, associate professor of Mathematics at Southwest Minnesota State University, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award in applied algebraic topology to Georgia for the 2026-2027 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board.

Dr. Matthew Zabka grew up in St. Paul and earned undergraduate degrees in mathematics, German and economics at St. Cloud State University. He completed his master’s degree in statistics at the University of Michigan and his doctorate in mathematics at Wayne State University under the direction of Professor Daniel Isaksen. He joined the faculty at SMSU in 2016. He also spent a year as a post-doctoral research scholar at North Carolina State University. Zabka spends many of his summers coordinating a math and logic camp in Ukraine.

“Applied algebraic topology lets us take data, build a topological object from it, and then use algebra to study the patterns,” Zabka said. “It’s especially useful for finding shapes or ‘holes’ in data — even when the data are high-dimensional and you can’t see the structure directly.” 

On his Fulbright, Zabka will be based at Kutaisi International University in Kutaisi, Georgia, where he will collaborate with Georgian mathematician Anzor Beridze on a new research problem at the intersection of applied algebraic topology and knot theory. 

“I’m still amazed it actually happened,” Zabka said. “The Fulbright is a chance to focus on research and collaborate on a brand-new problem, and I’m hopeful it will lead to publications and new external funding opportunities (for SMSU).” 

Their project aims to extend tools from topological data analysis so that, from partial or noisy observations, researchers can reconstruct knot-like structures — an approach with potential applications in understanding how DNA strands tangle and form different knots. 

“I am delighted that Dr. Zabka was chosen for this prestigious program. When the announcement regarding applications for Fulbright Scholars came across my email, I immediately thought of Dr. Zabka,” said Dr. Lori Baker, dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences at SMSU. “He has demonstrated a strong interest in international study and has presented in Eastern Europe in particular. He spent some of his sabbatical abroad doing research and collaborating with international peers. His engagement in such work seemed a natural fit with the Fulbright Program’s emphasis on building strong connections between American scholars and institutions with international partners.”

“Dr. Zabka’s Fulbright award is a tremendous honor for him and a proud moment for Southwest Minnesota State University. His work reflects the curiosity, creativity, and global engagement we strive to foster at SMSU, and we congratulate him on this outstanding achievement,” said Dr. David Jones, SMSU president.