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Information Technology Laboratory

Applied and Computational Mathematics Division

ACMD Seminar: Functional Formulations of Multi-Reference Alignment and Multi-Target Detection

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Mikhail Sweeney
Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Mathematics, University of Utah

Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 3:00-4:00 PM ET (1:00-2:00 PM MT)

In person at: Gaithersburg Bldg. 101 Heritage Room* with VTC to Boulder 1-4020
Online at: Zoom Gov
 
Add this talk to your calendar: https://inet.nist.gov/calendar/ics/2318221
 
Abstract: A key problem in the field of signal processing is that of Cryo-EM, in which one seeks the 3D reconstruction of a molecule from noisy randomly rotated, shifted, and tomographically projected samples. While this problem is notoriously difficult, there exist more tractable models that still preserve the central tenants of Cryo-EM, such as multi-reference alignment and multi-target detection, in which one seeks to recover a signal from randomly shifted, noisy samples.

In this talk, I will discuss recent work on the functional formulation of these problems. By formulating the problem in function space, we uncover a novel connection with deconvolution, in which the signal can be recovered from the moments of the noisy data. Our work gives the first recovery guarantees for general (non-bandlimited) functions as well as functions with vanishing Fourier transform, and we quantify the convergence rate in terms of the signal smoothness and noise characteristics.

 
Bio: Mikhail (Misha) is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Utah in his final year of study, working under the co-advising of Dr. Anna Little and Dr. Firas Rassoul-Agha. He has two ongoing independent lines of research, one in the more theoretical side of probability, on instability in the KPZ universality class, and one in applied math, on inverse problems and signal processing. 
 
Host: Paul Patrone
 
Note: This talk will be recorded to provide access to NIST staff and associates who could not be present to the time of the seminar. The recording will be made available in the Math channel on NISTube, which is accessible only on the NIST internal network. This recording could be released to the public through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Do not discuss or visually present any sensitive (CUI/PII/BII) material. Ensure that no inappropriate material or any minors are contained within the background of any recording. (To facilitate this, we request that cameras of attendees are muted except when asking questions.)
 
*Safety Precaution: The hallway leading from the Courtyard to the exit closest to B-111 and B-113 will be used by contractors to move debris, machinery, and other supplies, as well as will be heavily trafficked by the contractors throughout the process. Be aware of the safety precautions posted during this time.

Note: Visitors from outside NIST must contact Meliza Lane at least 24 hours in advance.

Information technology and Mathematics and statistics

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Created December 11, 2025
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