De Witt Lee Sumners is an American mathematician, having been the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor at

Florida State University Florida State University (FSU or Florida State) is a Public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preeminent university in the s ...

. He is known for his research in

knot theory In topology, knot theory is the study of knot (mathematics), mathematical knots. While inspired by knots which appear in daily life, such as those in shoelaces and rope, a mathematical knot differs in that the ends are joined so it cannot be und ...

, topological fluid dynamics, and their application to

DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (; DNA) is a polymer composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix. The polymer carries genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of al ...

. Sumners earned his Ph.D. in 1967 from the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

under the supervision of John F. P. Hudson. He retired in 2007, and became a

professor emeritus ''Emeritus/Emerita'' () is an honorary title granted to someone who retirement, retires from a position of distinction, most commonly an academic faculty position, but is allowed to continue using the previous title, as in "professor emeritus". ...

. In 2012, he was named as one of the inaugural

Fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

s of the

American Mathematical Society The American Mathematical Society (AMS) is an association of professional mathematicians dedicated to the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, and serves the national and international community through its publications, meetings, ...

.De Witt Sumners named an inaugural fellow of American Mathematical Society
Florida State University, September 20, 2012.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sumners, De Witt Lee Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Florida State University faculty Alumni of the University of Cambridge 20th-century American mathematicians American topologists Fellows of the American Mathematical Society Place of birth missing (living people)