John Solak

Hello, my name is John Solak and I am a Mathematics Graduate Student at UIC.

My current research interests lie in Model theory, specifically o-minimality, including its intersection with topology. That being said, I have personal interest in questions in a variety of Mathematical disciplines including: TFAE statements as Algebraic structures, ("Hyper-")Hyperoperations, and generalizations of impossible objects. In particular, I find fascinating algorithms/procedures in any of these areas which may be repeated ad infinitum.

I am currently studying at the University of Illinois at Chicago . Prior to grad school here, I studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) where I received my Bachelor's in Mathematics with a Doctoral Prep. concentration, with minors in Philosophy and in Spanish.

You may find my current CV here

Sample Graduate-Level Coursework

• Algebraic Geometry I , under Prof. Izzet Coskun


• Advanced Topics in Logic , a preliminary-exam-oriented course in Computability Theory under Prof. Matthew Harrison-Trainor


• Simple Theories, a reading course under Profs. James Freitag and Gabriel Conant


• Algebraic Topology I under Prof. Kevin Whyte


• O-Minimality and Applications, a Reading course under Prof. Ronnie Nagloo.


• Differentiable Manifolds I under Prof. Daniel Groves.


• Second Course in Abstract Algebra II under Prof. Izzet Coskun.


• Model Theory II under Prof. James Freitag.


• Second Course in Abstract Algebra I under Prof. Kevin Tucker.


• Descriptive Set Theory under Prof. Matthew Harrison-Trainor.


• General (Pointset) Topology under Prof. Eugene Lerman at UIUC.

Presentations

• A Minimal Introduction to O-minimality, an expository talk at the Graduate Student Conference in Logic, April 25th, 2026. Slides.
• Is O-minimal Topology too Tame? Louise Hay Logic Seminar, October 8th, 2025
• Why it's so Hard to Talk with Your Topologist Friends i.e. Showing that Topological Spaces do not Form an Elementary Class , February 17th, 2025. Slides.

Teaching

• Young Scholars Program at UIC

• MATH 181 (Calculus II)

• MATH 179 (Emerging Scholars Program Workshop for Calculus I)
• Math 180 (Calculus I)

• MATH 180 (Calculus I, Summer Edge Program)

• MATH 179
• MATH 180

• MATH 165 (Calculus for Business)
• Math Circles of Chicago , Co-Instructor (3rd and 4th grade)

• MATH 110 (College Algebra)

• MATH 125 (Elem. Linear Algebra for Business)

• Math 121 (Precalculus)

Notes

• Errors and Additional Explanations for Tame Topology and O-Minimal Structures