Jonah Stockwell

I am a fourth-year undergraduate at Columbia University
double-majoring in Mathematics and Computer Science. I
am mainly interested in theoretical computer science, and
in particular in algorithms and complexity theory.

Self-portrait.

Papers

Boolean Function Monotonicity Testing Requires (Almost) n1/2 Queries

Mark Chen, Xi Chen, Hao Cui, William Pires, and Jonah Stockwell

In STOC 2026 (Best Paper Award)

This work gives a nearly tight n1/2−ε lowerbound for adaptive monotonicity testing, resolving a longstanding problem in property testing.

Multiple Distance Ramsey Bounds For Graphs in Euclidean Spaces

Ayşegül Kula, Mohamed Omar, Jonah Stockwell, and McKinley Xie

Manuscript

This work gives novel lower bounds for graph-avoiding colorings of high-dimensional Euclidean space using an algebraic technique, the polynomial method.

Hardness of Discrete First Price Auctions

Mark Chen, Xi Chen, Hao Cui, William Pires, and Jonah Stockwell

Manuscript

This work resolves the complexity of mixed equilibria in discrete first-price auctions with correlated priors by introducing the hypergraph discrete first-price auction.

Projects

Derandomization and Counting in
Fine-Grained Complexity (with Eric Shao)

A research project for COMS6998 Fine-Grained Com­plexity with Prof. Josh Alman. We introduce a novel rank-based framework for a class of triangle-counting problems and an algorithm for min-weight triangles.

Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search for Higher Dimensional Objects (with Hao Cui)

A research project for COMS6998 Algorithms for Mas­sive Data with Prof. Alexandr Andoni. We study ap­proximate nearest neighbor search for convex combina­tions and flats, generalizing the result of Mahabadi.

TensorShop (with Professor Josh Alman)

A tool for visualizing and applying operations to tensors for applications in fast matrix multiplication algorithmic research.

NicheMRF: Detecting Cell Niche Types in Spatial Transcriptomics Using Markov Random Fields (with Jada Dixon and Thomas Sibilly)

A research project for CBMF4761 Computational Ge­nomics with Cassandra Burdziak. We created NICHEM-RF, a novel Markov-Random-Field-based tool for iden­tifying niche types using ligand-receptor interactions from spatial transcriptomics data.

So You Want to Make a Programming Lan­guage (with Alden Eberts and Dashiell Bhattacharyya)

An interactive website that takes the user from the theory behind programming languages to an implemen­tation of a simple programming language.

Llamautomata (with Alden Eberts and Dashiell Bhat­tacharyya)

An educational experience designed to teach automata theory through interactive puzzles, combat, and llamas.

Teaching

Columbia University (Fall 2026)

Co-Head Teaching Assistant, COMS3261 Computer Science Theory

Columbia University (Spring 2025)

Teaching Assistant, COMS3261 Computer Science Theory

President (2025-present); Organizer/Participant (2023-present)

polylog: Undergraduate Theoretical Computer Science @ Columbia

Undergraduate Theory Learning Seminars

  • Exploring Algorithmic Game Theory (Leader; Spring 2026)
  • A Walk Through Randomness (Leader; Spring 2026)
  • High-Dimensional Geometry (Leader; Fall 2025)
  • The Sum-of-Squares method (Leader; Spring 2025)
  • A Theorist’s Toolkit (Leader; Fall 2024)
  • Property Testing (Spring 2025, Fall 2025)
  • Differential Privacy (Summer 2024)
  • Algebraic + Spectral Graph Theory (Fall 2023)

Relevant Coursework and Technical Skills

  • COMS6998 Fine-Grained Complexity
  • COMS6998 Algorithms for Massive Data
  • COMS4252 Intro to Computational Learning Theory
  • COMS6998 Proof Complexity and Applications
  • CBMF4761 Computational Genomics
  • COMS4773 Machine Learning Theory
  • MATH4062 Intro to Modern Analysis II
  • MATH4042 Intro to Modern Algebra II
  • COMS4236 Intro to Computational Complexity
  • CSOR4231 Analysis of Algorithms
  • MATH4051 Topology
  • MATH3951 UG Seminar: Differential Topology + Physics
Programming Languages (Proficient)
Python, JavaScript, Java, C#
Programming Languages (Familiar)
C, Lua, Scheme, Scala, Haskell, Ada, R

Art and More

I also make art and videogames!