I’m a computational physicist and math teacher. My research is on methods for, and applications of, numerical solution of partial differential equations. The courses I teach most often are differential equations, mathematical methods for physics, and numerical analysis.
I started out as an astrophysicist, doing numerical simulations of galactic structure and stellar dynamics and teaching physics and astronomy. When it came time to relocate so my partner could begin her PhD, I left academia for industry to write simulation software. After a few years at an engineering software company followed by nine years in the computational mathematics group at a national laboratory, I took a faculty job in mathematics.
I’m a native of Maryland, USA, and grew up in the Baltimore-Washington area. My partner in life is Victoria Howle, who’s also a mathematician. We’ve spent a few decades following each other around the USA to solve the professional two-body problem. We have two children.
Background
Where I studied
- BS in Astronomy, 1986, University of Maryland; Honors thesis advised by Leo Blitz
- PhD in Astrophysics, 1990, Princeton University; Dissertation advised by David Spergel
- Postdoctoral study, 1990-92, University of Massachusetts at Amherst; Advised by Martin Weinberg
Where I’ve worked
- Texas Tech University, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, 2007-present
- Visiting Assistant Professor 2007-2008; Associate Professor 2008-2023; Professor 2023-present.
- Sandia National Laboratories, Computational Sciences and Mathematics Research Department, 1998-2007
- Limited-term staff 1998-2001; Senior Member of Technical Staff 2001-2004; Principal Member of Technical Staff 2004-2007
- BEAM Technologies, software engineer (Ithaca NY) 1996-1998
- SUNY College at Brockport, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics 1992-1995
- University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Postdoc, Physics Department, 1990-1992
- Princeton University, Graduate Research Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Astrophysics Department, 1986-1990
- University of Maryland, Department of Astronomy, Undergraduate Research Assistant and Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, 1985-86.
- National Bureau of Standards (now NIST), Materials Science Division, summer student, 1984
