Institution/Organization: University of California, Merced
Department: Applied Mathematics
Academic Status: Graduate Student
What conference theme areas are you interested in:
Applications in science, engineering, and industry;
High-performance computing, emerging architectures and programming paradigms
Interests:
My research and personal interests are multifaceted and multidisciplinary. A thorough undergraduate background in Physical Chemistry, Calculus and Linear Algebra, has given me a broad view of science and has helped me foster an interest in interdisciplinary fields of study. This has led me to pursue a career in the field of Applied Mathematics, whose research areas are the quintessence of the aforementioned idea of interdisciplinarity within science. Applied mathematicians work every day at the boundaries between Math, Physics, Chemistry and Engineering, analyzing data and implementing new methods to solve challenging problems, often bridging the gap between theory and applications. During my Master’s I have done research work that involved Partial Differential Equations, nonlinear waves, data analysis and Fluid Dynamics. I have used a computational technique known as Dynamic Mode Decomposition to quantitatively characterize the complex dynamics associated with turbulence in the context of the defocusing two-dimensional Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation. Now, in my first year of my PhD, I have had a chance to deepen my understanding of Scientific Computing and Fluid Dynamics. I am currently working on developing a stochastic model of the formation of marine aggregates in the ocean, which has allowed me to expand my knowledge of Brownian dynamics, as well as of modeling as a whole, from both a mathematical and a computational perspective. This project really lets me explore my interests in Partial Differential Equations, Computational methods and Scientific Computing on a daily basis, which will ultimately help me develop the necessary skills to achieve my academic and career goals.
Non-Work Related Activities/Interests:
As a Graduate Teaching Assistant during the academic year, part of my mission is to engage with students from underrepresented communities and promote STEM education. A personal interest of mine is the study of foreign languages, specifically Spanish. Learning and trying to communicate in Spanish allows me to better understand the challenges that especially Hispanic students often encounter inside and outside the world of academia. At the same time, this lets me reach some of the more marginalized members of the student body and advance the mission of my Hispanic-Serving Institution.