My
Research
Much of my current research centers around, but is not restricted to,
applications from subsurface hydrology, with an emphasis on
nonlinear solvers, nonsmooth models, temporal integration, and optmization.
This work can be broken down into two parts,
simulation of large scale groundwater flow problems and optimization of
remediation problems.
My student, Matthew Parno—is especially interested in particle swarm optimization. He is currently investigating the use of surrogate models in the context of using PSO on expensive, simulation-based problems.
I am also working with Thomas Hemker at TU Darmstadt and Genetha Gray at Sandia National Labs on problem formulation issues for optimal groundwater design applications. Namely we are looking at mixed integer approaches and how to deal with the expensive, black box simulations. The folks at Boeing have been a huge help with this, too. I also have an undergraduate student, Andrew Davis, who is assisting the in the comparison of various problem formulations.
I am also looking at optimization methods to help in the design of extrusion
filters. This is joint work with Lea Jenkins at
I am also beginning to look at applications of interval arithmetic with an undergraduate student, Mike Petito. Mike has graduated and we have one paper submitted on his work on interval computations for implicit temporal integration of stiff ODEs submitted to Reliable Computing.
For fun, two undergraduate students Brent Pomeroy and Joseph Curro are doing an independent research project this semester to develop a mathematical model for the thrill factor of a roller coaster to help aid in optimal roller coaster design!
I am also continuing to work with the US Army Corps of Engineers Waterways
Experimentation Station in
For more details go to the following links: Simulation or Optmization
My research has been supported by the
Department of Education, Army Research Office, the Association for Women in
Mathematics, and the NSF.
