Washington State University
- Spring 2023
- Math 555: Topics in Combinatorics: The Probabilistic Method Topics course for graduate students focusing on combinatorial proof techniques and applications of probabilistic methods.
- Fall 2022
- Math 587: Introduction to Representation Theory Topics course for graduate students covering representations of finite groups with a particular emphasis on S_n, character theory, and basic Lie representations, with applications to Fourier analysis, spectral graph theory, and random walks.
- STAT 536: Statistical Computing (R) Graduate course on modern computing methods for statistical application and research including generation of random variables, Monte Carlo simulation, bootstrap and jackknife methods, EM algorithm, and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods.
- Math 589: Professional Development See Fall 2020 description.
- Math 533: Teaching College Mathematics Theory and practice of mathematics instruction at the collegiate level. This course is designed to support TAs in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. This includes not just pedagogical development but also provides a broader introduction to the various cultures of academia.
- Spring 2022
- Math 548: Numerical Analysis (MatLab) This is a fundamental course on numerical computation, including: finding zeroes of functions, approximation and interpolation, numerical integration, numerical solution of ordinary differential equations, and numerical linear algebra.
- Fall 2021
- Data 115: Introduction to Data Analytics (R) See Fall 2020 description.
- STAT 419: Introduction to Multivariate Statistics (R) Introductory course covering multidimensional data, multivariate normal distribution, principal components, factor analysis, clustering, and discriminant analysis.
- Math 581.03: Professional Development See Fall 2020 description.
- Spring 2021
- Data 115: Introduction to Data Analytics (R) See Fall 2020 description.
- Introduction to NetworkX (Python) Tutorial on analyzing complex networks in Python at the 2021 JMM short course: Mathematical and Computational Methods for Complex Social Systems. This tutorial provides Jupyter notebooks exploring basic aspects of the networkx package. Examples include manually constructing ego networks, loading and processing social networks, comparing networks to null models, and simulating dynamics on networks.
- Fall 2020
- Data 115: Introduction to Data Analytics (Python) This course provides an introduction to the field of data analytics. Motivated by natural questions that arise in simple data examples, we will cover many of the basic techniques for working with data including sourcing raw data, cleaning and processing, exploring and analyzing, and finally presenting conclusions. In addition to exploring basic tools and methods, this course provides a broad exposure to the diverse types of data analytics projects that are currently being conducted around the world. A key component of the course will be critically analyzing these published data analytics works and discussing their strengths and shortcomings.
- Math 581.02: Computational Tools for Complex Networks (Python) This course introduces tools and methodology for analyzing complex social systems with network models. The first half of the course covers standard network constructions and associated centrality metrics, clustering algorithms, dynamical models, and null models through classic papers and examples from the field. The second half focuses on the discrete formulation of political redistricting problems and related applications of sampling connected graph partitions. In addition to the theoretical components, this course provides resources and experiences with relevant software packages including networkx and gerrychain.
- Math 581.03: Professional Development This course helps advanced graduate students prepare for the academic and industry job markets, providing advice and feedback about preparing job materials, practice interviews and talks, and other professional preparation.
UW eScience Institute Data Science for Social Good
During the 2021 summer term I served as a project lead for the UW DSSG program, supervising a team of graduate student researchers on a project about employing the ensemble method to analyze newly proposed districting plans. The fellows created a detailed guide describing the modeling process and conducted several case studies with real data to evaluate their methodology. A summary of all of their excellent work is displayed here.Voting Rights Data Institute
During the 2018 and 2019 summer terms I helped lead the Voting Rights Data Institute organized by the MGGG. This is an 8 week program that has included 80+ undergraduate and graduate students focused on problems related to redistricting. Much of the work was interdisciplinary, combining skills from mathematics, political science, computer science, geography, and many others. Some of the material that I developed for this program have also been used for stand-alone workshops and tutorials:- Introduction to Discrete MCMC (Notes) (Software) This is an introduction to discrete MCMC that starts with the definition of a probability distribution and builds to discussing how these methods are used in redistricting problems. The text is supplemented with a large collection of interactive tools for exploring the concepts in more depth.
- Introduction to GerryChain (Notes) ( Software) (Templates) GerryChain is our open-source software for constructing districting plans with random walks on graph partitions. This guide walks through all of the main components of the software and the templates show examples on real-world data.
- Introduction to Complex Networks (Notes) (Software) This guide explores how methods from the study of complex networks are useful for analyzing redistricting problems. Updated versions of the notes are included with the software on GitHub.
Tufts Models Reading Lab
In the Spring 2019 term I cotaught a course on Mathematical Models in Social Context with Moon Duchin. This course focused on STS readings and discussion of models as socially situated scientific tools.MIT IAP 2019
In January 2019 I developed a four week IAP course on Computational Approaches for Political Redistricting at MIT. This course focused on software tools and mathematical principles for analyzing political redistricting developed by MGGG.Teaching Award Interview
In 2017, I won the Dartmouth Graduate Teaching Award, which is a college-wide recognition for exemplifying the qualities of a college educator. An article from the graduate school focused on my teaching experiences can be found: here.Dartmouth Math Courses
- In Fall 2017 I taught Math 36: Mathematical Modeling in the Social Sciences. This course helps students develop and apply quantitative skills to data and problems motivated by the social sciences. The main assessments in this course were essays that required the students to not just analyze models and data but also to construct compelling arguments based on their results. The course also including a programming component using MatLab and Sage. Much of that code is collected here.
- In each of 2015, 2016, and 2017 I taught sections of the UNSG 100: Graduate Ethics Seminar ( course website) for first year Ph.D. students in mathematics, computer science, and engineering. The course places an emphasis on small group discussions and case studies. The focus is on ethical issues in academia, particularly those that are viewed differently in other fields, and many of the case studies that I teach are drawn from contemporary events and situations. Many of the resources that I have compiled for the course can be found here.
- In 2017 I taught Math 8: Calculus of Functions of one and Several Variables (course website). Some of the interactive Sage programs that I developed for the students are linked below: For this class, I also put together some notes with fully worked examples on topics that students found particularly challenging:
- In 2015 I taught Math 1: Calculus with Algebra (course website). I strongly support the use of technology in the classroom and frequently incorporate interactive Sage programs into my classes. Some of the programs from Math 1 can be found at the following links (adapted from the Sage @interact example page):
- Previously at Dartmouth, I served as a teaching assistant for Math 3 (Winter 2014), Math 12 (Fall 2013), Math 22 (Fall 2014), Math 23 (Spring 2015).
Crossroads Math Team
I volunteer as a coach for the competitive math team at Crossroads Academy in Lyme, NH. Our weekly meetings are centered around developing problem solving skills and preparing for competitions and coached the New Hampshire state Math Counts team at Nationals in 2017. Many of the resources that I have put together for the students are collected here.
In 2015-16, the Crossroads team won the chapter and state Math Counts and Math League competitions as well as placing first in New Hampshire and Northern New England on the AMC-8. In 2016-17, the students repeated as champions in all of these competitions as well as qualifying two students for the national Math Counts competition. The team was equally successful in 2017-18 and again qualified a student for the national Math Counts competition.
LaTeX Workshops 2016-2018
Together with David Freund, I have developed and presented a series of workshops on mathematical typesetting with LaTeX, organized through the Kresge Library and Mathematics Librarian Katie Harding.High School Workshops
Through the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Science and Technology Series I developed and presented two workshops for middle and high school aged students:
- 2015 Modern Cryptography Presentation (with D. Freund)
- Cryptography Worksheets (Red) and Cryptography Worksheets (Blue)
- 2016 Forensic Accounting Presentation
- Forensic Activities
- 2017 Binary Computing and Barcodes Presentation (with D. Freund)
- Binary and Barcodes Activities
As part of the Dartmouth Mathematics Garduate Teaching Seminar I helped develop and run two week-long workshops for local high school students
- Mathematics of Games
- Mathematics of Secrets