Research

My primary research area is finite element methods, a robust numerical method for solving discretized systems of partial differential equations. Finite element methods can be viewed as a large subclass of weighted residual methods. My particular areas of interest include superconvergence, post-processing, error estimation, and meshing. My dissertation under the guidance of Lars B. Wahlbin at Cornell involved the practical adaption and extension on a class of estimators presented in "Asymptotically Exact A Posteriori Estimators for the Pointwise Gradient Error on Each Element in Irregular Meshes", by W. Hoffman, A. Schatz, L. Wahlbin and G. Wittum. I demonstrated several ways to improve these estimators, often producing dramatic improvement in numerical computations.

I am currently working with Don Estep here at CSU and Jim Stewart's group at SANDIA. We are primarily investigating improved or acclerated approximations to the adjoint problem for elliptic and parabolic problems to be used as an influence factor for a residual-based error estimator.

I have a Master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas; my advisor was Dr. Mary F. Wheeler.

You can download a pdf version of my CV here.

The Finite Element Circus is a bi-annual rotating informal finite element meeting. More information is available here.

Publications