Newark, Delaware, United States
My main research direction is for mathematical models for the tear film on the front of the eye and the ocular surface. This is a formidable challenge in mathematical modeling and computation. Although officially retired, I am doing some consulting in this area in the near term.
The Carl J Rees Chair commemorates his contributions as an educator, department chair, dean and as the second Provost at the University of Delaware.
Besides my teaching and service, I work on mathematical models for tear film dynamics. I work with colleagues and students to do this. My colleagues range from experimentalists and optometrists to undergraduate math, engineering and quantitative biology students. The mathematical models are for thin fluid films ("lubrication theory") that are solved numerically on a computer. The models may include fluid motion, heat transfer, solute (osmolarity) transfer, evaporation and other effects. I've also started working with students to incorporate the effect of the evaporating tear film on the cells in the ocular surface. Including some biology into the modeling is an exciting and new challenge. I'm also have affiliated faculty positions in the Data Science Institute, the Department of Biomedical Engineering as well as the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.
In this one-year position, I helped run the many workshops and help run the day-to-day operations. I was also a Visiting Professor in the School of Mathematics during this time.
I was an NRC postdoctoral fellow for two years and a staff mathematician for two years. I studied phase change, fluid flow and their interaction while I was there. I worked under the guidance of Jeff McFadden in the Mathematical and Computational Sciences Division.
Research Assistant carrying out research on rapid solidification using methods of applied math (perturbation and computational methods). Fellowship support for first year (as were all students in the program).