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Student Research:

                Masters Theses, Honors Projects and Senior Projects

Masters Theses

Masters Theses/Projects (check library)

• Kellyann Cook, "The Quantum Fourier Transform And Quantum Computation," advisor, Fall 2022.

• Sarah Gonka, "An Investigation Of The Writings Of Gauss, Tait, And Alexander On Knots," advisor, Fall 2022.

• Kevin Cosnahan, ''Asymptotic Analysis of 1D Path Integrals via Resurgence,'' advisor, 2021.

• Rachel Willis, ''Hidden Markov Model Application for Unsupervised Machine Learning Clustering of Waveform Data During Induced Seismicity,'' advisor, 2020.

• Carlos Ramos, ''Exploring the Hodgkin-Huxley Action Potential Model,'' advisor, 2019.

• Michael Byrd, ''Using Quantum Algorithms to Solve Linear Systems,'' advisor, 2019.

• Greg Johnson, "Geometric Approaches to the Characterization of Qubits and Entanglement," advisor, 2017.

• Adam Santoro, project, advisor, 2017, incomplete.

• Kevin Carlin, project, "The AKNS System, Loop Solitons, and Backlund Transformations.," advisor, 2015.

• Cody Ashby, project, "Defining and Applying Fractional Calculus," advisor, 2015.

• Caylah Retz, "Symmetries of the K(m,n) Dispersion Equation," advisor, 2012.

• Linda Crump, advisor, 2011, incomplete.

• Kara Blalock, "Spiral Waves in Cartesian, Polar, and Spherical Geometries," advisor, 2010.

• Larry Tingen, "The Julia and Mandelbrot Sets for the Hurwitz Zeta Function," advisor, 2009.

• Rebecca Wilkinson, "Numerical Explorations of Cake Baking Using the Nonlinear Heat Equation,"  advisor, 2008.

• David Neal, "Finite Difference Approximations of Advection-Diffusion Equations for Modeling Shark Populations," advisor, 2007.

• Andrew Rose, "Numerical Simulations of the Stochastic KdV Equation,"  advisor, 2006.

• Sarah Ives, “Julia and Mandelbrot Sets of Riemann Zeta Function”, advisor 2001.

• Curtis Wayne Martin, Synchronization in Communications, advisor 2001, not completed.

• Srinath Vadlamani, “Lie Symmetries of the Vaidya Equations”, advisor 2001.

• Michael Key, “Rossby Wave Scattering in the Two-Layer Model”, advisor 2001.

• Donald Turner, Computing Digits of Pi, advisor 2000, not completed.

• Kathy Langone, Nonthesis option, "Controlling Chaos in Dynamical Systems," advisor 1998.

• Alejandro Acuna, "Lie Symmetries of the Zabolotskaya-Khoklov and Two Dimensional KdV-Burgers Equations," advisor 1996

• Somkiat Supanyachotskul, “Scattering of Rossby Waves off a Periodic Barrier”, advisor 1996, not completed.

• Robin Glover, "The Onset of Chaos in Two-Dimensional Discrete Maps," advisor 1994.

• Valerie Melvin, "Theory and Application of a Maximum Principle for the Optimal Control of Serially Connected Flexible Structures,"  co-advisor 1993.

• Jorge Zazueta, "Symmetry Reductions of Partial Differential Equations'', advisor 1992.

Masters Thesis Committee

• Brenden White, "On the Coefficients Of Ternary Cyclotomic Polynomials and Their Families," 2020.

• Trinity White, "Lattice Based Cryptanalysis of NTRU and RSA," 2019.

• Christine Craib, "Disease Transmission Dynamics with a Demographic Allee Effect," 2019.

• Troy Kling, "The Distance Between c^n and Z," 2018.

• Samuel T. Pickett, "The Mathematics of Color Sensing," 2017.

• Nikolai D. Lipscomb, "Semi-Lagrangian Numerical methods for systems of Time-dependent Partial Differential Equations," 2016.

• Sofya Zaytseva, "Periodic Solutions and Turing Patterns in an Autocatalator Model," 2014.

• Daniel Hancock, "Quaternionic Approach to the Spinning Top with Simulations in MATLAB," 2014.

• Gary Crosby, "Geodesic Solutions of the Morris-Thorne Wormhole," 2012.

• Chris Canady, "Examination of Tidal Currents in Onslow Bay Measured by Moored Acoustical Doppler Current Profilers," 2007.

• Ben Speckhart, “Shallow Water Response to Hurricanes in Onslow Bay, N. C.”, 2004.

• Genevieve Haviland, “Recreational boating traffic and environmental noise in the Wilmington, North Carolina intracoastal waterway : possible implications for bottlenose dolphins”, Biology, 2000.

• Matthew Griffith, “Moments and Densities of Traveling Wave Solutions of Stochastic Burgers-Like Equations”, 1998.

• Stephen Felzer, "Rational and Complex Periodic Points of Polynomial Functions," 1996.

Honors Projects

Honors Projects (Math Department List, Physics Department List)

• Hayley Urbanek, The Figure Eight Knot Complement, Fall 2022.

• Christian Koertje, ''Relativistic Dynamics: A Journey to the Center of a Black Hole,'' Advisor, Spring 2021.

• Hassan Mason, ''Lattice Boltzmann Method,'' Advisor, Spring 2019.

• Rachel Willis, ''Application of Spherical Harmonics to Elasto-gravitational Deformations of the Earth, Advisor,'' Spring 2019.

• Nicholas Sterling, "Symmetries in Relativistic Quantum Mechanics," Physics, Advisor, Spring 2018.

• Elizabeth Eakin, "Probing the Mandelbrot Set," Mathematics, Advisor, Spring 2017.

• William Fox, "Exposition on Gravitational Wave Theory and Detection," Physics, Advisor, Fall 2016.

• Nicolas Corak, "Designing a PER-Based Introductory Physics Lab," Physics, Advisor, Fall 2010.

• Erik Minges, "Numerical Simulation of Air Pollution Dynamics Due to Point Source Emissions from an Industrial Stack," Physics, Advisor, 2010.

• Lisa Soberano, "The Mathematical Foundation of Image Compression," Mathematics, Advisor, 2000.

• Scott Watson, "An Exposition on Inflationary Cosmology," Physics, CoAdvisor, 2000.

• Bradley Marshall: "Dark Soliton Behavior in Fiber Optics Subject to Perturbations," Physics, Advisor, 1994.

• Mark Hays, “Numerical Simulations of Solitons”, St. Lawrence University, Mathematics, CoAdvisor, 1989.

Honors Thesis Committees

• Kaitlyn Hohmeier, "Representation Theory of Semisimple Lie Algebras," Fall 2021.

• Amrit Dhillon, "An Investigation of the Antikythera Mechanism," Physics, Spring 2019.

• Matt Briggs, "Scientific Astrophotography in the Visible Spectrum," Physics, Spring 2019.

• Katijah Rae Amir Hakim, "Measuring Chemistry Students' Cognitive Load On Working Memory: The Development Of An Inventory Of Load-inducing Topics In Biochemistry," Chemistry, Spring 2019.

• Makayla Moster, "Conforming Realistic, Procedural Tree Models to User-Drawn Shapes," Computer Science, Spring 2019.

• Michael Byrd, "Inverse Problems in Algebra and Number Theory," Mathematics, Spring 2018

• Nicholas Sterling, "Concerning the Ontology of Space-time," Philosophy, Fall 2017.

• Trinity White, "Modeling Twisted Tori," Mathematics, Spring 2017.

• Christine Craib, "A Mathematical Analysis On The Transmission Dynamics Of Neisseria Gonorrhoeae," Fall, 2016, Mathematics, unofficial.

• Christopher Dolan, "Testing, Installation, Analysis And Calibration Of The Pair Spectrometer Detectors At Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility," Physics, Dec 2015.

• Ashley Deleon, "Muscle Fiber Structure Of Basking Sharks (Cetorhinus maximus)," Biology, Nov 2015.

• Christina Lee, "The Sweet Spots of Tennis," Mathematics, May 2012.

• William Morris, "Oxygen Dissociation on a Boron-Doped Carbon Nanotube," Chemistry, May 2011.

• Nicole Rocco, "Representing Integers as Sums of Small Integer Powers," Mathematics, May 2010.

• Jeffrey Naro, "The Interaction of the Cell-Penetrating Peptide TP2 with Lipid Membranes," Chemistry, May 2010.

• Luke McMurtray, "CIS/TRANS photoisomerization of substituted styrylquinolines ," Chemistry, May 2010.

• Chelsea Hopkins, "Predicting Shoreline Evolution Using a Genetic Algorithm," Physics, May 2010.

• Matthew Reese, "Beam Test Result for a Prototype PbWO₄ Calorimeter," Physics, May 2008.

• Charles E. White, “Dynamic Tracking of Free-Swimming Whale Groups Using Digital Acoustic Recording Tags”, Computer Science, May 2007.

• Justin Zoppe, “A variational solution to the time-dependent Schrödinger equation by a restricted superposition of frozen Gaussian wavepackets”, Chemistry, May 2005.

• Jason Whitehead,  “Exploration of calcium selectivity in protein: analysis of Ca2+ -binding proteins employing crystal structure census, computational analysis, and glass electrode potentiometry”, Chemistry, May 2005.

• Greg Cockrell,  “The radiation chemistry of formic acid and oxalic acid in aqueous solutions”, Chemistry May 2005.

• James Harrington, “The Possible Role of Relativistic Effects in the Formation of Cadmium Complexes with Crown Ethers”, Chemistry, 2004.

• Lanette Marett, "Determination of micromolar levels of alcohols in aqueous samples by enzymatic conversion of alcohols to aldehydes, DNP derivitization of aldehydes, and HPLC analysis,"  Chemistry, May 2003.

• Lindsay Boone, "Progress towards the synthesis of novel Acyl Homoserine lactones and other quorum sensing derivatives," Chemistry, Dec. 2003.

• David Sutherland, Study of Tides in the Onslow Bay, Mathematics, Spring 2001.

• William Hodge, “Two-Level Models”, Physics,  Spring 2001.

• Donna Gardner, "Optimization of a High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method to Determine Formaldehyde," Honors Committee, Chemistry, 2000.

• Matthew Cheely, "A Fractal Analysis of Flick Motoneurons in the Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus," Biology, 2000.

• Mickie Marlowe, "Nuclear DNA Content of Six Species of Desmids," Biology, 1998.

Senior Projects

Senior Seminars (MAT 495 or PHY 495)

• Alex Young and Tino Mangone, "Great Walls of Water: The Pandemonium and Phenomena of Rogue Waves," Math 2024.

• Jenney Starostina, "Application of the Bessel Function of the First Kind to TE11 Mode in Cylindrical Waveguides," Physics 2024.

• Jed McKenna, "Quantum Computing," Physics 2024.

• Daniel Whiteley, Troy Smith, Johari Ferguson, "The Circular Restricted Three Body Problem and Applications to Astrodynamics," Math 2023.

• Philip Nazzaro, "Quaternionic Representation of Spinors Utilizing Quaternions to Describe Spinors and
  Entanglement," Physics 2023.

• Gavin Bolton, "Exploration of the History and Physics of General Relativity and Gravitational Waves," Physics 2023.

• Mason Cotter, Anna Perera Bischuk, John Bennett, "Tidal Decomposition Using Fourier Transform," Math 2022.

• Kyle Zacharias, "The Physics of The Photovoltaic Effect and The Efficiency of Solar Energy," Physics, 2022.

• Eli Fannin and Christian Koertje, "Nonlinear Dynamics of the Emden-Fowler Equation," Math 2021.

• Kellyann Cook, Dakota Tillery, and Samuel Jurewicz, "Mathematical Theory of Diffraction," Math 2020.

• Corey Dearing, Caroline Giles, Jake Stapleton, "Mathematical Optimization in Game Theory," Math 2019.

• Nicholas Bellm and Jackson Matheny, "Dynamic Non-Linear Applications of Chaos," Math 2019.

• Kellyann Cook, "Tracking the Motion of a Soccer Ball," Physics 2019.

• Amber Link, "Dark Matter and Gravitational Lensing," Physics 2019.

• Emmanuel Rodriguez, "Space Weather And The Effects On Technology," Physics 2019.

• Dakota Tillery, "Relativistic Effects and Global Positioning System," Physics 2019.

• Jackson Matheny, "Chaos Theory within the Chua Circuit," Physics 2019.

• Kaitlin Philcox, Rachel Towner, and Brittany Whitener, "Mathematics Behind Chladni Figures," Mathematics 2018.

• Youssef R. Driss, Michael J. Suggs, and Austin D. Ray, "Methods of Numerical Integration of Whitham's F-Curve," Math 2018.

• Shyam Jaswani and Brady Sowers, "Comparing Numerical Methods of the Korteweg-de Vries Equation," Math 2017.

• Kevin Cosnahan, "Path Integral Formulation of Quantum Mechanics," Physics 2017.

• Cassidy Nix, "Wormholes," Physics 2017.

• Aaaron Holtzclaw and Shean Scott, "Applications of Fourier Transforms in Quantum Mechanics & Diffraction Theory," Math 2017.

• Erick Holguin, "Mechanisms of Cuprate Superconductivity," Physics 2016.

• Cassidy Nix and William Fox, "Spacetime Geodesics and their Application to Schwarzschild Dynamics," Math 2016.

• Carter Nivens, "Helmholtz Resonators," Physics 2016.

• Tyler Burger, "Gauge Theory," Physics 2016.

• Youssef Driss, "Shock Waves and Supersonic Flow," Physics 2015-6.

• Gregory Johnson, "Introduction to Gravitational Waves," Physics 2015.

• Tanner Gordon, "Introduction to Quantum Computing," Physics 2015.

• Devan Sestito,"Signal Compression," Math 2015.

• Jenna May, "Math Meditation," Math 2015.

• Tyler Gammp, "Solutions to the Friedmann Equations," Math 2015.

• Ilona Reding, "Mathematical Model of The Ebola Virus," Math 2014.

• Yannik Torres Kellinghusen, "Aerodynamics of Soccer Balls," Math 2014.

• Cameron Washburn, "The Knapsack Encryption Problem," Math 2014.

• Amber Watson, "Hydrogenic Wave Functions," Math, 2014.

• Evan Doherty, "The Mechanics of Surfing," Math, 2014.

• Alexandra McCollister, "The Physics of Earthquakes Modeled by the Burridge-Knopoff Two-Block Stick-Slip System with Friction," Physics 2014.

• KaLeigh Register, "Prime Numbers," Math 2013.

• Brook Jordan, "Combinatorial Game Theory," Math, 2013.

• Kevin Carlin, "Nonlinear Wave Equations and the Soliton Solution," Math, 2013.

• Shane Wall, "Shallow Water Wave Modeling, The Boussinesq Approximation, and Bathymetric Design," Math, 2013.

• Madison Highfill, "Population Modeling," Math, 2013.

• Kevin Carlin, "Reflectionless Potentials and the KdV Soliton," Physics 2013.

• Robert Vasil, "On Hearing the Shape of a Drum," Math, 2012.

• Steven Bache, "Resonance in the Solar System," Physics, 2012.

• Ashley Martin, "Striking a Beat," Physics, 2012.

• Hillary Williams, "In the Blink of an Eye," Math 2012.

• Sara Bowen, "Reeling in Analysis of a Fly Fishing Rod's Response," Math, 2012.

• Ashley Martin, "The Vibrating Membrane," Math, 2012.

• Joseph Tubergen, "Can Quantum-Mechanical Description of Physical Reality Be Considered Complete?," Physics, 2011.

• Steven Bache, "Monte Carlo Methods and Nuclear Decay," Math, 2011.

• Chad Davis, "Trajectory of a Soccer Ball," Math, 2011.

• Brian Kay, "Fate of the Universe," Physics, Physics, 2011.

• Justin Logue, "An Introduction to Rotary Winged Flight," Math, 2011.

• Caylah Retz, "Fractal Properties and Applications," Math, 2010.

• Robert Sizemore, "Quantum Computing," Physics, 2010

• Zach Martin, "The Application of Game Theory to Global Counterterrorism," 2009.

• Mary Margaret McEachern, From Here to Eternity and Back: Are Traversable Wormholes Possible?, Physics, 2009.

• Michael McClellan, NMR, Physics, 2009.

• Fernando Schiefelbein, "An Analysis of the Hilbert-Huang Transformation and its Applications," 2008.

• Colin Kreutzer, "Relativity and the Search for Gravitational Waves," Physics, 2008.

• Adam Santoro, "Nonlinear Resonances in the Solar System" , 2007.

• Diana Streng, "Gravitational Lensing," Physics, 2006.

• Michael Grissom, "Mechanics of Surfing," Physics, 2006

• Joseph Griffin, Nonlinear ODEs and Drugs, 2006.

• Theresa Rowlands, “Relativity and the Gravitational Positioning System”, Physics, 2006.

• Emilea Grove, “Chemical Kinetics”, 2004.

• Elaine Braman, "Dusty Plasmas," Physics, 2004.

• Jerry Lee Jones, Nonlinear Dynamics, Physics, 2004.

• Albert Lee, “Relativity and GPS”, 2004.

• Joe Kitchins, “The Hydrogen Atom”, 2003.

• Samuel Biddle, The Dripping Faucet and Chaos, 2003.

• Eric Fales, “The Riemann Hypothesis”, 2001.

• Scott Watson, “Inflationary Cosmology”, 2000.

• Lisa Soberano, Mathematical Foundations of Image Processing, 2000.

• Holly Smith, Chaotic Dynamics of Hyperion, 1999.

• Corbin West, "Elliptical Geometry and Applications," 1999.

• Scott Baker, Solitons, 1998.

• Kimberly Meares, Slider-Block Dynamics and Applications in Geology, 1997.

• Jamie Kirby, Wavelets, 1996.

• Adam Brand, Plotting Hydrogen Wavefunctions, 1995.

• Amy Brown, Penrose Tilings, 1995.

• Tobias Friske, Wavelets, 1995.

• Farrah Scodius, Spectral Analysis of EKGs, 1995.

• Laura Weisenhorn, Solitary Waves, 1995.

• Kurt Van Devere, Chaotic Dynamics, 1994.

• Bradley Marshall, Numerical Solution of Schrodinger Equation, 1994.

Older Undergraduate Projects

• Scott Watson, supervised him for his two seminar talks in September, 1998 on the "Relativistic Correction to Mercury's Orbit".

• Mandy Hill and Gwen Jones (Grad), Presented semester long signal analysis seminars for their research with G. Lugo, 1998.

• Society of Physics Students Talk,  Presented a talk on Chaos, May, 1998.

• Sponsor for undergraduate research proposal in Wavelet Transform, Undergraduate Research Fellowship Competition, Spring 1996.

• Sponsor for undergraduate research proposal in nonlinear optics, UNCW Undergraduate Research Grant in   Science, 1994.

• Sponsor for undergraduate research proposal in Painleve' analysis, UNCW Undergraduate Research Grant in   Science, 1992.

• Supervised undergraduate project on Inverse Scattering for the Regularized Wave Equation, Fall 1993.

• Study of perturbations of Painleve' equations, 1992-3, one undergraduate student.

• Study of nonlinear pulse propagation in optical fibers, 1990, two undergraduate students, PEW Grant.

• Study of numerical errors in discretizations of the KdV, NLS equations, 1989. two undergraduate students, PEW Grant.

 

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Maintained by Dr. Russell L. Herman - Last Updated: April 27, 2023