<b>Planning Ahead</b>
Friday, March 26, 2010 - 10:40am - 11:20am
EE/CS 3-180
- Planning for work in mathematical sciences at a national
laboratory
Natalia Alexandrov (NASA Langley Research Center)
Working at a national laboratory, such as one of the NASA research centers, offers many exciting research opportunities to a mathematician. Some disciplines are traditionally mathematically intensive, such as computational fluid dynamics, structural analysis, multidisciplinary design optimization, formal methods for algorithm verification, to name a few. Other areas have traditionally relied on heuristic and evolutionary approaches, as in the development of the air transportation system. A uniting factor is the ever growing complexity of systems under consideration. In all endeavors, mathematical problems abound. This talk gives an overview of active research areas and describes a number of steps mathematicians planning to join a national laboratory can take to prepare themselves and create a productive and enjoyable working experience. - Planning to work in the academia
Peh Ng (University of Minnesota)
As faculty members at academic institutions, we are expected to excel
in the three main areas called research, teaching, and outreach (or service),
each of which with a different emphasis at different types of academic
institutions. By and large, most academic institutions allow faculty the
flexibility to pursue research or scholarly activities within the scope of
the faculty member's expertise or research agenda. However, faculty would
benefit by being willing to venture out into new areas or by seeking new
research collaborations. Several suggestions on how to be proactive to
succeed in academia will be discussed.