45th Annual WKU Mathematics Symposium

Prof. Randy Paffenroth

Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences,

Associate Professor of Computer Science, and

Associate Professor of Data Science

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Bio:  Dr. Paffenroth graduated from Boston University with degrees in both mathematics and computer science and he was awarded his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland in June of 1999.  After attaining his Ph.D., Dr. Paffenroth spent seven years as a Staff Scientist in Applied and Computational Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology.  In 2006, he joined Numerica Corporation where he held the position of Computational Scientist and Program Director.  Dr. Paffenroth is currently an Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor of Computer Science, and Associate Professor of Data Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.  His current technical interests include machine learning, dynamical systems, signal processing, large-scale data analytics, compressed sensing, and the interaction between mathematics, computer science, and software engineering.  Applications of Dr. Paffenroth’s work include cyber-defense, chemical sensor processing, and material science, and his work has been supported by several funding agencies including the NSF, U.S. Army DEVCOM-SC and DEVCOM-DAC, the MITRE corporation, and BBN/Raytheon.

Michelle Zandieh is a Professor in the Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts at Arizona State University. She received undergraduate degrees in mathematics and geology at Northwestern University and earned an MS and a Ph.D. in mathematics at Oregon State University. Her research focuses on the learning and teaching of undergraduate mathematics in courses such as calculus, linear algebra, geometry and transition to proof. She is interested in student cognition in the context of digital learning games and applets, and how students realize concepts through context and metaphor. She is an author of over 35 journal articles and book chapters and has been funded as a principal investigator on National Science Foundation grants for over 20 years.