Malgorzata Peszynska

For students & by students

Enjoy the collage of final presentations from MTH 655-9 (Winter 2017)

The image (flow from Corvallis to Portland calculated with Finite Elements) was made with contributions from MTH 654 students, Fall'13. The video shows Oregon eigenvalues and eigenfunctions, and was prepared for the first OSU Cascade 2014 meeting.

How to learn computing?

Students wanting to gain programming experience may consider the following options:

• Consider registering for some online (e.g., Coursera) classes on programming. Before, identify exactly what programming language you need/want, and how much time/resources you are willing to invest.
• High Performance Computing (HPC): you learn by doing, and you should start by learning the command-line Linux.
  • In Winter 2016 we offered a local satellite class MTH 699 (umbrella class for Extreme Scaling Course) with a lot of information on optimzing parallel performance. There may be more classes like that offered if there is enough interested students: please let me know.
• Matlab tutorials: there are many; e.g., Mathworks tutorial , or MIT MATLAB Tutorial. Also, here is a link to Notes on Computational Mathematics: Matlab written by Prof. Higdon.
• More numerical analysis explorations and examples in MATLAB can be found via Cleve Moler's website.

This image shows Finite Element ornament letters made by students in MTH 654 Fall 2011.

Further Links and Tips

• When requesting a recommendation letter, please see the FERPA-related release form (Fill it out and send to me. Do not send to Registrar). See also letters
• Web of Science
• Q & A on Computational Science (aka stack exchange)
• Other Numerical Analysis/Computational Science links
• How hard is it to write? Writing a thesis, report, and preparing a poster or a conference presentation comes naturally or not. If it doesn't, you should start now.

  Resources include Handbook Of Writing For The Mathematical Sciences, Second Edition by N. Higham, or A Primer of Mathematical Writing, by S. Krantz. (read the review by P. Halmos)

• How to LaTeX? See some of my templates for classes and Numerical ANalysis at http://sites.science.oregonstate.edu/~mpesz/latex.html
• How to prepare presentations? I use primarily the beamer package in LaTeX. How to learn LaTeX? (G-it up, e.g., LaTeX tutorial). At OSU, we have MikTeX on Windows platforms in the MLC computer lab. For the cloud-loving folks, Overleaf.com provides a free online platform with many templates.
• More resources on the content of mathematical presentations: "Top ten Ways to Lose an Audience" (SIAM News April 2011 by Tamara Koldy and Vorginia Torczon).
• What is a defense? A defense combines a presentation with an exam conducted by the committee members.

  This formal step requires proper attire and attitude. In short, shorts are a no, while it is always OK be overdressed, but preparing a buffet for your committee is too much. Bring your family and other supporters if you want. Attend other defenses in your department to see what it is like before your own one comes.

• How to develop soft skills

  Mathematicians are known to be, well, different. We are strong at problem solving. However, many employers require that you also have these "soft skills": be on time, complete tasks on time, communicate effectively, collaborate seamlessly, and lead when appropriate.

• How to write professional email
• Last but not least: Wikipedia math jokes.