»Math, Physics and Computation Faculty
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Yakir Aharonov, Ph.D.
Professor, James J. Farley Professorship in Natural Philosophy
aharonov@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Yakir Aharonov, Ph.D., is professor of theoretical physics at Chapman University,
where he holds the James J. Farley Professorship in Natural Philosophy. Considered
one of the most highly regarded scientists in the world, Dr. Aharonov received the
prestigious Wolf Prize in 1998 for his co-discovery of the Aharonov-Bohm Effect, one
of the cornerstones of modern physics.
Dr. Aharonov's current research with Chapman University team members Menas Kafatos,
Ph.D., Jeff Tollaksen, Ph.D. and participants from other universities includes a grant
awarded from the Science and Transcendence Advanced Research Series (STAR) for a project
titled "Subjective Experience as a Window on Foundational Physics." The aim of the
project is to investigate the areas of tension between objective scientific description
and human conscious experience.
Amir Ahsan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Physics
ahsan@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Physics education;
Modeling the mechanics of biopolymers under mechanical and electrical forces through
statistical mechanical methods;
Modeling the evolutionary dynamics of viruses under various selection pressures.
Daniel Alpay
Professor, Mathematics
alpay@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Alpay’s research interests are along five main directions, namely Schur analysis
in the setting of slice-hyperholomorphic functions, infinite dimensional analysis
and white noise space theory, linear systems and applications to wavelet filters and
signal processing, functions of a bicomplex variable, and function theory on a compact
Riemann surface. A number of the underlying projects are at the interface between
mathematics, signal processing, and models for linear systems appearing in electrical
engineering. The notions of positive definite function and of the associated reproducing
kernel Hilbert space play an important role in these various directions of research.
LouAnne Boyd, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Computer Sciences
lboyd@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Boyd’s research interests center around the design, development, and evaluation
of novel technologies to support neurodiverse populations. Current projects are investigating
the efficacy of a new interaction design framework drawn from neuroscience theories
to accommodation sensory impairments. Specific projects under investigation include
the development of technologies to increase the accessibility of information for people
with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and/or dyslexia.
Justin Dressel, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Physics
Director, Physics
dressel@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Dressel researches the foundations of quantum physics, which is a natural intersection
point between physics, mathematics, and computer science. His recent research has
focused on algebraic approaches to generalized quantum measurements, quantum computation
with superconducting transmon quantum bits using circuit quantum electrodynamics,
and Clifford algebraic approaches to relativistic field theory. Though the bulk of
his work is theoretical in nature, he works closely with experimental teams at U Rochester,
UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Barbara.
Jill B. Dunham, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Associate Director, Mathematics
jdunham@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Dunham’s research interests include topological graph theory, computational problems
in discrete mathematics, and recreational mathematics. Specific projects include finding
the maximum touching number for coin graphs, enumerating solutions to paper-folding
problems, and applying graph theory to structures in commutative algebra.
Another area of research is pedagogy, including tactile learning and assessment of
course effectiveness.
Hesham El-Askary, Ph.D.
Professor, Remote Sensing and Earth System Sciences
Director, Computational and Data Sciences Program
elaskary@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. El-Askary’s research interests center studying the interactions and ongoing processes
between the Earth’s various spheres, namely atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and
cryosphere. Specific projects under investigation include the impact of natural and
anthropogenic aerosols on: cloud microphysics, hurricanes, human health, local climate
as well as change detection analysis of different marine habitats stressed by local
climate variability, studying global impacts on a local scale spatially and temporally
with emphasis on using dimension reductions algorithms to asses handling big data.
Michael Fahy, Ph.D.
Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science
Associate Dean, Operations, Facilities and Finance
Chief Technology Officer
fahy@chapman.edu
Halina Goetz, M.S.
Instructor, Mathematics and Computer Science
hgoetz@chapman.eduTEACHING INTERESTS
Working with gifted students, working with students who need remediation, the art
of Socratic tutoring, creating and using algorithms in elementary and intermediate
algebra, teaching how to study mathematics with understanding, andragogy versus pedagogy
(teaching students as if they were children and dependent personalities in the classroom,
versus teaching students as if they were adults).
Peter Jipsen, Ph.D.
Professor, Mathematics
jipsen@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Jipsen’s research is about the interplay between abstract algebra, logic and proof
theory, concentrating mostly on ordered algebraic structures. He is particularly interested
in residuated lattices, including basic logic algebras, MV-algebras, Heyting algebras,
lattice-ordered groups and relation algebras, as well as (semi)lattices with operators
and Boolean algebras with operators. He develops algorithms for enumerating finite
models and uses automated theorem provers and model checkers for his research. His
investigations include the design of concurrent algorithms for large-scale computational
mathematics.
Joby John, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Instructional Faculty
jjohn@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. John is a mathematically inclined engineer who builds mathematical models to understand
problems, like variability in human movement and how it affects the performance in
skilled tasks, how disease affects symmetry of locomotion, modeling the nonlinear
bending behavior of corrugated plates, and how geometry and mechanics interact to
produce structures with high compressive strengths. He is also interested in Machine
learning, specifically Deep Neural Networks; its application to various time-series
data is being explored.
Alexander Kurz, Ph.D.
Professor, Computer Science
akurz@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr Kurz studies various models of computation using techniques from logic, algebra,
topology, category theory and other areas of mathematics. He is known for his work
on modal logic and coalgebras. More recently he pursues novel foundations of quantitative
logics for the specification and verification of heterogeneous systems as well as
relational and compositional techniques supporting scalable solutions for blockchain-based
technologies. He is also interested in applications of these mathematical techniques
outside of computer science, in particular in economics and the political and social
sciences.
Matthew S. Leifer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Physics
leifer@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Leifer is interested in the quantum information theory and the foundations of
quantum theory, and especially in topics at the intersection of the two areas. He
is an academic who straddles the line somewhere between mathematics, philosophy, and
theoretical physics. His main interests are in Quantum Information Theory and the
Foundations of Quantum Theory.
Erik Linstead, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Computer Science and Software Engineering
Director, Undergraduate Computing Programs
linstead@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Erik Linstead is the principle investigator of the Machine Learning and Assistive
Technology (MLAT) Lab. His research interests span the areas of data mining, information
retrieval, and software engineering. In the past he has worked in the areas of automated
program comprehension and chemical informatics. More recently he has been exploring
algorithms and technologies for improving the way Autism Spectrum Disorder is diagnosed,
treated, and managed. Projects in his group make use of deep learning, high-performance
computing, virtual reality, and mobile devices.
Michael Andrew Moshier, Ph.D.
Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science
Director, Center of Excellence in Computation, Algebra and Topology
moshier@chapman.edu
Ali Nayeri, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Physics
nayeri@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Nayeri’s main research interests focus on cosmology and gravity. From bre-big
bang cosmology and string cosmology to structure formation in the late time universe.
From universe with extra dimensions and (mem)brane cosmology to quantum field theory
in curved spacetime; From statistical mechanics of strings in the very early universe
to thermodynamics of gravitating systems. In short his interests spans any thing
smaller than nuclei of atoms to larger than galaxies.
Atanas Radenski, Ph.D.
Professor, Computer Science
radenski@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Radenski’s research interests are in the areas of scientific computing; big data
and cloud computing; parallel and distributed computing; programming languages; object-oriented
computing; e-learning. Specific projects under investigation target (i) map-reduce
parallel algorithms for data-intensive grid models and (ii) shared-memory and message-passing
divide-and-conquer algorithms.
Cyril Rakovski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mathematics
rakovski@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Rakovski’s research interests are primarily focused in the field of statistical
genetics and in particular in the design of novel statistical methods for genome-wide
association studies for both family and case-control data. He is also interested in
developing and applying advanced methods for analysis of complexly sampled case-control,
time series, longitudinal, and survey data. He has a multifaceted research collaborations
with faculty from nursing, biology, chemistry, food science, health communications,
psychology, earth science, and others.
Ramesh Singh, Ph.D.
Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences
singh@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Singh has carried out extensive studies related to the dynamics of atmospheric
pollution in the northern parts of India and Northeastern parts of China and their
impacts on the Hydrological cycle, Monsoon, Himalayan Glaciers, and Natural Resources.
He found emissions from the Coal based power plants, dust transports from Arabia peninsula
and Crop residue burning impact regional climate systems in India and Asia. Detailed
analysis of satellite data carried out by one of the Undergraduate students, observed
a declining trend in emissions from US coal power plants.
He has used Indian, European and NASA satellite and ground data to understand the
Earthquake processes and coupling between Land, Ocean, Atmosphere and Meteorological
parameters associated with the Natural Hazards (Cyclones/Hurricanes/Typhoons), Earthquakes,
Droughts, Floods and Dust events in India and China. His recent efforts to study Hydrological
response on seismicity observed in China, Mid and Eastern parts of US.
Elizabeth Stevens
Instructor, Computer Science and software Engineering
Associate Director, Undergraduate Computing Programs
estevens@chapman.edu
Daniele Struppa, Ph.D.
President, Chapman University
Professor, Mathematics
struppa@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Struppa’s research are in Fourier Analysis, with applications to a variety of
both pure and applied areas, as well as Complex and Hypercomplex Analysis. Dr. Struppa
has published extensively on the theory of convolution and infinite order differential
equations, and has applied these tools to a variety of problems in quantum physics,
with special attention for the theory of superoscillations. Dr. Struppa has made significant
contributions to the theory of Cauchy-Fueter regular functions on quaternions, and
he introduced (jointly with G. Gentili) the notion of slice regularity, which has
now become a very active field of research in hypercomplex analysis.
Jeff Tollaksen, Ph.D.
Professor, Physics, Computational Science and Engineering
Director, Institute of Quantum Studies
tollakse@chapman.edu
Adrian Vajiac, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mathematics
Director, Mathematics
avajiac@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Complex and Hypercomplex Analysis; Algebraic Computational Methods in Geometric and
Physics PDEs; Equivariant Localization Techniques in Topological Quantum Field Theory;
Foundations of Geometry; Mathematics and Physics Education
Mihaela Vajiac, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mathematics
Director, Center of Excellence in Complex and Hypercomplex Analysis
mbvajiac@chapman.edu
Gennady Verkhivker, Ph.D.
Professor, Computational Biology
verkhivk@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Verkhivker’s research activities are in the areas of computational cancer biology,
translational bioinformatics, and computational pharmacology. He has established a
dynamic research group engaged in translational research that attracted a large cohort
of undergraduate and graduate students.
Peyi Zhao, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Computer Science
zhao@chapman.eduRESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Zhao's research interests center around the low power consumption of Digital Integrated
Circuits in chip design. Special projects under investigation include flip-flop design,
clock gating design, leakage reduction design, ultra-low power design.