The group

Students and collaborators, doing real modeling.

I build interdisciplinary teams to solve real-world problems in physics, biology, and materials science. The group runs on three principles: connect, teach, and build.

01 · Connect

Build the network

Collaboration across three levels: inside the department with analysts and numerical experts, across the university with the sciences, and nationally with longtime partners at Penn State, Argonne, and beyond.

02 · Teach

Mentor through research

Students learn by doing the work: deriving models, running simulations, and presenting in a weekly group seminar. Twelve sections of eight courses taught, with consistently high evaluations across four universities.

03 · Build

A program from the ground up

High-quality collaborative work first, then motivated students on interesting problems. Sustained success on both fronts is what a research program is made of.

Center affiliation

Applied Data Analysis and Modeling.

I co-direct ADAM, the CSU Center for Applied Data Analysis and Modeling. Its purpose is to build interdisciplinary teams of researchers and students who solve real problems in physics, biology, and materials science.

Visit ADAM
Recent student outcomes

Where the work goes

2 NSF GRFP fellowships SIURO publications Journal of Math Biology PLoS Comp Biology Biophysical Reports

Undergraduate and graduate co-authors appear throughout the publication list, from ant-foraging models to poultry food safety to chromosome dynamics.

People

Current members.

The group spans applied mathematics, physics, chemical engineering, and biology, from first-year undergraduates to doctoral researchers.

SR
Principal InvestigatorShawn D. RyanAssociate Professor of Mathematics & Statistics
Graduate researchers
VC
Ph.D. · Chemical Eng.Vyshnavi CiluveruExperiments for bacterial contamination in poultry processing (co-advised)
Undergraduate researchers
KN
REU · Soft matterKazutada NakaoActive-matter modeling (co-advised)
ES
USRAElias SaabBacterial cross-contamination in poultry processing
VP
USRAVincent PalomboBacterial cross-contamination in poultry processing
Collaborators

Longtime partners.

Interested in joining?

If you want to build models that connect to real experiments and data, from foraging to food safety to equation learning, reach out.

Contact the group
Alumni

Former group members.

Since 2016, more than 130 students have done research with the group. A few of where they've landed, from doctoral programs to industry.

Graduate researchers
Undergraduate researchers

A selection focused on recorded destinations. The full roster of 130+ advisees appears in the CV.