Scientific Computing Research Environments for the Mathematical Sciences (SCREMS)

Princeton University, Princeton NJ

Investigators

Abstract

The Department of Mathematics and Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics proposes to purchase a computational cluster which will be dedicated to support computational research in mathematical sciences. This research will be concentrated in particular in the following areas: (1) new algorithms for the separation of independent components in magnetic imaging data to study brain function, (2) the dynamics of how bio-molecules acquire and move between different conformations, (3) study of the analytic rank in connection with the Goldfeld conjecture on elliptic curves (a well-known conjecture in number theory), and (4) computer-assisted enumeration of cusped hyperbolic 3-manifolds. Each of these projects require dedicated facilities that Fine Hall does not have currently. From a scientific and educational point of view, the proposed projects lie at the interfaces between different disciplines: signal processing, statistics and psychology for the fMRI project; applied mathematics and biochemistry for the second project; topology and geometry for the 3-manifold project. Progress on these projects will impact several communities. In addition, these projects will be part of the PIs' continuing effort on bringing frontier research to science education in the classrooms, as well as attracting women and other under-represented groups to the area of mathematics. New courses and discussion sessions will be organized so that a much larger part of the mathematical and scientific community will have access to these research projects through the proposed facility.