Contact
Valeria Barra, PhD
www.linkedin.com/in/valeriabarra Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computational Science
(LinkedIn) Pasadena, California, Stati Uniti d'America
Top Skills Summary
Applied Mathematics
I hold a PhD in Applied Mathematics. I love Mathematics in all its
Research
aspects and branches. I am particularly interested in computational
Teaching
applications of Mathematics such as Scientific Computing, Numerical
Languages Simulations and Modeling, Computational Geometry, Discrete
Differential Geometry, Computer Graphics.
Inglese (Native or Bilingual)
Italiano (Native or Bilingual)
As a first-generation low-income student, I have always felt
Spagnolo (Limited Working)
responsibility for having to prove myself and try my best. This
Certifications made me first an avid learner with an acute curiosity, and then a
determined, hard-working, perseverant researcher.
Research & Writing Professional
Development Certification
edX Verified Certificate for How I always seize any opportunity and try to make the most out of all my
to Code: Simple Data - Formerly personal and professional experiences. For instance, the desire to
'Systematic Program Design'
always aspire at what's best for my career led me to study abroad,
Julia Scientific Programming
in the United States, leaving for now my home country, Italy. It also
edX Verified Certificate for Computer
Graphics motivated me to pursuit my dream internship, at Pixar Animation
Studios. It then brought me to my postdoc position at the University
Honors-Awards of Colorado at Boulder, to Caltech as a Research Software Engineer
Scholarship "Borsa di Mobilità in the CliMA project, and now at San Diego State University as an
Internazionale" Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computational Science.
Best Research Poster for
Mathematical Sciences Department
For more information, please see my webpage and Curriculum Vitae
Ahluwalia Doctoral Fellowship Award
below, and don't hesitate to contact me!
SIAM Early Career Travel Award
SIAM Early Career Travel Award
Publications Experience
Thin viscoelastic dewetting films of San Diego State University
Jeffreys type subjected to gravity
and substrate interactions Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Computational Science
January 2024 - Present (11 months)
CEED ECP Milestone Report:
San Diego, California, United States
Improved Support for Parallel
Adaptive Simulation in CEED
CEED CP Milestone Report: Improve
Caltech
performance and capabilities of
CEED-enabled ECP applications on Research Software Engineer
Summit/Sierra October 2020 - January 2024 (3 years 4 months)
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Interfacial dynamics of thin Pasadena, California, United States
viscoelastic films and drops
Research software development and maintenance of a new climate
CEED ECP Milestone Report: Public
release of CEED 2.0 model, developed within the Climate Modeling Alliance (CliMA) project.
Implementation of numerical methods for the solution of the Partial Differential
Equations underlying the new climate model developed under this project,
fulfilling a key bridge position between the science, mathematics, and software
engineering.
University of Colorado Boulder
Postdoctoral Research Associate
June 2018 - October 2020 (2 years 5 months)
Boulder, Colorado
Research project in High Performance Scientific Computing. Involved in
the development of an efficient, extensible, portable mathematical library
(libCEED) for higher order finite element or spectral element methods. This
project is developed under the supervision of Jed Brown within the Center for
Efficient Exascale Discretizations (CEED) of the Exascale Computing Project
(ECP): a collaborative effort of the Office of Science and the National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA) of the Department of Energy (DOE).
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Teaching and Research Assistant
August 2012 - May 2018 (5 years 10 months)
Teaching Assistant for Graduate level classes:
• Spring 2018 - MATH 614 - Numerical Methods I:
Class designed for the Qualifying Examination in the PhD program in
Mathematical Sciences at NJIT. Classwork covers numerical methods for
polynomial interpolation, numerical integration, Ordinary and Partial Differential
Equations.
Instructor for Undergraduate level classes:
• Fall 2017 - MATH 337 - Linear Algebra:
Classwork covers the coordinated syllabus for the Linear Algebra course
that includes topics such as linear systems, matrix factorization, linear
transformations, and analytic geometry. Run the course independently with
personal lecture notes. Designed and graded weekly quizzes.
Lab Instructor for Graduate level classes:
• Fall 2015 - MATH 599 - Teaching in Mathematics:
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Class designed for the PhD program in Mathematical Sciences at NJIT.
Classwork covers programming in C, Fortran, Matlab, Python, LaTeX and
HTML. Prepared Lab lectures and projects independently. Designed and
graded weekly programming projects.
Lab Instructor for Undergraduate level classes:
• Spring 2017 - MATH 451 NSF - Capstone Laboratory:
Classwork includes matematical modeling of physical phenomena, as well as
their numerical and experimental investigation (http://math.njit.edu/research/
resources/nsf-capstone.php). Helped the student conduct independent and
original research projects.
• Fall 2014, Spring 2015 & Spring 2016 - MATH 340 - Applied Numerical
Methods:
Classwork covers Numerical Analysis and Algorithms, Matlab Programming.
Prepared Lab lectures and projects independently. Designed and graded
weekly programming projects.
• Teaching Assistant for several sections of Calculus II, Calculus B, and
Precalculus and Trigonometry (Fall 2011 - Spring 2013). Lead recitations with
practice problems and exam reviews. Graded weekly homework assignments.
Pixar Animation Studios
Research Intern
September 2016 - December 2016 (4 months)
Emeryville, California
Research on fluid simulations:
• Developed a proprietary C++ library for a 2D Navier-Stokes solver for
viscous fluid simulations on surfaces with arbitrary curvature. Expanded
existing code to include different types of discretized domains (from triangular
to polygonal meshes). Included user-defined solid obstacle and boundary
conditions for open meshes. Prototyped the development of a plug-in for
third-party procedural 3D animation and special effects software for film and
entertainment, Houdini by SideFX.
• Developed a proprietary C++ library to simulate the dynamics and interface
instabilities of 3D thin viscous films on triangular surfaces with arbitrary
curvature.
Istituto d'Istruzione Superiore “A. Avogadro”, Siena, Italy
High School Teacher of Mathematics and Physics
July 2013 - August 2013 (2 months)
Abbadia San Salvatore, Siena, Italy
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Tought Mathematics and Physics for Summer classes (ninth to twelfth
grade) for several sections: Scientific Lyceum and Tech Professional major
concentration High School.
Istituto Tecnico Agrario “B. Ricasoli“, Siena, Italy
High School Teacher of Mathematics and Physics
July 2013 - July 2013 (1 month)
Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Taught Mathematics and Physics for Summer classes (ninth to thirteenth
grade) for several sections in the Tech Professional major concentration High
School.
Tecnoprogram S.r.l.
Algorithm Analyst and Developer
March 2011 - June 2011 (4 months)
Poggibonsi, Siena, Italy
• Analyzed and implemented algorithms for CAGD and Computer Graphics.
• Developed algorithms and proprietary C++ code for 3D geometrical tools in
CAD/CAM systems, such as construction and modelling of NURBS surfaces,
mesh triangulations, object trimming and surface reconstruction.
• Improved existing geometric processing algorithms.
• Learned how to use geometric processing tools and libraries for large
geometric databases, such as OpenMesh, and improved the performance of
existing proprietary software.
La Filarmonica
Life Guard
May 2003 - September 2006 (3 years 5 months)
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena
Obtained a recognized licence to be a life guard in swimming pool and worked
for three year as a summer job during high school.
Education
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Applied Mathematics · (2012 - 2018)
Università degli Studi di Siena
Master's degree, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical
Sciences · (2008 - 2011)
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Università degli Studi di Siena
Bachelor's degree, Mathematical Sciences, Mathematical
Sciences · (2005 - 2008)
Liceo Scientifico "Galileo Galilei" di Siena
High School Diploma, Mathematics · (2000 - 2005)
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