HMC Professor Named Editor of Online Math Publication SIURO

Rachel Levy

Harvey Mudd College Associate Professor of Mathematics Rachel Levy has been appointed editor-in-chief of SIURO, an online publication devoted to undergraduate research in applied and computational mathematics.

Published by the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, SIURO (SIAM Undergraduate Research Online) covers a range of topics, including differential equations, discrete mathematics, statistics and operations research.

Levy will succeed SIURO editor Peter Turner, who invited her to serve the next three years in the top editorial spot. She currently works with Turner as an associate editor of SIURO and as a member of the SIAM Education Committee.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to continue Peter’s work with SIURO,” Levy said. “The publication provides a terrific venue for undergraduate research in applied mathematics. Students conduct the research under the direction of a faculty advisor, and then take the lead as authors. The student authors correspond directly with an associate editor as they handle responses to reviewers and revisions.”

Serving in an editorial role comes naturally to Levy, who helps teach Writ 1, an introduction to academic writing course that is typically taken in the fall of freshman year. She also serves as chair of the HMC Teaching and Learning Committee and has advised the College’s Math Club and SIAM student chapter.

“The fact that SIAM has reached out to an HMC faculty member, Rachel in particular, recognizes the College’s culture of excellence in undergraduate research,” said HMC Math Department Chair Andrew Bernoff. “She is an ideal choice due to her track record of excellence in mentoring undergraduate research.”

Levy works extensively with students on research projects such as investigating the motion of thin liquid films with surfactants (such as the lining of human lungs), developing algorithms for the coordination and control of aquatic robots, and modeling whale footprints, slick patches observed on the ocean’s surface in the area of whale activity.

Her efforts have enabled students to collaborate with mathematicians and physicists at other esteemed colleges—such as North Carolina State University, Duke University, Claremont Graduate University and UCLA—and co-author research articles, which have appeared in publications such as the Journal of Engineering Mathematics. Levy has also been instrumental in obtaining funds from the National Science Foundation, Research Corporation and the Office of Naval Research, which have supported student research and two Clinic projects.