Valeria Barra PHD Netherlands Updated No Image
Valeria Barra PHD Netherlands Updated No Image
Research software development and maintenance of a new climate 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.
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: 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.
High School Teacher of Mathematics and Physics Jul 2013 - Aug 2013
Scientific Lyceum “A. Avogadro”, Siena, Italy, Abbadia San Salvatore, Siena, Tuscany, Italy
Tought Mathematics and Physics for Summer classes (ninth to twelfth grade) for several sections: Scientific
Lyceum and Tech Professional major concentration High School.
High School Teacher of Mathematics and Physics Jul 2013 - Jul 2013
Tech High School “B. Ricasoli“, Siena, Italy, 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.
SKILLS
Applied Mathematics Research
Algorithms Matlab
LaTeX Simulations
LANGUAGES
English Italian
Spanish
COURSES
AMS Short Course on Discrete Differential Geometry
Advanced ODEs
Advanced PDEs
Algebra
Algorithms and Complexity
Complex Analysis
Complex Analysis
Databases
CERTIFICATES
edX Verified Certificate for Computer Graphics Mar 2016
edX Verified Certificate for How to Code: Simple Data - Formerly Oct 2017
'Systematic Program Design'
PROJECTS
The problem of freezing of copper water heat pipes - MPI 2018 Jun 2018 - Jun 2018
for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The link provided shows the final report of a group project developed in the framework of a five-day
workshop, the Thirtyfourth Annual Workshop on Mathematical Problems in Industry, held at the Claremont
Graduate University, Claremont, California. We have carried out a three-phase thermodynamics
investigation to assess failing mechanisms of water-copper heat pipes in space. We have categorized the
failing mechanisms in wall and wick failures, and developed the mathematical modeling for each. We have
quantified the industrially relevant amount of water that a heat pipe can hold before incurring into pipe
failure, and investigated the different processes incurring in the wick failure. We have modeled the latter as
a Stefan problem: a heat transfer model with an advancing front that describes the interface of the phase
change.
My contribution was in the mathematical modeling of the multiphase physical problem as well as writing
and giving the final presentation.
Predicting Exacerbation and Associated Triage in COPD Jun 2017 - Jun 2017
Patients - MPI 2017 for Revon Systems
The link provided shows the final report of a group project developed in the framework of a five-day
workshop, called Mathematical Problems in the Industry (MPI 2017), held at NJIT, Newark, NJ. The project was
developed in the field of data science and machine learning for the company Revon Systems. The
company has designed an proprietary system, delivered via a smartphone app, that provides
recommendations to users on what action is appropriate, given reported symptoms related to their chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The goal of our group-study was to develop a mathematical model
to predict COPD patient exacerbations, given a set of diagnostic and survey data. My personal contribution
was in the design and development of mathematical models and numerical implementation of a reliable
prediction algorithm that was solely based on the patient's vital signs, collected as a set of discrete time
series. The mathematical tools employed were Markov chains and Kalman filters, together with other
common tools for Data Science and Machine Learning.
Methods for Thin Nearly Flat Elastic Shells with Stretching and Jun 2015 - Jun 2015
Bending - MPI 2015 for Corning Incorporated
Link is provided to the final report of a group project developed during a five-day workshop, called
Mathematical Problems in the Industry (MPI 2015), held at the University of Delaware, Newark, DE. The project
was developed in the field of continuum mechanics,with the aim of solving the equations governing the
deformation of a thin elastic plate, subject to thermal stresses and opposing bending and stretching. The
project also involved formulating and solving the inverse problem of what thermal expansion distribution
might explain an observed deformed shape. My contribution helped developing a numerical solution to the
problem with different sets of boundary conditions.
Characterization of Porous Media Using a Geometric Depiction Jun 2014 - Jun 2014
of Fibrous Materials - MPI 2014 for W.L. Gore & Associates
This is an executive summary of a group project developed during a five-day workshop, called
Mathematical Problems in the Industry (MPI 2014), held at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ.
The project regarded fluid filtration through fibrous media, with a focus on better understanding the
relationship between material structure and geometrical properties of the fiber and product performance.
My contribution concerned the 3D geometric modelling and design of structured and unstructured graph
networks, representing the fibrous media.
The History and the Concept of the Fourth Dimension Dec 2008 - Dec 2008
This project was for my Bachelor's Degree final thesis. I have conducted a review of the concept of the
fourth dimension in analytical geometry, concentrating on the aplications on visual arts. 3D projections and
animated graphics were brought as examples.