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Valeria Barra, PhD, has extensive experience in research software development, particularly in climate modeling and high-performance scientific computing. She has held various academic positions, including postdoctoral research associate and teaching roles, while also contributing to significant projects in fluid simulations and mathematical modeling. Her skills encompass applied mathematics, numerical analysis, and programming, with a strong focus on developing mathematical libraries and algorithms for scientific applications.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
6 views5 pages

Valeria Barra PHD Netherlands Updated No Image

Valeria Barra, PhD, has extensive experience in research software development, particularly in climate modeling and high-performance scientific computing. She has held various academic positions, including postdoctoral research associate and teaching roles, while also contributing to significant projects in fluid simulations and mathematical modeling. Her skills encompass applied mathematics, numerical analysis, and programming, with a strong focus on developing mathematical libraries and algorithms for scientific applications.

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VALERIA BARRA, PHD

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.

Postdoctoral Research Associate Jun 2018 - Oct 2020


University of Colorado Boulder, 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).

Doctoral Student and Research Assistant Aug 2012 - May 2018


New Jersey Institute of Technology
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: 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.

Research Intern Sep 2016 - Dec 2016


Pixar Animation Studios, 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.

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.

Algorithm Analyst and Developer Mar 2011 - Jun 2011


Tecnoprogram S.r.l., 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.

Life Guard May 2003 - Sep 2006


La Filarmonica, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Siena
Obtained a recognized licence to be a life guard in swimming pools and worked for three year as a summer
job during high school.

SKILLS
Applied Mathematics Research

Teaching Numerical Simulation

Mathematical Modeling Mathematics

Algorithms Matlab

Numerical Analysis Programming

Scientific Computing Computational Mathematics

LaTeX Simulations

Computational Physics Computer Graphics

CAD/CAM Computer Graphics Design

Computer Animation Software Development

Fortran Public Speaking

Assistant Teaching Julia (Programming Language)

LANGUAGES
English Italian

Spanish

COURSES
AMS Short Course on Discrete Differential Geometry

Advanced Mathematical Modeling

Advanced ODEs

Advanced PDEs

Algebra
Algorithms and Complexity

Complex Analysis

Complex Analysis

Data Types and Structures

Databases

CERTIFICATES
edX Verified Certificate for Computer Graphics Mar 2016

Swimming Pool Lifeguard Jan 2003

First Certificate in English - Council of Europe Level B2 Jun 2010

TOEFL Jul 2011

edX Verified Certificate for How to Code: Simple Data - Formerly Oct 2017
'Systematic Program Design'

Research & Writing Professional Development Certification Apr 2019

Evidence-Based Introduction to Teaching Aug 2019

Learning Julia Jul 2020

Julia Scientific Programming Jul 2020

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.

Scoring Practices for Remote Sensing Jun 2016 - Jun 2016


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 2016), held at Duke's University, Durham, NC.
The project was developed in the field of optmization and operations research. It aimed at optimizing the
outcome of decision making practices for security applications, such as landmines search. The technical
report first analyzes the process by which sensor data from a region suspected to contain landmines is
used to determine a set of alarm sites, including the manner in which the alarm set provided is scored
against competing algorithms. Then provides original solutions for data cleaning and filtering, and scoring
practices of the different algorithms presented. My personal contribution was in the design and
development of numerical algorithms for data cleaning and filtering, and in the analysis of the scoring
practices through the ROC curves generated.

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.

A smooth ride on a bumpy road Jun 2014 - Jun 2014


This is a report on a five-day group workshop, called Graduate Student Mathematical Modeling Camp,
hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. The aim of the project was to develop mathematical
models that capture the dynamics of a vehicle driving on a washboard road and introduce filters to smooth
or possibly eliminate the vehicle’s vertical displacement due to the bumpiness of the road. To gain insight
on the behavior of the underlying system, we first considered a simplified model, the harmonic oscillator, the
results of which we compared to a real world model. This real world model is an estimate of the underlying
dynamics incorporated with a set of given data. The data obtained from both models shows that the
smoothest ride is obtained by minimizing the displacement velocity of the vehicle. My contribution was in
the numerical data analysis, and the development of a Kalman filter and the parameter study needed to
better understand the reliability of the experimental data versus the model predictions.

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.

Catmull-Clark Subdivision Surfaces Feb 2011 - Feb 2011


This project was for my Master Degree's final thesis. Subdivision Surfaces are one type of free-hand design
objects. The algorithm analyzed creates C^2 B-Spline Surfaces, that are finite elements widely used in all
CAD/CAM systems and 3D modeling/rendering softwares. The project involved original and independent
coding to reproduce some examples and some of the key features of this technique. The backgound image
for this page is also an example of what I have accomplished in this project.

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.

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