Research Interests
Coding theory and applied discrete mathematics: Combinatorial and algebraic design and analysis of codes and algorithms for applications such as storage, distributed storage systems, streaming, and cryptography. Focus on graph-based codes and iterative decoders.
Education
- Ph.D. Mathematics, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, May 2006
Thesis: Pseudocodewords, Expander Graphs, and the Algebraic Construction of Low-Density Parity-Check Codes
Advisor: Prof. Joachim Rosenthal - M.S. Mathematics, University of Notre Dame, Indiana, May 2003
- C.A.S.M. Mathematics, Cambridge University, England, June 2001
Part III of the Mathematical Tripos (Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics with Merit) - B.S. Mathematics, University of Puget Sound, Washington, May 1999
Budapest Semesters in Mathematics, Hungary, Fall 1998
Positions Held
- Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 08/21 – present
- Associate Professor, UNL, 08/13 – 07/21
- Harold and Esther Edgerton Assistant Professor, UNL, 08/10 – 07/12
- Assistant Professor, UNL, 08/07 – 07/13
- VIGRE Arnold Ross Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University, 01/07 – 06/08 (on leave from UNL)
- Postdoctoral Fellow, The Fields Institute, Toronto, 07/06 – 12/06
- Teaching & Research Assistant, University of Notre Dame, 08/01 – 05/06
- Research Assistant, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 08/99 – 08/00
Honors
- Roger Wiegand Award, UNL Dept. of Mathematics, 2021
- Distinguished Teaching Award, College of Arts & Sciences, UNL, 2012
- Harold and Esther Edgerton Junior Faculty Award, UNL, 2010
- Certificates of Recognition for Contributions to Students, UNL Parents Association, 2015 & 2019
Funding
Current Grants Under Review
- NSF Collaborative Research: Graphs, Codes, Transitivity, and Decoding ($664,940), PI Gretchen Matthews, co-PI Christine Kelley, 2022–2025
- Simons Collaboration Grant ($42,000), PI Christine Kelley, 2022–2027
Selected Funded Grants
- NSA Grant: Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics ($50,000), PI, 2022–2024
- NSF Grant for NCUWM ($150,000), PI with Glenn Ledder & Alex Zupan, 2020–2022
- NSA Young Investigator Grant ($29,930), PI, 2011–2013
- NSF EPSCoR First Award ($20,000), PI, 2009–2010
Other Support
- Simons Visiting Professorship to Oberwolfach, 2019
- UNL International Travel Awards, 2015 & 2019
- Project NExT Fellow, 2008–2009
- IEEE and IMA travel grants (2004–2007)
Publications
Books and Chapters
- Coordinated Calculus (Open Educational Resource, 2019)
- “Building a Community: The Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics” (Book chapter, 2021)
- “Codes over Graphs” in Concise Encyclopedia of Coding Theory (CRC Press, 2021)
Journal and Conference Papers
(39+ refereed papers — full list available on request)
Papers Under Review
- Properties of Quasi-dyadic Parity Check Codes (with M. Martinez)
- Cycle-free Windows in SC-LDPC Codes (with E. McMillon)
- “Metabolic syntrophy between human symbionts…” (with Catlett et al.)
Talks and Panels
- 53 invited conference and colloquium talks (2004–2021)
- Invited panelist at Mathfest, Maria Mitchell Women in Science Symposium, JMM, etc.
Teaching and Education
Courses Taught (UNL)
- Math 958: Topics in Coding Theory / Information Theory
- Math 852/850: Discrete Mathematics I & II
- Math 450: Combinatorics and Graph Theory
- Math 417: Group Theory
- Math 107: Calculus II (large lecture, 11 sections)
- Multiple courses for in-service teachers (Math 812T, 806T, 805T, etc.)
Other Teaching
- Probability & Combinatorics, The Ohio State University
- Calculus and Finite Mathematics, University of Notre Dame
- Coding Theory, University of Zürich
Mentorship
Ph.D. Students Supervised
- Kathryn Haymaker (Ph.D. 2014, now Associate Professor at Villanova)
- Allison Beemer (Ph.D. 2018, now Assistant Professor at UW–Eau Claire)
- Carolyn Mayer (Ph.D. 2018, now at Sandia National Labs)
- Emily McMillon (Ph.D. 2022)
- Current: Daniel Welchons, Meraiah Martinez, Kirsten Morris
Postdocs Supervised
- Tefjol Pllaha (2021–present)
Undergraduate Research
- Supervised 4 honors theses and UCARE projects (students now in academia, research, or government roles)
Service
Department Service (UNL)
- Co-Chair, Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics (2013–present)
- Executive Committee (2011–2013, 2020–2022)
- Chair, Professor of Practice Search Committee (2017–2018)
- Organizer, Job Search Seminar for graduate students (2018–2020)
- Organizer, Discrete Mathematics Seminar (2009–2010)
University Service
- Co-Chair, IDEA Committee, College of Arts & Sciences (2021–present)
- Member, Nebraska Council for Inclusive Excellence and Diversity (since 2021)
Professional Service
- Technical Program Committee, IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory (2021–2022)
- Steering Committee, Women in Graph Theory and Applications (since 2019)
- NSF reviewer (2018–2019)
- Associate Editor, International Journal of Information and Coding Theory (2011–2013)
- Referee for multiple journals and conferences (IEEE, Springer, SIAM, etc.)
Outreach
- Organizer, math & cryptography activities for Girl Scouts (2012)
- Consultant, Sheldon Art Museum exhibit on “The Geometric Unconscious” (2012)
- Designed coding/cryptography lessons for Lincoln Public Schools (2009–2010)
