Graduate Student in Physics

M.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois; physics; 2006.

B.A., Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois; physics; 2004.

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

• Pattern formation.
• Networks.
• Fluvial geomorphology.
• Nonlinear dynamics and complex systems.
• Non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

CURRENT RESEARCH:

I am investigating the dependence of river networks on initial conditions. Initial conditions are known to affect the fractal and geomorphic properties of river networks, but the effect has not been systematically studied. I am currently investigating network dependence on initial conditions numerically, using a stream power law. Preliminary results indicate that some fractal and geomorphic properties show significant sensitivity to initial conditions, while others are generally insensitive. These results suggest that initial conditions deserve greater consideration in numerical and analog models. The results also offer insight into some long-standing questions about river networks, including whether river networks are optimal in some sense and whether networks belong to a universality class.