Joseph Nakao
Spring 2025: MATH 43 (ODEs), Math 54 (PDEs), MATH 93 (Low-rank tensor decompositions)Math 43 Office Hours: M 2-3:30 (Math 43 priority 2-2:45), Th 3:30-4:30, Friday 1:30-3 (Math 43 priority 1:30-2:15), and by appointment
Math 54 Office Hours: M 2-3:30 (Math 54 priority 2:45-3:30), W 3:30-4:30, Friday 1:30-3 (Math 54 priority 2:15-3), and by appointment
You can always schedule a Zoom or in-person meeting via email (see Contact page).
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I am an Assistant Professor of Mathematics (tenure track) at Swarthmore College in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics. My research focuses on developing efficient and robust algorithms for solving partial differential equations. My recent work focuses on studying low-rank tensor decompositions and their applications in plasma physics and transport problems.
I currently serve on the editorial board of MAA FOCUS, the newsmagazine of the Mathematical Association of America, and I am the Eastern Pennsylvania district liaison for the SIAM New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania (NNP) section. I previously served on the board of directors for Spectra, the Association for LGBTQ+ Mathematicians, from 2021-2024. I am deeply passionate about promoting diversity and support of LGBTQ+ mathematicians, especially at the the undergraduate and graduate levels.
I grew up near Seattle, WA and received my B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Seattle University in 2018. I then received my Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Delaware in 2023. Outside of school, I enjoy running, cooking, book collecting, scoping out hidden restaurants, playing video games with my partner, and reading in coffee shops.