The NSF-Simons National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology is building community and expanding research possibilities with the Institute’s Research-In-Progress meetings. This meeting series convenes members of the NSF-Simons NITMB community to an informal venue for discussion of ongoing and planned projects. We are proud to invite a wide variety of scientists and mathematicians to share their work with our community. While Research-In-Progress meetings are only intended for members of the NITMB, we want to publicly spotlight some of the researchers who will be joining us to share insight into their career and work.
Manu Jayadharan is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Applied Mathematics at Northwestern University, working on model discovery algorithms. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh, where he conducted research in numerical analysis and high-performance computing for fluid flow problems. He has also worked in the
quantitative finance industry, where he helped develop stochastic models for financial derivatives, and has experience with a variety of applied math problems.
Manu Jayadharan, postdoctoral scholar, Department of Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University
We spoke with Manu Jayadharan to explore his interest in numerical methods for model discovery, and how the NITMB can unlock new possibilities for Jayadharan.
What is your current research area?
“My current research interests include developing numerical methods for model discovery using sparse optimization and other techniques in machine learning. Often, the application of the methods that I study and develop involves biological systems that are hard to model. The aspect I find most interesting involves developing algorithms to solve real-world problems, implementing them efficiently, and then solidifying the theory through mathematical analysis.”
What disciplines does your research integrate?
“My research integrates various fields such as advanced scientific computing, numerical analysis, systems biology, chemical kinetics, statistical and machine learning, and power grid dynamics.”
What excites you about the NITMB’s Research-In-Progress meetings?
“They are a great opportunity to get a glimpse into the research of other fellows and members of the institute and to gain insight into the interesting projects that people at the institute are working on.”
Why are you interested in the NITMB?
“NITMB has a good combination of theorists and experimentalists who have a solid background in mathematical theory and are also aware of various challenges and difficulties when working with biological systems. I could benefit from discussions with various experts in the field, depending on whether I am interested in the theoretical or practical aspects of a method that I develop for applications to biological systems.”
What interests do you have outside of your research?
“I am interested in developing quantitative trading algorithms for financial derivatives. I also like biking, hiking, and playing tennis.”
What are you hoping to work on in the future?
“I hope to work on the analysis of various numerical methods that lie at the intersection of scientific computing and machine learning, with applications to biological science. I believe my research interests align closely with the idea behind the creation of NITMB, which aims to combine mathematics with biological problems. I hope NITMB can support my research work and provide a platform for discussing and presenting my future projects at the intersection of mathematics and biology.”
The NITMB looks forward to welcoming Manu Jayadharan on Tuesday, July 30th for a Research-In-Progress meeting featuring Jayadharan’s work.