معرفی
Robert Kirby is a Professor of Mathematics and Undergraduate Advisor at Baylor University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Mathematics. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin (2000) and has held academic positions at Texas Tech University, the University of Chicago, and as a Dickson Instructor. His research focuses on automating numerical methods for partial differential equations (PDEs), including finite elements, preconditioners for multiphysics problems, and high-performance computing.
Kirby's research interests bridge mathematics and computer science, emphasizing the development of efficient algorithms for PDE simulation using domain-specific languages, Bernstein polynomials, and multicore architectures. His work integrates theoretical analysis with practical software implementation in projects like FEniCS and Firedrake.
His publications consistently address finite element methods, numerical stability, and computational efficiency. Recent articles emphasize automated time-stepping, domain truncation, and preconditioning techniques, reflecting a trend toward scalable and user-friendly tools for scientific computing.
Grants and Advising: Kirby has secured significant funding, including NSF awards for automated algorithms and Sandia National Laboratory contracts. He advises doctoral students in mathematics and computing, with alumni at Amazon, NSA, and academia. Grants include:
- NSF CCF award 1117794: Metanumerical computing ($500k)
- NSF CCF award 0830655: Automated intrusive algorithms ($270k)
- DOE Early Career Award: Automatic parallel finite elements ($300k)
He leads collaborations on open-source projects (FEniCS, Firedrake) and develops tools like FIAT and Irksome to streamline finite element workflows.
