CURRICULUM VITÆ
DOWMAN PARKS
VARN
May 2009
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CONTACT
INFORMATION
PERSONAL
INFORMATION
Place of Birth: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
Marital Status: Single (Divorced), no children
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Year of Birth: 1964
Citizenship: USA
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PROFESSIONAL
INTERESTS
Theoretical condensed matter physics, statistical physics, complex systems, polytypism, computational mechanics,
spectral analysis, time series analysis, reverse Monte Carlo modelling of disordered solids,
science education, science policy, science journalism
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Physics,
University of Tennessee [Knoxville, TN] (December 2001). gpa: 3.46/4.0.
Title of Thesis: Language Extraction from Zinc Sulphide;
Research Advisor: Geoffrey S. Canright.
M.A., Physics,
University of Virginia [Charlottesville, VA] (August 1994). gpa: 3.39/4.0.
B.S., Physics,
Clemson University [Clemson, SC], cum laude, with Senior Departmental Honors, (May 1986). gpa: 3.49/4.0.
RESEARCH
EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Guest Scientist,
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme
[Dresden, Germany] (June 2004 - May 2006).
Reverse Monte Carlo modeling of disordered systems; Maximum entropy methods for ε-machine
reconstruction from power spectra.
Postdoctoral Research Associate,
Santa Fe Institute [Santa Fe, NM]
(January 2002 - August 2003, February 2004 - May 2004).
Treatment of the general case of reconstructing the ε-machine from power spectra;
simulation of deformation faulting in close-packed crystals and demonstration of
the origin of long-range memories from short-range interactions.
NSF/SFI Graduate Fellow,
Santa Fe Institute [Santa Fe, NM] (February 2001 - December 2001).
Application of computational mechanics to the analysis of x-ray diffraction spectra
of disordered close-packed structures.
Graduate Research Assistant,
University of Tennessee [Knoxville, TN] (May 1999 - January 2001).
Analysis of how symmetry considerations can lead to
degenerate and disordered ground states in five families of polytypes.
Graduate Research Assistant,
University of Virginia [Charlottesville, VA] (June 1988 - June 1990).
Many-body perturbation theory calculation of
photoionization cross sections for atomic argon, emphasizing satellite structures.
TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
Assistant Lecturer,
Coker College [Hartsville, SC] (March 2009 - April 2009).
I taught introductory statistics.
Graduate Teaching Assistant,
University of Tennessee [Knoxville, TN] (August 1996 - May 1999).
I taught laboratories in introductory physics and graded exams for introductory physics classes.
Adjunct Instructor,
College of Charleston [Charleston, SC] (January 1995 - May 1996).
I taught lectures and laboratories in introductory, non-calculus based physics.
Adjunct Instructor,
Charleston Southern University [Charleston, SC] (January 1995 - May 1995).
I lectured in modern physics to Masters students in education.
Adjunct Instructor,
Trident Technical College [Charleston, SC] (January 1994 - May 1996).
I taught lectures, laboratories and problem sessions in both calculus and non-calculus based introductory physics.
Graduate Teaching Assistant,
University of Virginia [Charlottesville, VA] (August 1986 - May 1989).
I taught laboratories and problem sessions in introductory physics and graded exams for introductory physics classes.
ADDITIONAL
TEACHING
ACTIVITIES
Guest Lecturer, Phys 250 Natural Computation & Self-Organization, University of California, Davis
[Davis, California] (Winter 2007).
I gave two lectures on power spectra from symbol sequences and ε-machine spectral reconstruction theory.
Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften (Long Night of the Sciences),
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme [Dresden, Germany] (2004, 2005 and 2006).
I gave demonstrations and explanations of chaos to local German citizens.
RESEARCH
COMMUNICATIONS
D. P. Varn, G. S. Canright and J. P. Crutchfield,
"A direct method for inferring planar disorder and structure from X-ray diffraction studies."
To be submitted to Acta Crystallographica A.
[abstract] citations: 0
D. P. Varn, G. S. Canright and J. P. Crutchfield,
"Inferring planar disorder in close-packed structures via ε-machine spectral reconstruction theory:
examples from simulated diffraction spectra."
To be submitted to Acta Crystallographica A.
[abstract] citations: 0
D. P. Varn, G. S. Canright and J. P. Crutchfield,
"Inferring planar disorder in close-packed structures via ε-machine spectral reconstruction theory:
structure and intrinsic computation in zinc sulphide,"
Acta Crystallographica B 63 169-182 (2007).
[abstract] citations: 0
D. P. Varn and J. P. Crutchfield, "From finite to infinite range order via annealing: the causal architecture
of deformation faulting in annealed close-packed crystals," Physics Letters A 324/4, 299-307 (2004).
[abstract] citations: 9
D. P. Varn, G. S. Canright and J. P. Crutchfield,
"Discovering planar disorder in close-packed structures from x-ray diffraction: Beyond the fault model,"
Physical Review B 66, 174110 (2002).
[abstract] citations: 11
D. P. Varn and G. S. Canright,
"The crystal problem for polytypes,"
Acta Crystallographica A 57: 4-19 (2001).
[abstract] citations: 9
INVITED
RESEARCH
PRESENTATIONS
"Structural Complexity in Disordered, Layered Crystals," Seminar,
Max-Planck-Institut für Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften,
[Leipzig, Germany] (May 2006).
[abstract]
"Structural Complexity in Disordered, Layered Crystals," Seminar,
Center for Nonlinear Studies,
Los Alamos National Laboratory,
[Los Alamos, NM] (April 2006).
[abstract]
"Structural Complexity in Disordered, Layered Crystals,"
Science of Complex Systems Seminar,
Center for Computational Science and Engineering,
University of California, Davis [Davis, CA] (February 2006).
[abstract]
"Methods of Pattern Inference from Symbol Sequences: Practical Computational Mechanics,"
Nonlinear Time Series Analysis Seminar,
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme [Dresden, Germany] (February 2005).
[abstract]
"Pattern, Prediction and Computation in One-Dimensional Sequences,"
Nonlinear Time Series Analysis Seminar,
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme [Dresden, Germany] (January 2005).
[abstract]
"A Novel Approach to Discovering and Describing Planar Disorder in
Layered Materials from their Diffraction Spectra,"
Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems Seminar,
University of Illinois [Urbana-Champaign, IL] (April 2004).
[abstract]
"Pattern Discovery from Power Spectra:
An Overview and Report on Recent Developments,"
Dynamics of Learning Seminar,
Santa Fe Institute [Santa Fe, NM] (March 2004).
[abstract]
"A Novel Approach to Discovering and Describing Planar Disorder in
Close-Packed Structures from X-ray Diffraction Spectra," Seminar, Center for
the Study of Complex Systems,
University of Michigan [Ann Arbor, MI] (November 2002).
[abstract]
"Language Extraction from Zinc Sulphide," Dynamics of Learning Seminar,
Santa Fe Institute [Santa Fe, NM] (November 2001).
"Language Extraction from Zinc Sulphide ~or~ Talking to Rocks Isn't Just for Mystics Anymore,"
Researchers' Colloquium,
Santa Fe Institute [Santa Fe, NM] (April 2001).
"The Crystal Problem for Polytypes," Condensed Matter Seminar,
Indiana University [Bloomington, IN] (April 2000).
CONTRIBUTED
RESEARCH
PRESENTATIONS
"Inferring Spatial Patterns from Power Spectra," Seminar,
89th Statistical Mechanics Conference,
Rutgers University [New Brunswick, NJ] (May 2003).
POSTER
PRESENTATIONS
"Discovering Planar Disorder in Close-Packed Structures,"
Spring Science Symposium, Santa Fe Institute [Santa Fe, NM] (May 2002).
"Language Extraction from Zinc Sulphide," Dynamics Days 2002 [Baltimore, MD] (January 2002).
CONFERENCES
ATTENDED
Southern Atlantic Coast Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers Spring Meeting, University of South Carolina
[Columbia, SC] (March 2009).
American Physical Society March Meeting, [Pittsburgh, PA] (March 2009).
Nonlinearities--From Turbulent to Magic, Niels Bohr Institute [Copenhagen, Denmark] (May 2006).
89th Statistical Mechanics Conference, Rutgers University [New Brunswick, NJ] (May 2003).
Dynamics Days, [Baltimore, MD] (January 2002).
Complexity from Microscopic to Macroscopic Scales: Coherence and Large Deviations,
NATO Advanced Study Institute, [Geilo, Norway] (April 2001).
HONORS AND
AWARDS
NSF/SFI Physics Graduate Fellowship at the Santa Fe Institute (2001).
Inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma (1999).
Highest overall score on the Ph.D. written exam at the University of Tennessee (1998).
PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
American Physical Society, Southeastern Section (APS) (2008 - present).
American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) (2008 - present).
Southern Atlantic Coast Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers (SACS-AAPT) (2008 - present).
South Carolina Academy of Science (SCAS) (2008 - present).
Anacapa Society (2008 - present).
Society of Physics Students (SPS) (1982 - 1986).
ACADEMIC
SERVICE
Referee for Advances in Complex Systems.
Reviewer of Applications for the Santa Fe Institute's Complex Systems Summer School (2003).
Vice-President, Society of Physics Students, Clemson University Chapter (1985 - 1986).
REFERENCES
James P. Crutchfield, Ph.D.,
Professor of Physics, University of California, Davis
Physics Department & Computational Science & Engineering Center
One Shields Avenue
University of California, Davis
Davis, California 95616-8572, USA
chaos (at) cse (dot) ucdavis (dot) edu
Click here for Dr. Crutchfield's Website
Phyllis G. Fields, Associate Dean, Evening and Extended Studies Program, Coker College
Coker College
300 E. College Avenue
Hartsville, South Carolina 29550, USA
pfields (at) coker (dot) edu
Michelle Girvan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Maryland
University of Maryland
Department of Physics
Building 223, Paint Branch Road
College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
girvan (at) umd (dot) edu
Click here for Dr. Girvan's Website
Holger Kantz, Ph.D.,
Research Head of the Nonlinear Dynamics and Time Series Analysis Group at the MPI-PKS
Max-Planck-Institut für Physik komplexer Systeme
Nöthnitzer Straße 38
D-01187 Dresden, Germany
kantz (at) pks (dot) mpg (dot) de
Click here for Dr. Kantz's Website
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