Curriculum Vitae Of Eric A. Autry
POSITION HELD
Assistant Professor August 2022-
Grinnell College, Department of Computer Science
Phillip Griffiths Assistant Research Professor July 2018-August 2022
Duke University, Department of Mathematics
EDUCATION
PhD in Applied Mathematics June 2014-June 2018
Advisors: Alvin Bayliss and Vladimir Volpert
Thesis Title: Traveling Waves in Models of Population Dynamics with Nonlocal Interactions
Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)
Master's Degree Aug 2013-June 2014
Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)
Bachelor of Science with distinction Aug 2009-June 2013
Harvey Mudd College (HMC)
Computer Science & Mathematics Major with Concentration in Economics
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Primary Instructor, Grinnell College, Department of Computer Science
TUT 100 - Tutorial: Can Machines Think?
CSC 151 - Functional Problem Solving
CSC 208 - Discrete Structures
CSC 301 - Analysis of Algorithms
CSC 395 - Computational Methods in Industry
CSC 499 - MAP: Quantify Gerrymandering; MAP: DMPD Data Analysis
Primary Instructor, Duke University Department of Mathematics
Topics in Theory and Practice of Algorithms Fall 2018/2019/2020/2021
Designed algorithms course with an emphasis on practical implementation.
Python Programming in Mathematics Spring 2019/2020/2021/2022
Created an introduction to programming course targeted to undergraduate math majors.
Summer Instructor, Northwestern University Mathematics Department
Linear Algebra Student evaluation of instruction 5.7/6 Summer 2015
Multivariable Calculus Student evaluation of instruction 5.2/6 Summer 2016
Integral Calculus Student evaluation of instruction 5.5/6 Summer 2017
Teaching Assistant Fall 2012-Spring 2017
Northwestern University
Calculus (single and multivariable), differential equations, and numerical methods
Won the 2015/2016 ESAM Teaching Assistant of the Year Award
Grader/Tutor Fall 2010-May 2013
Harvey Mudd College Computer Science Department
Introductory & intermediate programming, logic & computability, and algorithms
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Social justice, applied mathematics, computational and asymptotic methods, dynamic systems.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Fair Cross-Section in Jury Trials 2025–
Grinnell College Department of Computer Science
Collaboration with members of the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP Legal Redress Committee
centered on the analysis of demographic representation in juries. This work is in its
early stages, but my collaborators are of national prominence on this issue, and
we are aiming to create a ‘road-map’ for performing this analysis to be distributed nationally.
Quantifying Gerrymandering June 2019–
Duke University Department of Mathematics
Collaboration with Jonathan Mattingly and Greg Herschlag of Duke University designing
and implementing numerical methods to sample districting plans, which can provide a means
to identify and measure partisan or racial gerrymandering. Continuing work with undergraduate
researchers at Grinnell since the summer of 2023..
Des Moines Traffic Citations June 2019–
Grinnell College Department of Computer Science
Working on the analysis of traffic citation, arrest, and dismissal rates for minority
populations in Des Moines, Iowa. Have with undergraduate researchers at Grinnell
since the summer of 2023 to perform this analysis in partnership with an Iowa nonprofit,
Just Voices, and with support of the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP.
Understanding Voting Patterns and Interactions with Gerrymandering Summer 2021
Duke University, Data+ Summer Program
Worked as Project Manager for a team of students over the summer. The team built
tools to understand voting patterns and gerrymandering of districts in North Carolina.
American Predatory Lending and the Global Financial Crisis June 2020–August 2020
Duke University, Data+ Summer Program
Worked as Project Manager for a team of students over the summer. The team
processed a large database of mortgages to find signs of predatory lending practices
leading up to the 2007/2008 financial crisis.
Travelling Waves in a Fisher Equation with Time-Dependent Growth 2020–2022
Duke University Department of Mathematics
Worked with Greg Kimmel (Moffitt Cancer Center) on a modified Fisher equation
with a time-dependent growth term that comes from a simplified version of a cancer model.
Bias and Homophily in Professional Hierarchies 2017–2019
Northwestern University ESAM, Duke University Department of Mathematics
Collaboration with a group of graduate students from ESAM, lead primarily by
Sara Clifton, to study the role of bias and homophily on the progression of women
through professional hierarchies.
Doctoral Research May 2014-June 2018
Northwestern University ESAM
Worked with Professors Bayliss and Volpert on studying nonlocal effects in
invasive population waves. Employing a variety of both analytic and numeric approaches
to characterizing the travelling wave solutions of the nonlinear integro-PDE systems
that arise in this nonlocal context.
HMC Clinic Program 2012-2013
HMC Mathematics Department
Worked on a full-year team project modelling storage tank purchasing
decisions for Gallo Winery.
Summer Research Summer 2012 to May 2013
HMC Mathematics Department
Worked with Professor dePillis (HMC) on a three-dimensional model of tumor growth.
Summer Research Summer 2011
Duke University & HMC Mathematics Departments
Worked with Professor Levy (HMC) and Professor Witelski (Duke) on a system of
nonlinear PDEs describing the surfactant driven spreading of a thin film.
SERVICE AT GRINNELL COLLEGE
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
Future Ready Day, East High School (Des Moines, IA) October, 2024
Grinnell College
Presented at a career readiness day for East High School in downtown Des Moines.
Splash at Northwestern, Northwestern University April, 2018
Taught short, single topic class targeted at high school students
interested in attending college.
Applied Math in Action, Schuler Scholar Program Fall 2015, 2016, & 2017
Presentations delivered to groups of local high school students by graduate
students in the Northwestern University Engineering Sciences and
Applied Mathematics Department
MORE Program Mentor 2014-15 Academic Year
Worked with a local high school student on a project of her choosing. Gave
suggestions and feedback throughout the year to help guide the project. Also
helped with writing the final report and creating a poster for the student to present.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Languages: C/C++ Python Fortran Matlab Java
High Performance Computing: CUDA MPI
PUBLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL REPORTS
Eric A. Autry, Hanmo (Linda) Jing, Tanmaie Kailash, Maria Rodriguez, Anthony Schwindt An Analysis of Racial Bias in Des Moines Policing, (in prep)
Eric A. Autry, Gregory Herschlag, Yuxin (Kevin) Peng, Chong Zhao A Performance Study on Russo’s Algorithm: Sampling Random Spanning Trees in Weighted Graphs, (in prep)
Eric A. Autry, Gregory Herschlag, Mai Hoang, Guochen Liao, Jonathan C. Mattingly, Chong Zhao Examining Preservation of Communities of Interest in Redistricting through Markov Chain Monte Carlo Sampling, (in prep)
Autry, E., Carter, D., Herschlag, G., Hunter, Z., & Mattingly, J. Multi-Scale Merge-Split Markov Chain Monte Carlo for Redistricting. In Preparation (arxiv.org/abs/2008.08054).
Autry, E., Carter, D., Herschlag, G., Hunter, Z., & Mattingly, J. A Merge-Split Proposal for Reversible Monte Carlo Markov Chain Sampling of Redistricting Plans. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics (submitted October, 2020).
Clifton, S., Hill, K., Karamchandani, A., Autry, E.., McMahon, P., & Sun, G. Mathematical Model of Gender Bias and Homophily in Professional Hierarchies. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science 29(2) (January 2019).
Autry, E., Bayliss, A., & Volpert, V. Biological Control with Nonlocal Interactions. Mathematical Biosciences 301 (July, 2018).
Autry, E., Bayliss, A., & Volpert, V. Traveling Waves in a Nonlocal, Piecewise Linear Reaction-Diffusion Population Model. Nonlinearity 30 (July, 2017).
Autry, E., McElwain, C., Porter, S. Schofield, E. Livingston Cooperage Optimization Model. Confidential Report provided to E. & J. Gallo Winery (May, 2013).
Kronmiller, G., Autry, E., & Conti, C. The Effects of Spatial and Temporal Grids on Simulations of Thin Films with Surfactant. SIAM Undergraduate Research Online (SIURO) 6 (May, 2013)
POSTERS AND PRESENTATIONS
HONORS AND AWARDS
LEADERSHIP / COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Assistant Professor August 2022-
Grinnell College, Department of Computer Science
Phillip Griffiths Assistant Research Professor July 2018-August 2022
Duke University, Department of Mathematics
EDUCATION
PhD in Applied Mathematics June 2014-June 2018
Advisors: Alvin Bayliss and Vladimir Volpert
Thesis Title: Traveling Waves in Models of Population Dynamics with Nonlocal Interactions
Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)
Master's Degree Aug 2013-June 2014
Northwestern University, McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics (ESAM)
Bachelor of Science with distinction Aug 2009-June 2013
Harvey Mudd College (HMC)
Computer Science & Mathematics Major with Concentration in Economics
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Primary Instructor, Grinnell College, Department of Computer Science
TUT 100 - Tutorial: Can Machines Think?
CSC 151 - Functional Problem Solving
CSC 208 - Discrete Structures
CSC 301 - Analysis of Algorithms
CSC 395 - Computational Methods in Industry
CSC 499 - MAP: Quantify Gerrymandering; MAP: DMPD Data Analysis
Primary Instructor, Duke University Department of Mathematics
Topics in Theory and Practice of Algorithms Fall 2018/2019/2020/2021
Designed algorithms course with an emphasis on practical implementation.
Python Programming in Mathematics Spring 2019/2020/2021/2022
Created an introduction to programming course targeted to undergraduate math majors.
Summer Instructor, Northwestern University Mathematics Department
Linear Algebra Student evaluation of instruction 5.7/6 Summer 2015
Multivariable Calculus Student evaluation of instruction 5.2/6 Summer 2016
Integral Calculus Student evaluation of instruction 5.5/6 Summer 2017
Teaching Assistant Fall 2012-Spring 2017
Northwestern University
Calculus (single and multivariable), differential equations, and numerical methods
Won the 2015/2016 ESAM Teaching Assistant of the Year Award
Grader/Tutor Fall 2010-May 2013
Harvey Mudd College Computer Science Department
Introductory & intermediate programming, logic & computability, and algorithms
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Social justice, applied mathematics, computational and asymptotic methods, dynamic systems.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Fair Cross-Section in Jury Trials 2025–
Grinnell College Department of Computer Science
Collaboration with members of the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP Legal Redress Committee
centered on the analysis of demographic representation in juries. This work is in its
early stages, but my collaborators are of national prominence on this issue, and
we are aiming to create a ‘road-map’ for performing this analysis to be distributed nationally.
Quantifying Gerrymandering June 2019–
Duke University Department of Mathematics
Collaboration with Jonathan Mattingly and Greg Herschlag of Duke University designing
and implementing numerical methods to sample districting plans, which can provide a means
to identify and measure partisan or racial gerrymandering. Continuing work with undergraduate
researchers at Grinnell since the summer of 2023..
Des Moines Traffic Citations June 2019–
Grinnell College Department of Computer Science
Working on the analysis of traffic citation, arrest, and dismissal rates for minority
populations in Des Moines, Iowa. Have with undergraduate researchers at Grinnell
since the summer of 2023 to perform this analysis in partnership with an Iowa nonprofit,
Just Voices, and with support of the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP.
Understanding Voting Patterns and Interactions with Gerrymandering Summer 2021
Duke University, Data+ Summer Program
Worked as Project Manager for a team of students over the summer. The team built
tools to understand voting patterns and gerrymandering of districts in North Carolina.
American Predatory Lending and the Global Financial Crisis June 2020–August 2020
Duke University, Data+ Summer Program
Worked as Project Manager for a team of students over the summer. The team
processed a large database of mortgages to find signs of predatory lending practices
leading up to the 2007/2008 financial crisis.
Travelling Waves in a Fisher Equation with Time-Dependent Growth 2020–2022
Duke University Department of Mathematics
Worked with Greg Kimmel (Moffitt Cancer Center) on a modified Fisher equation
with a time-dependent growth term that comes from a simplified version of a cancer model.
Bias and Homophily in Professional Hierarchies 2017–2019
Northwestern University ESAM, Duke University Department of Mathematics
Collaboration with a group of graduate students from ESAM, lead primarily by
Sara Clifton, to study the role of bias and homophily on the progression of women
through professional hierarchies.
Doctoral Research May 2014-June 2018
Northwestern University ESAM
Worked with Professors Bayliss and Volpert on studying nonlocal effects in
invasive population waves. Employing a variety of both analytic and numeric approaches
to characterizing the travelling wave solutions of the nonlinear integro-PDE systems
that arise in this nonlocal context.
HMC Clinic Program 2012-2013
HMC Mathematics Department
Worked on a full-year team project modelling storage tank purchasing
decisions for Gallo Winery.
Summer Research Summer 2012 to May 2013
HMC Mathematics Department
Worked with Professor dePillis (HMC) on a three-dimensional model of tumor growth.
Summer Research Summer 2011
Duke University & HMC Mathematics Departments
Worked with Professor Levy (HMC) and Professor Witelski (Duke) on a system of
nonlinear PDEs describing the surfactant driven spreading of a thin film.
SERVICE AT GRINNELL COLLEGE
- Served as a member of the Grinnell Dining Services Committee for 2024-2025.
- Served as a member of the search committee for the CS department’s tenure track search in Fall 2024.
- Led CS Extras, the weekly seminar series, for the 2023-2024 academic year.
- Invited speakers, maintained the schedule, and lead the sessions.
- Served as a member of the Grinnell Parking Advisory Committee for 2023-2024.
- Helped lead CS Tables, facilitating weekly lunchtime discussions, for the 2022-2023 academic year.
- Working as the Faculty Mentor for Grinnell College’s ACM Student Chapter, starting in 2023. Helping
restart the club after it went defunct during covid. - Served as a member of the search committee for the CS department’s tenure track search in Fall 2022.
- Took an advising load of 6 students in my first year at the college, 2022-2023.
- Served on the Parking Advisory Committee for the 2023-2024 academic year.
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
Future Ready Day, East High School (Des Moines, IA) October, 2024
Grinnell College
Presented at a career readiness day for East High School in downtown Des Moines.
Splash at Northwestern, Northwestern University April, 2018
Taught short, single topic class targeted at high school students
interested in attending college.
Applied Math in Action, Schuler Scholar Program Fall 2015, 2016, & 2017
Presentations delivered to groups of local high school students by graduate
students in the Northwestern University Engineering Sciences and
Applied Mathematics Department
MORE Program Mentor 2014-15 Academic Year
Worked with a local high school student on a project of her choosing. Gave
suggestions and feedback throughout the year to help guide the project. Also
helped with writing the final report and creating a poster for the student to present.
COMPUTER SKILLS
Languages: C/C++ Python Fortran Matlab Java
High Performance Computing: CUDA MPI
PUBLICATIONS AND TECHNICAL REPORTS
Eric A. Autry, Hanmo (Linda) Jing, Tanmaie Kailash, Maria Rodriguez, Anthony Schwindt An Analysis of Racial Bias in Des Moines Policing, (in prep)
Eric A. Autry, Gregory Herschlag, Yuxin (Kevin) Peng, Chong Zhao A Performance Study on Russo’s Algorithm: Sampling Random Spanning Trees in Weighted Graphs, (in prep)
Eric A. Autry, Gregory Herschlag, Mai Hoang, Guochen Liao, Jonathan C. Mattingly, Chong Zhao Examining Preservation of Communities of Interest in Redistricting through Markov Chain Monte Carlo Sampling, (in prep)
Autry, E., Carter, D., Herschlag, G., Hunter, Z., & Mattingly, J. Multi-Scale Merge-Split Markov Chain Monte Carlo for Redistricting. In Preparation (arxiv.org/abs/2008.08054).
Autry, E., Carter, D., Herschlag, G., Hunter, Z., & Mattingly, J. A Merge-Split Proposal for Reversible Monte Carlo Markov Chain Sampling of Redistricting Plans. SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics (submitted October, 2020).
Clifton, S., Hill, K., Karamchandani, A., Autry, E.., McMahon, P., & Sun, G. Mathematical Model of Gender Bias and Homophily in Professional Hierarchies. Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science 29(2) (January 2019).
Autry, E., Bayliss, A., & Volpert, V. Biological Control with Nonlocal Interactions. Mathematical Biosciences 301 (July, 2018).
Autry, E., Bayliss, A., & Volpert, V. Traveling Waves in a Nonlocal, Piecewise Linear Reaction-Diffusion Population Model. Nonlinearity 30 (July, 2017).
Autry, E., McElwain, C., Porter, S. Schofield, E. Livingston Cooperage Optimization Model. Confidential Report provided to E. & J. Gallo Winery (May, 2013).
Kronmiller, G., Autry, E., & Conti, C. The Effects of Spatial and Temporal Grids on Simulations of Thin Films with Surfactant. SIAM Undergraduate Research Online (SIURO) 6 (May, 2013)
POSTERS AND PRESENTATIONS
- MAP* Students Presented at AMS-PME Student Poster Session, Joint Mathematics Meeting, Jan. 10, 2025
4 posters presented by: Chong Zhao, Yuxin (Kevin) Peng, Hanmo (Linda) Jing, Maria Rodriguez, Jayson Kunkel, and That (Phukao) Prommolmard. - MAP* Students gave Workshop Presentation at the Iowa Summit for Justice and Disparity, Dec. 17, 2024
Hanmo (Linda) Jing and Maria Rodriguez. Des Moines Racial Traffic Data Analysis - MAP* Students Presented at AMS-PME Student Poster Session, Joint Mathematics Meeting, Jan. 5, 2024
2 posters presented by: Anthony Schwindt, Chong Zhao, Guochen Liao, and Mai Hoang. - MAP* Students gave Workshop Presentation at the Iowa Summit for Justice and Disparity, Nov. 3, 2023
Anthony Schwindt and Tanmaie Kailash. Des Moines Racial Traffic Data Analysis
*MAP: Mentored Advanced Project, Grinnell College’s Undergraduate Summer Research Program - Autry, E. Monte Carlo Methods for Revealing Gerrymandering: Advances in Sampling Graph Partitions, Analysis Seminar Talk, Wake Forest University, 2021
- Presentation at the Joint Mathematics Meeting, AMS Special Sessions, January 18, 2019
Autry, E., Bayliss, A., Volpert, V. Biological Control with Nonlocal Interactions - Presentation at Northwestern SIAM Student Seminar, February 3, 2016
Autry, E. Nonlocal Population Dynamics: Traveling Waves in a Piecewise Linear Reaction-Diffusion Model - Presentation to E. & J. Gallo Winery, April 22, 2013
Autry, E., McElwain, C., Porter, S. Schofield, E. Livingston Winery Problem - HMC Presentations Day, April 30, 2013
Autry, E., McElwain, C., Porter, S. Schofield, E. Livingston Winery Problem - Poster: Autry, E., McElwain, C., Porter, S. Schofield, E. Livingston Cooperage Optimization Model
- Poster: Autry, E. A Hybrid PDE-ODE-CA Approach to Modeling 3-Dimensional Tumor Growth
- Poster: Kronmiller, G., Autry, E., & Conti, C. Numerical Simulations of a Thin Film with Surfactant
Finalist of the KAUST first International Research Poster Competition for Undergraduates
HONORS AND AWARDS
- Royal E. Cabell Terminal Year Fellowship Fall 2017 & Spring 2018
- ESAM Department TA of the Year Award 2015-16 Academic Year
- James Farley Scholarship Fall 2013
- Walter P. Murphy Fellowship Fall 2013
- Award for Outstanding Mathematics Clinic Team May 2013
- Dean's list 6 semesters Spring 2010-May 2013
- Special Freshman Commendation Letter Fall 2009
- Harvey S. Mudd Merit Award Fall 2009-May 2013
- Finalist, International Research Poster Competition Winter 2011
LEADERSHIP / COMMUNICATION SKILLS
- Office Czar for ESAM in charge of creating and administering system for office assignments
- Active participant in student government at HMC and member of the student leadership board of ESAM
- Won Greever Clinic Award for outstanding clinic team at HMC in part for excellence of presentations given
- Was Co-President of the HMC student chapter of SIAM for the 2011/2012 academic year
- Was Claremont 5 College Fencing Treasurer and HMC Fencing Co-President
- Extensive public speaking over three years as member of successful high school mock trial team
- Spent two summers as door-to-door canvasser talking with people about sensitive political issues