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Activities at the Geometry Center
Nicolas develops
scientific computation and visualization tools for research
in applied mathematics.
His projects involve research in dynamical systems, scientific computing,
and visualization. Currently he is working on the Pisces Project.
His contribution to Pisces includes developing and implementing numerical
continuation algorithms for computing the level sets of curves and surfaces
of implicitly defined functions:
In addition, Nicolas is the Center's Macintosh system
administrator. This work involves installing and updating software on
each computer, and also helping staff and visitors on the use of this
software.
Background
Nicolas graduated in 1990 from the University of Toronto, Canada, with
a B.A.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Faculty of Applied
Science and Engineering. For his
thesis, he developed software to visualize flow fields in a
computational fluid dynamics model of blood flow.
From 1990 to 1993 he worked at the Toronto General Hospital and University
of Toronto on several biomedical visualization projects.
Since then, he has continued to pursue his interests in scientific
computation and visualization and joined the research staff of the Geometry
Center in September of 1994.
-
Education
-
- Scientific Visualization Course SciC8011, Scientific Computing Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, 1995
- Domain-Based Parallelism Workshop, Army High Performance Computing and Research Center, Minneapolis, 1994
- Parallel Computing Course, University of Minnesota, 1994
- CM-5 Workshop, Minnesota Supercomputer Institute, Minneapolis, 1993
- High Performance Scientific Computing Workshop, National Science Foundation, Boulder, 1993
- Computer Science Courses, University of Toronto, 1993
- Supercomputing '92 Visualization Workshop, IEEE Computer Society, Minneapolis, 1992
- Mechanical Engineering B.A.Sc, University of Toronto, 1990
Professional Experience
-
Employment
- September 1994 - Present, Technical Apprentice
The Geometry Center, University of Minnesota
Develop and apply computational and visualization software tools for
research in engineering, science and mathematics.
Areas of research include dynamical systems and visualization on a
C/Tcl/Tk/Unix platform on SGI and Sun workstations.
Contribution to the Pisces project includes implementing matrix algebra
routines and numerical continuation methods to
solve and render the level sets of implicitly defined curves and surfaces
with singularities.
- August 1993 - August 1994, Software Engineer
Configured Energy Systems, Minneapolis
Developed object-oriented software tools and graphical user interfaces
on a C++/Motif/Unix platform for engineering network control systems.
Applications include software diagnostic and SQL database interface tools.
Software is being used in industry.
- June 1992 - September 1992, Software Developer
Computer Science, University of Toronto
Developed computational geometry visualization tools on a C/Xt/Unix platform
for a teaching laboratory using Sun workstations.
Applications include computing and rendering 2D and 3D parametric curves and
surfaces, and developing an n-body particle physics simulation.
Software is being used as part of a computer science course.
- June 1991 - December 1991, Software Developer
Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
Developed computational fluid dynamics tools on a C/Unix/Sun
platform for a biomedical research project.
Applications include computing and rendering the flow fields in a 2D
numerical blood flow model using finite element methods.
Software is being used to study the effects of different flow fields on an
arterial graft bypass geometry.
- June 1990 - June 1991, Medical Engineer
Toronto General Hospital
Supervised and trained surgical instrumentation technologists and
nursing staff on the use and maintenance of operating room equipment.
Became familiar with equipment and procedures in the Operating Rooms and
Intensive Care Units as well as diagnostic imaging techniques including
Ultrasound, CAT, PET, X-Ray Angiography, and MRI.
Publications
- Visualization of Complex Flow Fields with Application to the
Interpretation of Colour Flow Doppler Images
N. Vera, D.A. Steinman, C.R. Ethier, K.W. Johnston, R.S.C. Cobbold
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto,
Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Vol 18, 1992
- Numerical Flow Visualization Studies in a Model Anastomosis
B. Vihn, C.R. Ethier, N. Vera, T. Tamura, R.S.C. Cobbold, K.W. Johnston
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
The First World Congress of Biomechanics, August 1990
University of California, San Diego, California, USA
- Numerical Flow Simulation in a Vascular Anastomosis
B. Vihn, C.R. Ethier, N. Vera, M. Ojha, R.S.C. Cobbold
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto
The 9th Canadian Fluid Dynamics Conference, June 1990
London, Ontario, Canada
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Created: Nov 29 1995 ---
Last modified: Feb 19 1996