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When it comes to mathematical research, Tim Zirkel ’08 (Honey Brook, Pa.) goes with the flow.
Over the summer, Zirkel assisted Clifford Reiter, professor of mathematics, in developing a visualization scheme to simulate flowing fluid. The collaboration between Reiter and Zirkel was part of Lafayette’s EXCEL Scholars program.
In Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.
“Fluid flow modeling has many applications, from plumbing to aerospace,” Zirkel explains. The goal of the research was to find a method to model fluid flow that would be simpler and faster to work with than those methods currently in use.
Although the pair did not attain their primary objective of approximating fluid flow by looking at small regions within a body of fluid, Reiter said they were able to develop techniques that would facilitate future efforts in that direction.
Reiter was not surprised the attempt fell short of its goal. “Numerically approximating fluid flow is notoriously difficult,” he says.
“Professor Reiter was a great mentor,” Zirkel, a Marquis Scholar, says. “When I was having trouble, he always had interesting input, but he would also encourage me to explore my own ideas whenever possible.”
Zirkel was responsible for implementing the team’s visualization scheme and modeling ideas in programming language. He also worked on modifying the code to run different experiments and analyzed the results of those experiments.
“I think Tim became more confident in independent work and in experimenting with mathematical models in particular,” Reiter says.
Zirkel, a double major in computer science and mathematics, says that the EXCEL research gave him the opportunity to study a math problem while becoming more proficient in a useful programming language.
Zirkel gives credit to Lafayette’s faculty for encouraging him in both of his majors. “I have found that both the mathematics and computer science faculty at Lafayette are eager to help students pursue their interests, whether through research opportunities, independent study, or special topics courses,” he says.
Following his graduation from Lafayette, Zirkel plans to study math in graduate school. “The EXCEL program helps [students] decide if graduate-level research is something they would enjoy,” Zirkel says.
In addition to his academic work, Zirkel is assistant musical director of the Chorduroys, an all-male a cappella group, and is vice president of Soulfege, a co-ed a cappella group. He is president of the Arts Society, sings in the choir, and plays trombone in the jazz ensemble. He is also involved with the math club.
Chosen from among Lafayette’s most promising applicants, Marquis Scholars receive a special academic scholarship and distinctive educational experiences and benefits. This includes a three-week, Lafayette-funded course abroad or in the United States during January’s interim session between semesters or the summer break. Marquis Scholars also participate in mentoring programs with Lafayette faculty and cultural activities in major cities and on campus.