Education
| University of Colorado Boulder | Boulder, Colorado | |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D Mathematics | May, 2020 | |
| Dissertation Title: Clonoids and Promise Constraint Satisfaction | ||
| Advisor: Dr. Peter Mayr | ||
| M.A. Mathematics | Dec, 2017 |
| California State University, Northridge | Northridge, California |
|---|---|
| M.S. Mathematics | May, 2014 |
| Dissertation Title: The cylindrical crossing number of the complete bipartite graph | |
| Advisor: Dr. Silvia Fernández-Merchant |
| Occidental College | Los Angeles, California |
|---|---|
| B.A. Mathematics | May, 2011 |
| Graduated cum laude and with honors. Minored in Classical Studies. |
Certificates
| Google Project Management: Professional Certificate | |
|---|---|
| Coursera | Jan, 2024 |
| Completed six courses on project management, planning, and execution, including the foundations of Agile project management and the Scrum framework, effective communication, and strategic thinking. |
| Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate | |
|---|---|
| Coursera | Dec, 2023 |
| Completed eight courses, developed by Google, on preparing, processing, analyzing, and sharing data for thoughtful action as well as using tools and platforms including spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau, and R. |
| Certificate in College Teaching | |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | Oct, 2019 |
| Requirements for this certificate included attending 20 Graduate Teacher Program workshops, a faculty observation, two videotape classroom consultations, two semesters of classroom teaching and preparing a teaching portfolio. |
Awards
| B. W. Jones Teaching Excellence Award | |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | 2019 |
| Given annually to a veteran graduate teaching assistant in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in teaching. |
| Benedict Freedman Senior Prize for Outstanding Mathematics Major | |
|---|---|
| Occidental College | 2011 |
| Awarded to the graduating senior with the most outstanding record of achievement as a mathematics major. |
Publications
G. Deng, E. El Sai, T. Manders, P. Mayr, P. Nakkirt and A. Sparks. Sandwiches for promise constraint satisfaction Algebra Universalis, 82:15, Jan 2021.
A. Sparks. On the number of clonoids. Algebra Universalis, 80(4):53, Nov 2019.
B. Ábrego, S. Fernández-Merchant, and A. Sparks. The Bipartite-Cylindrical Crossing Number of the Complete Bipartite Graph. Graphs and Combinatorics, Sep 2019.
N. C. Parazoo, et al. Interpreting seasonal changes in the carbon balance of southern amazonia using measurements of XCO2 and chlorophyll fluorescence from GOSAT. Geophysical Research Letters, 40(11):2829–2833, 2013.
A. Sparks, C. Frankenberg, G. Osterman, A. Butz, D. Schepers, J. Landgraf, D. Wunch, G. Toon, P. Wennberg, and TCCON Partners. Proxy methane retrievals from the ACOS project: Initial validation with TCCON and retrieval intercomparison. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2012, 2012. Abstract ID. A33I-0248.
Research Experience
| University of Colorado Boulder | |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Research | 2016-2020 |
| Department of Mathematics | |
| Research Advisor: Dr. Peter Mayr | |
| Investigated the number of clonoids and their applications to the computational complexity of Promise Constraint Satisfaction Problems. | |
| First-Year Graduate Student Research | Summer 2015 |
| Department of Mathematics | |
| Research Advisor: Dr. Nathaniel Thiem | |
| Examined random walks on unipotent matrix groups. |
| California State University, Northridge | |
|---|---|
| Master’s Research | 2016-2020 |
| Department of Mathematics | |
| Research Advisor: Dr. Silvia Fernández-Merchant | |
| Determined the crossing number of a cylindrical drawing of a complete bipartite graph. |
Work Experience
| Data Analyst (Academic Part-Time Employee) | |
|---|---|
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory | 2010-2014 |
| California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California |
- Collected, analyzed, and presented laboratory energy usage data to inform senior executives’ decision-making regarding compliance with federal greenhouse gas emission regulations.
- Provided statistical analyses, data visualizations, and data reports to aid climate scientists in their research.
- Developed an SQLite database to manage and process measurements obtained from various atmospheric remote sensing instruments.
- Optimized data storage and retrieval processes, enabling efficient analysis and interpretation of critical environmental data within the Global Change and Energy Program.
Teaching Experience
| Teaching Postdoctoral Fellow | |
|---|---|
| Colorado School of Mines | 2020-2023 |
- Instructor for Single and Multivariable Calculus, Probability and Statistics for Engineers, Foundations of Advanced Mathematics, and Abstract Algebra. Courses taught in-person, remotely, and a hybrid of both.
- Developed and delivered undergraduate courses in statistics, differential and integral calculus, formal logic and proofs, technical writing, discrete mathematics, and number theory.
- Improved student performance and engagement by integrating real-world case studies and dynamic, visually engaging learning activities (primarily with Desmos).
- Employed Python (numpy, pandas) and utilized the Canvas Learning Management System API to evaluate and analyze the performance of approximately 250 students enrolled in statistics courses.
List of courses
- MATH 112 Calculus for Scientists and Engineers II
- MATH 201 Introduction to Statistics
- MATH 213 Calculus for Scientists and Engineers III
- MATH 300 Foundations of Advanced Mathematics
- MATH 458 Abstract Algebra
| Graduate Student Instructor | |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | 2014-2020 |
| Led multiple undergraduate courses in calculus, probability, statistics, computer computation methods, mathematical modeling, and data visualization. |
List of courses
- MATH 1012 Quantitative Reasoning and Mathematical Skills
- MATH 1310 Calculus, Systems, and Modeling
- MATH 1300 Calculus 1
- MATH 2300 Calculus 2
- MATH 2400 Calculus 3
- MATH 1071 Finite Mathematics for Social Science and Business
- MATH 1300 Calculus 1
- MATH 2300 Calculus 2
- MATH 2400 Calculus 3
Technical Skills
- Programming: Python, SQL, R, LaTex, HTML, Desmos CL
- Data visualization: Tableau, Power BI
- Version Control: GitHub
- Learning Management Systems: Canvas, Desire2Learn
- Project Management Software: Jira, Asana, Slack
- Online Learning Platforms: Desmos, Cengage WebAssign, Pearson MyLab Math, Turnitin Gradescope
Additional Sections
Leadership Experience
| Calculus III Assistant Coordinator | |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | Fall 2019 |
- Assisted the coordinator with the course that consisted of approximately 450 students, 15 sections, 9 instructors, 5 teaching assistants, and 5 learning assistants.
- Implemented project management methodologies to track progress, manage timelines, and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of course materials.
- Developed and maintained the course website, the online homework through WebAssign, and the Canvas learning management system.
- Conducted weekly meetings with teaching assistants to offer support, address concerns, and strategize on curriculum, pedagogy, and classroom management.
- Communicated content and learning goals to the instructors, led the team in exam writing, and modified homework assignments and recitation projects.
| Calculus I Assistant Coordinator | |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | 2018-2019 |
- Assisted the coordinator with the course that consisted of up to 630 students, 28 sections, 17 instructors, 9 teaching assistants, and 9 learning assistants.
- Created multiple active learning activities currently integrated in the Calculus I curriculum.
- Developed a comprehensive guide for coordinators outlining job responsibilities, timelines, opera- tional processes, and available support resources.
- Adopted Slack as the primary method of communication for the team, facilitating organizational change.
- Developed project guides for recitations that defined the learning goals and described methods of facilitation.
- Supervised the weekly meetings for the graduate teaching assistants and undergraduate learning assistants with the faculty course coordinator.
- Provided the learning assistants feedback based on classroom observations.
| Co-advisor for a REU/G | |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | Summer 2019 |
| Collaborated with Dr. Peter Mayr to advise three undergraduate students and one first-year graduate student with a 5 week summer project where we investigated the computational complexity of Promise Constraint Satisfaction Problems. The students presented a poster at the world’s largest math meeting, the Joint Mathematics Meeting 2020 in Denver and are in the process of writing up their results for future publication. | |
| Mentor for JPL Summer Interns | |
|---|---|
| Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology | Summer 2013 |
| Provided four undergraduate and high school summer interns with an introduction to Python and worked closely with them on their respective summer projects. | |
Curriculum Development
| Colorado School of Mines | |
|---|---|
| Developed 3D printed manipulatives for the Calculus | 2023 |
- Successfully integrated 3D printing into the calculus curriculum.
- Supervised an undergraduate student with a work study award to develop the 3D printed models for department use.
| Developed Desmos Activities for Multivariable Calculus | 2021-2022 |
- Developed and integrated active learning activities for the online multivariable calculus course.
- Designed pre- and post-surveys to collect data on the efficacy of these activities.
| University of Colorado Boulder | |
|---|---|
| Developer of 3D printed manipulatives for the Calculus II curriculum | 2017-2019 |
- Secured funding to purchase a department 3D printer and develop 3D-printed models for use in the Calculus sequence.
- Designed an active learning activity for determining the volumes of solids with known cross sections that utilizes the 3D printed models of these solids.
- Created 3D printed lecture models for integration methods presented in Calculus II using Python, Cura, and Blender.
- Supervised an undergraduate student with a work study award who developed 3D printed models for department use.
Academic Service
| Graduate Student Representative | |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder | 2017-2019 |
| Mathematics Department Graduate Committee | |
- Orchestrated initiatives as the Graduate Student Representative on the Mathematics Department.
- Graduate Committee, collaborating with faculty to address concerns and facilitate resolutions, fostering positive relationships between the department and graduate students.
- Negotiated, formalized, and documented expectations regarding workloads and assignment compensation for graduate student employees.
- Collaborated with the committee to determine the timeline for administering and grading preliminary exams and update the department website.
Grants
2019 Summer Graduate School Fellowship for summer research at the University of Colorado Boulder.
2018 Leonhardy Summer Fellowship for summer research at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Grant for research and development of 3D-printed models for use in calculus courses provided by ASSETT (Arts and Sciences Support of Education Through Technology) at the University of Colorado Boulder in 2015.
Talks and Presentations
A. Sparks. Desmos Activities for Calculus. Presented at the Professional Learning Community meeting at Colorado School of Mines; September 28, 2022; Golden, CO.
A. Sparks. Online Activities for In-person or Remote Multivariable Calculus Courses. Presented and ran a workshop at the SIGMAA IBL Fall Speaker Series 2022; August 25, 2022; Via Zoom.
A. Sparks. Clonoids into Finite Target Algebras without Cube Terms. Invited speaker at Joint Mathematics Meetings, AMS Special Session on Algebras and Algorithms; January 15, 2020; Denver, CO.
A. Sparks. On the Number of Clonoids. Invited speaker at Second Algebra Week; June 26, 2019; Siena, Italy.
A. Sparks. On the Number of Clonoids. Paper presented at AAA98, AAA - Workshops on General Algebra; June 21, 2019; Dresden, Germany.
S. Bozlee, F.T. Liu, C. Matson, C. Ng, A. Sparks, P. Wootton. 3D Printed Manipulatives for Calculus. Poster presented at 2019 National Inquiry Based Learning and Teaching; June 6, 2019; Denver, CO.
A. Sparks. On the Number of Clonoids. Paper presented at BLAST. May 20, 2019; Boulder, CO.
K. Monks, A. Sparks. Curriculum and LAs in Mathematics. Presented at 2019 Western Regional Learning Assistant Workshop. March 8, 2019; Boulder and Longmont, CO.
A. Sparks. NP-hardness of PCSPs. Presented at Graduate Algebra Seminar; February 5, 2019; CU Boulder.
A. Sparks. Promise Constraint Satisfaction Problems. Presented at Algebras and Algorithms. May 19, 2018; Honolulu, HI.
A. Sparks. Minesweeper is NP-Complete. Presented at Slow Pitch (graduate student seminar); March 21, 2018; CU Boulder. S. Anthony, J. Hong, D. Kickbush, A. Riddle, A. Sparks. Random Walks on Unipotent Groups. Poster presented at Research and Innovation Week; Summer, 2015; Boulder, CO.
A. Sparks. Drawing and Counting with Athena - The Cylindrical Crossing Number of the Complete Bipartite Graph. Presented at Slow Pitch (graduate student seminar); April 1, 2015; CU Boulder.
A. Sparks. The Cylindrical Crossing Number of the Complete Bipartite Graph. Presented at SIAM Conference on Discrete Mathematics (DM14). June 16, 2014; Minneapolis, Minnesota.
A. Sparks. Participated at American Institute of Mathematics Workshop on Exact Crossing Numbers. April 28 to May 2, 2014.; Palo Alto, CA.
A. Sparks. The Cylindrical Crossing Number of the Complete Bipartite Graph. Presented at 2nd Twin Women in Mathematics Symposium, Southern California (WiMSoCAl); May 4, 2014; University of San Diego.
A. Sparks. The Cylindrical Crossing Number of the Complete Bipartite Graph. Poster presented at Kaleidoscope; May 12-16, 2014; Ixtapa, Mexico.
A. Sparks. The Cylindrical Crossing Number of the Complete Bipartite Graph. Presented at Sigma Xi Student Research Symposium; April 25, 2014; California State University, Northridge, CA.
A. Sparks. The Cylindrical Crossing Number of the Complete Bipartite Graph. Poster presented at Southern California-Nevada Section of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA); April 12, 2014; Concordia University, Irvine, CA.
Additional Workshop Participation
International Learning Assistant Conference at CU Boulder. October 19-21, 2019; Boulder, CO.
Inquiry Based Learning Workshop at CU Boulder. August 17-19, 2016; Boulder, CO.