Snezhana I. Abarzhi, Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae

Degrees

1994                Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics,
                        Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics and
                        Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
                        Moscow, Russia; Ph.D. Adviser: Prof. S.I. Anisimov.
1990               M.S. in Theoretical Physics and Applied Mathematics,
                        Summa cum laude; Landau Theoretical Minimum,
                        Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.
1987                B.S. in Physics and Mathematics, B.S. in Molecular Biology,
                        Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia.

Education

1991-1994        Graduate Student, Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Moscow.
1988-1990        Theory Department; Kapitza Institute for Physical Problems.
1987-1988        Theory Group, Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Moscow.
1984-1990        Student, Moscow Institute for Physics and Technology, Departments of
                        General and Applied Physics (major) and Physical and Chemical Biology (minor).

Professional positions

2005-present    Academic Faculty, University of Chicago, USA
                          Division of Physical Sciences, Dept. Astronomy and Astrophysics.
2006-2009         Associate Professor, Dept. Applied Mathematics, Illinois Institute of Technology, IL, USA.
2004-2005        Visiting Professor, Dept. Mechanical Engineering, San Francisco State University, CA, USA.
2002-2005         Senior Fellow, Center for Turbulence Research, Stanford University, CA, USA.
2001-2002         Research Professor, Institute for Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
1999-2001         Associate Research Scientist, Department of Applied Mathematics,
                          State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY, USA.
1998-1999         Fellow, Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Bayreuth, Germany.
1997-1998         Visiting Professor, Dept. Mathematics; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
1996-2000         Senior Research Scientist (since 1997 – on leave), High Energy Density Research Center of
                          High Temperature Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
1994-1996            Junior Research Scientist, Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Moscow, Russia.

Research interests

Multi-scale dynamics, including hydrodynamic instabilities and turbulent mixing in fluids, plasmas and materials, design of experiments, dynamical systems, data analysis, quantitative biology;

Applied mathematics, including applied analysis, nonlinear partial differential equations and stochastic modeling;
Information theory; Condensed matter physics, including magnetic systems and low-dimensional models.

Publications

Over 50 peer-reviewed publications, including reviews, monographs, regular journal papers, editorials, and research briefs; over 70 publications in proceedings of conferences, workshops, and summer schools.

Presentations

Over 50 invited lectures and seminars delivered at the scientific institutions worldwide; over 100 contributions delivered at international conferences including invited lectures, contributed talks, tutorials and posters.

Grants

Several grants since 2006 in support of research projects (currently $300,000) and program ‘Turbulent mixing and Beyond’ ($110,000 in 2009 and $85,000 in 2007).

Fellowships and awards

2007    NASA monetary award (team), USA
2002    Fellowship, Centre for Turbulent Research, Stanford, USA
2000    Award, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
1998   Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
1995   Associated Membership, International Center for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy
1995   Fellowship, International Center for Fundamental Physics in Moscow
1994   Prize, for a best scientific work, Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics, Moscow
1993   Graduate fellowship, KFA Institute fur Festkorperforschung, Julich, Germany

Synergistic activities

Editorial

            Editor:

2011    Comments Editor, Physica Scripta (TBC).
            Guest Editor:
2011    Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, Theme Issue ‘Non-equilibrium transports in Fluids,
            Plasmas, Materials,’ 30 review papers, in preparation.
2010    Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A368, 1537 – 1828,
           Theme Issue ‘Turbulent Mixing and Beyond’, 1 editorial and 12 review papers of 39 authors.
2010    Physica Scripta, Topical Issue T142 Proceedings of 2nd International Conference
            ‘Turbulent Mixing and Beyond’, 3 editorial and 70 research papers.
2008    Physica Scripta, Topical Issue T132 Proceedings of 1st International Conference
            ‘Turbulent Mixing and Beyond’, 2 editorial and 57 research papers.
            Editor:
2009   ISBN 92-95003-36-5, Book of Abstracts, 2nd International Conference and Advanced School
            ‘Turbulent Mixing and Beyond,’ TMB-2009, 194 contributions of 385 authors.
2007    ISBN 92-95003-41-1, Book of Abstracts, 1st International Conference
            ‘Turbulent Mixing and Beyond,’ TMB-2007, 150 contributions of nearly 300 authors.

Refereeing research papers for scientific journals

Proceedings of the US National Academy of Sciences, Physics of Plasmas, Physics of Fluids, Physical Review Letters, Physical Review, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Physica Scripta, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, European Journal of Mechanics, Applied Mathematics Letters, Physica D.

Reviewing proposals and participation in panels for funding agencies

US National Science Foundation (panelist and reviewer), US Department of Energy (panelist and reviewer), Russian New Eurasia Foundation (panelist and reviewer), Israeli Science Foundation (reviewer), US – Israel Bi-National Science Foundation (reviewer).

Organization of scientific conferences, symposia and summer schools

2011, 2009, 2007        Chairperson, Activity director, Session chair, Round tables chair:
           Bi-annual International Conference and Advanced School 'Turbulent Mixing and Beyond'
                held at the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy
                Third TMB conference, 21-28 August 2011
                Second TMB conference and advanced school, 27 July – 07 Aug 2009, over 180 presenters;
                First TMB conference, 18 – 26 Aug 2007, 120 presenters.
2010        Session chair, 63^rd Annual Meeting, Division of Fluid Dynamics APS, Long Beach, CA, USA
2008        Organizer, Session chair, US-Japan Joint Institute for Fusion Theory Workshop
                ‘On critical issues of hydrodynamic stability for high gain and fast ignition,’ Osaka, Japan

Serving department and university

2007-2008   Organizer of Seminars and Colloquia
                      Department of Applied Mathematics, llinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA
2006-2007   Member, Research Council, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA

Founding programs

Program ‘Turbulent Mixing and Beyond’ (TMB)

Teaching and Mentoring

Developing educational program for graduate studies (courses on modern methods of mathematical modeling and data analysis); modernizing and delivering courses for graduate and undergraduate studies at public and private US universities for students with major in mathematics, science and engineering; delivering courses for undergraduate and high school students at selective colleges in Russia; developing tutorials for professional learning. Advising and mentoring students and post-doctoral associates.