Joseph Starr

Mathematician and Software Engineer

[email protected] joe-starr.com Joecstarr joseph-c-starr

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (Defended 8/18/25)

University of Iowa

Advisor: Isabel Darcy

Dissertation: “The Tanglenomicon: Tabulation of Arborescent Tangles”

Fall 2021 - Fall 2025

Master of Science in Mathematics

University of Iowa

Fall 2021 - Spring 2023

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

University of Michigan - Dearborn

Fall 2013 - Fall 2016

Bachelor of Science in CIS Mathematics (Applied Mathematics)

University of Michigan - Dearborn

Fall 2013 - Fall 2016

Awards

The Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award recognizes teaching assistants who have demonstrated outstanding abilities at the University of Iowa.
Spring 2025

RTG: Geometry and Topology at Iowa Graduate Fellowship

Funded by DMS-2038103
Spring 2023, Summer 2023,
Summer 2024

Experience

Iowa Sciences Academy Graduate Assistant

University of Iowa - Iowa Sciences Academy

Fall 2024, Spring 2025

Graduate Fellow

University of Iowa

Funded by NSF RTG grant DMS-2038103
Spring 2023, Summer 2023,
Summer 2024

Mathematics Teaching Assistant

University of Iowa

Fall 2021, Spring 2022,
Fall 2022, Fall 2023,
Spring 2024

Software Engineer

Western Diversified Plastics

Process tooling and AUTOSAR development
December 2020 - August 2021

Project Engineer

Vector North America

Software Architect
  • Responsible for the complete architectural design and direction of a customer project.
  • Analysis of customer requirements and negotiation of acceptance for those requirements.
  • Planning of team development activities.
Flash Bootloader Integration
  • Integration and testing of Off The Shelf software solutions with a focus on Flash Bootloader integrations.
  • Worked with new technologies such as Ethernet, CAN-FD, and Security.
  • Support customers in use of the Flash Bootloader product.
January 2017 - December 2020

Engineering CoOp

ZF

Bootloader integrations for advanced vehicle stability control (braking) systems.
May 2016 - August 2016

Teaching

ISA:4041

Primary Instructor

Structure for development, planning, and implementation of a culminating project for the Iowa Sciences Academy; students dedicate three to five hours per week to the project and are encouraged to connect their projects to community issues or problem; integration of external learning experiences and activities including interviews, scientific observations, or internships. Course Listing
Spring 2025

ISA:1040

Primary Instructor

Professional and career development; tours of scientific research facilities and laboratories on campus; network with professors and graduate students; explore different types of research environments on campus; learn how to identify and contact potential research mentors. Course Listing
Spring 2025

ISA:4040

Primary Instructor

Scientific teaching principles (e.g., backwards design, active learning, formative assessment); students develop a teaching unit based on some aspect of their research and teach it to the class in preparation for future interviews where the ability to explain the background and significance for their research is a highly valued skill. Requirements: minimum of 60 s.h. earned, junior or senior standing, and undergraduate research experience. Course Listing
Fall 2024

MATH:5760

Graduate Assistant

Topics in mathematical biology; canonical mathematical modeling and analysis of problems in the biological sciences (data analysis and introduction to machine learning). Course Listing
Spring 2024

MATH:1005

Primary Instructor

Algebraic techniques, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities. Course Listing
Fall 2022, Fall 2023

MATH:1350

Discussion Section Leader

Algebraic techniques and modeling; quantitative methods for treating problems that arise in management and economic sciences; topics include algebra techniques, functions and functional models, exponential and logarithmic functions and models, and a thorough introduction to differential calculus; examples and applications from management, economic sciences, and related areas; for students planning to major in business. Course Listing
Fall 2021, Spring 2022,
Spring 2024

Invited Research Talks

Joint Math Meetings: AMS Special Session on Results on Curves and Surfaces Inspired by Experiments

January 2025

Knots in Washington 50

December 2024
January 2023
November 2023

Tangled in Knot Theory

May 2023

Invited General Audience Talks

February 2024

Posters

Submitted poster on “How One GTA Restructured a Course on Teaching Undergraduate Research”
February 2025

Conference Attendance

Funded by AMS Travel Grant
January 2025
Funded by NSF Knots in Washington Grant and NSF RTG grant DMS-2038103
December 2024
Funded by NSF RTG grant DMS-2038103
August 2024
Funded by The University of Iowa Department of Mathematics
February 2024
Funded by ICERM and NSF RTG grant DMS-2038103
May 2023
Funded by The University of Iowa Department of Mathematics
February 2023

Service

Heartland Partnership Talk Organization

Speaking series as outreach to midwest colleges.
Fall 2024
February 2023

University of Iowa Exploring Majors Fair Department Representative

The Exploring Majors Fair on each Hawkeye Visit Day connects prospective undergraduate students with departments of their interest.
Fall 2022, Spring 2023,
Fall 2023

Seminars Organized

Knots, Tangles, and Computers

Primary Organizer:
  • Fall 2024: On Arborescent Tangles
  • Spring 2024: On Software Engineering
  • Fall 2023: On Tangle Tabulation

Topological Data Visualization

Assisted in Organizing:
  • Spring 2024
  • Fall 2023

Undergraduate Topology Seminar

Assisted in Organizing:
  • Fall 2024 On 3D printing for visualization (technical support)