Joseph Starr

Mathematician and Software Engineer

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

Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics
University of Iowa
Fall 2021 - Fall 2025
Advisor: Isabel Darcy
Dissertation: "The Tanglenomicon: Tabulation of Arborescent Tangles"
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.
RTG: Geometry and Topology at Iowa Graduate Fellowship
Spring 2023, Summer 2023,
Summer 2024
Funded by DMS-2038103

Certifications

December 2025
CIRTL Scholars add to community knowledge about teaching and learning, most often by presenting or publishing their work to university, regional, national, or international audiences.
Taken from CIRTL program details
December 2025
CIRTL Practitioners critically reflect on their knowledge and experiences of teaching and learning, often by designing and/or implementing a Teaching-as-Research project.
Taken from CIRTL program details
December 2025
CIRTL Associates have a strong foundation in evidence-based teaching and learning practices, are able to describe these practices, and recognize their value for improving undergraduate learning.
Taken from CIRTL program details

Experience

Iowa Sciences Academy Graduate Assistant
University of Iowa - Iowa Sciences Academy
Fall 2024, Spring 2025
Graduate Fellow
University of Iowa
Spring 2023, Summer 2023,
Summer 2024
Funded by NSF RTG grant DMS-2038103
Mathematics Teaching Assistant
University of Iowa
Fall 2021, Spring 2022,
Fall 2022, Fall 2023,
Spring 2024
Software Engineer
Western Diversified Plastics
December 2020 - August 2021
  • Served as the developer and eventual technical lead for a MICROSAR-powered power distribution box (RL78).
  • Managed the full ASPICE V-model lifecycle, from translating OEM requirements into software architecture and design using Enterprise Architect to final implementation using C, DaVinci Configurator, and DaVinci Developer.
  • Conducted code and design reviews, led sprint kickoffs and retrospectives, and oversaw all technical development efforts.
  • Defined Jenkins and CANoe CI/CD infrastructure with project and process specific quality gates to automate the qualification and creation of software releases. Reducing regression and release process load while increasing project stability and velocity.




Project Engineer
Vector North America
January 2017 - December 2020
  • Served as the developer and eventual technical lead for a MICROSAR-powered power distribution box (RL78).
  • Managed the full ASPICE V-model lifecycle, from translating OEM requirements into software architecture and design using Enterprise Architect to final implementation using C, DaVinci Configurator, and DaVinci Developer.
  • Conducted code and design reviews, led sprint kickoffs and retrospectives, and oversaw all technical development efforts.
  • Defined Jenkins and CANoe CI/CD infrastructure with project and process specific quality gates to automate the qualification and creation of software releases. Reducing regression and release process load while increasing project stability and velocity.
Engineering CoOp
ZF
May 2016 - August 2016
Bootloader integrations for advanced vehicle stability control (braking) systems.

Software

The Tanglenomicon: A Table of Two String Arborescent Tangles Up to 16 Crossings
DOI - 10.5281/zenodo.17612688
This repository contains a list of all arborescent tangles up to 16 crossings.
Tanglenomicon Core Libraries
DOI - 10.5281/zenodo.17612692
The Tanglenomicon core libraries repository consists of a collection of C libraries used for computation and generation of knot/tangle data.
Toolchain for Computing the Pure Vignette for Right Leaning Identity Tangle Trees
DOI - 10.5281/zenodo.18134849
A python and cython toolchain wrapping the Tanglenomicon Core Library code for the purpose of generating a table of right leaning identity tangle tree pure vignettes. The toolchain is packaged as a a single command launchable docker compose file.
Toolchain for Generating Right Leaning Identity Tangle Trees
DOI - 10.5281/zenodo.17612686
A python and cython toolchain wrapping the Tanglenomicon Core Library code for the purpose of generating a table of right leaning identity tangle trees. The toolchain is packaged as a a single command launchable docker compose file.
Portable Generation Language Based on Probabilistic Context Free Grammars
DOI - 10.5281/zenodo.18962752
The PDGL reimplements portions of the original DGL by Maurer. The PDGL implements a set of portable libraries used to consume a context free language definition and directly stochastically produce words of that language. The PDGL matches the features and use cases of the original DGL where possible.

The toolchain is published as binaries for Windows and Linux. Additionally, the PDGL can be found in web form at https://joe-starr.com/posts/pdgl/.
Materials for a Course on Basic Project Management
DOI - 10.5281/zenodo.14933990
Describes a course on basic project management.
Materials for a Course on Teaching Undergraduate Research
DOI - 10.5281/zenodo.14933487
Describes a course on instruction geared toward undergraduate researchers.

Teaching

ISA:4041
Primary Instructor
Spring 2025
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
ISA:1040
Primary Instructor
Spring 2025
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
ISA:4040
Primary Instructor
Fall 2024
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
MATH:5760
Graduate Assistant
Spring 2024
Topics in mathematical biology; canonical mathematical modeling and analysis of problems in the biological sciences (data analysis and introduction to machine learning). Course Listing
MATH:1005
Primary Instructor
Fall 2022, Fall 2023
Algebraic techniques, equations and inequalities, functions and graphs, exponential and logarithmic functions, systems of equations and inequalities. Course Listing
MATH:1350
Discussion Section Leader
Fall 2021, Spring 2022,
Spring 2024
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

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
GEOTOP-A International Conference
January 2023
University of Michigan - Dearborn Colloquia
November 2023
Tangled in Knot Theory
May 2023

Invited General Audience Talks

Truman State University
February 2024

Posters

Submitted poster on "How One GTA Restructured a Course on Teaching Undergraduate Research"

Conference Attendance

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

Service

Heartland Partnership Talk Organization
Fall 2024
Speaking series as outreach to midwest colleges.
Panel Participant STEM Career Panel
February 2023
University of Iowa Exploring Majors Fair Department Representative
Fall 2022, Spring 2023,
Fall 2023
The Exploring Majors Fair on each Hawkeye Visit Day connects prospective undergraduate students with departments of their interest.
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)