By RINDY METCALF

Staff Writer

A new professor has been recruited to help strengthen programs in the department of mathematics and statistics.

Roderick Melnik, a professor of computational analysis and modeling, came from the University of Southern Denmark and began teaching at Tech at the beginning of winter quarter.

"I teach computational math that is for scientific engineering, physics and chemistry," Melnik said.

Melnik said he was researching mathematics that can be applied to sciences.

"Basically, I build modeling of materials and nanotechnology as well," Melnik said.

Melnik said he came to Tech to research a new computational analysis program and strengthen the math program is already in place, since that is where his expertise lies.

Melnik also said he looks forward to instituting new programs in such fields as micromanufacturing.

Bernd Schroeder, program chair of mathematics and statistics and an associate professor of mathematics and statistics, said Melnik was offered the position in late spring but was not available to teach during the fall quarter.

"[Melnik] started in the winter quarter teaching a graduate course in computational mathematics," Schroeder said.

Schroeder said Melnik's research includes partial differential equations that can be used to model heat transfer, which is important in micromanufacturing.

"One of the problems that occur in some of these manufacturing techniques that occur on the mechanical end is 'How do you keep these little things cool?'" Schroeder said.

"Say you've got a car engine. You've got this big block of metal where you drill a hole and you run water through it. Now when your component is smaller than an inch you can't do that."

Schroeder said Melnik has had research experience in the type of situation where one would often use the partial differential equations to see how those types of metals would behave.

"[Melnik] has a very wide range of experience, which is something we need to have for our graduate program," Schroeder said.

Richard Greechie, a professor of mathematics and statistics, is a colleague of Melnik's within the graduate program, and, though they work in different fields, Greechie knows of Melnik's expertise with computational analysis.

"His work is especially appropriate for work at the Institute for Micromanufacturing, because he is capable of modeling nanostructures on the computer," Greechie said.

Greechie said he believes Melnik is a prime asset to the university because he is the leading computational analyst on campus and has a worldwide reputation.