< Aaron Miller />

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// Education

Harvard University

Present

Ph.D. Student in Applied Mathematics

Cambridge, MA

Present

  • Computational Science and Engineering Lab
  • Advised by Petros Koumoutsakos
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

May 2023

B.S. in Astrophysics and Applied Mathematics, Minor in Statistics and Analytics

Chapel Hill, NC

May 2023

  • GPA 4.0/4.0
  • Class Rank: 1/6650
London School of Economics

Jul 2021

Summer Study Abroad

London, UK (Remote)

Jul 2021

  • Coursework: Computational Methods in Financial Mathematics (A+); Machine Learning in Practice (A+)

// Awards

Awarded to 40 students nationwide for the 2024-2025 class, this fellowship provides a $45k stipend, full tuition and fees, and an academic allowance for up to 4 years to support to "students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems." Press release

Highest-level award given in the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Physics and Astronomy. Awarded on the basis of scholarship, scientific insight, and professional seriousness. Sole recipient out of ~50 majors. More info

Highest-level academic and research award in Junior class of UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Physics and Astronomy. Sole recipient out of ~50 majors.

1 of 2 UNC students and 1 of 119 selected nationally based on academic achievement and proven research talent to compete for the Churchill Scholarship in science, mathematics, and engineering. More info

Competitive 4-year academic program enrolling 10% of each class. See requirements

Awarded to select cohort of incoming students showing promising research potential. More info

Merit-based award sponsored by the Kenan-Flagler Business School to fund student study abroad programs.

// Academic Interests

AI/ML
Turbulence
HPC
Scientific Computing
Symmetry
Fluid Mechanics
Statistical Physics

// Preprints and Publications

Abstract
Using schematic model potentials, we calculate exactly the virial coefficients of a classical gas up to sixth order and use them to calculate the virial expansion of basic thermodynamic quantities such as pressure, density, and compressibility. At sufficiently strong couplings, as expected, the virial expansion fails to converge. However, at least for the interactions and parameter ranges we explored, we find that Padé-Borel resummation methods are very effective in improving the convergence of the expansion. View journal article

Abstract
We develop and present results for the Classical Virial Expansion Engine (CVE²), a numerical package for computing the power series coefficients of the classical virial expansion of the grand-canonical partition function. The numerical package is developed from scratch in Python, relying only on a handful of extant libraries that implement general functionality. Starting from the definition of the partition function and the virial expansion, we establish the analytical pretext of the engine by describing a combinatorial and graph-theoretic accounting framework that is equivalent to approaches found in the literature. Afterward, we explain the transcription of the theoretical framework to a numerical implementation by outlining the structure of the code module and discussing the details that support its computation. We give results for the equation of state and coefficient of compressibility using the interaction potential for which our method is exact, and we discuss several additional use cases that can be treated with the engine. The scope of application is discussed alongside a summary and outlook at the end of the paper. View thesis

// Experience

Research
Department of Physics and Astronomy at UNC-Chapel Hill

Aug 2022-May 2023

Student Researcher Advised by Dr. Joaquín E. Drut

Chapel Hill, NC

Aug 2022-May 2023

  • Developed an open-source computational engine to numerically calculate the coefficients of the virial expansion of the classical grand-canonical partition function
  • Implemented a combinatorial and graph-theoretic framework that economically expands the integrand of the partition function configuration integrals under the assumption of symmetric two-particle interaction potentials
Computational Quantum Matter Lab

Dec 2020-May 2022

Undergraduate Student Researcher

Chapel Hill, NC

Dec 2020-May 2022

  • Constructed a quasiclassical molecular dynamics N-body simulation in Python (600+ lines) with a team of two others to extract thermodynamic and transport properties of polarized quantum matter in strongly coupled regimes
  • Designed and implemented a function to model the unequal time pair-correlation function based on data from three- dimensional solution matrices containing 400M+ total data points
Industry
Bank of America

Jun 2022-Aug 2022

Global Markets Sales and Trading Rotational Summer Analyst

New York, NY

Jun 2022-Aug 2022

  • Applied computational techniques such as curve fitting and Monte Carlo in Python to infer quantified estimates of parameters characterizing dynamic hedging outcomes on the single-stock flow derivative trading desk
  • Authored a trade research report detailing the use of vanilla and exotic equity options to execute an overwrite strategy
  • Initiated independent study of equity options theory, using tools from probability, calculus, and analysis to interpret relevant literature and provide detailed solutions for theoretical questions posed by mentors
Leedon Park Capital

May 2021-Aug 2021

Private Equity Analyst

Charlotte, NC

May 2021-Aug 2021

  • Analyzed 1K+ rows of financial data in Excel during a live deal with a $14M revenue company to generate essential benchmark comparisons and performance visualizations for the firm's investor presentation
  • Conducted extensive industry research for six projects in the acquisition pipeline to present assessments of growth drivers, risk exposure, and valuation precedents to the managing director throughout the bidding timeline
Simetra Operator Fund

Sep 2020-Dec 2020

Private Equity Analyst

Raleigh, NC

Sep 2020-Dec 2020

  • Sourced and screened 80-100 acquisition candidates per week (800+ total) based on investment criteria such as ownership structure, business model, and company financials, leading to 350+ potential targets generated for the firm
  • Assessed confidential information memorandums and developed financial models in Excel to facilitate managing partner evaluations of candidates with whom discussions were opened
  • Formulated target-specific pitch material for each viable acquisition target, providing the content for 300+ outreach campaigns commenced by the managing partners

// Leadership and Community Involvement

Super Cooper's College Buddies

May 2020-Dec 2021

V.P. of Fundraising (Earlier V.P. of Finance)

Chapel Hill, NC

May 2020-Dec 2021

  • Arranged fundraisers, collected donations, and planned events to emotionally and financially support the pediatric cancer patients of Super Cooper's Little Red Wagon Foundation receiving care at UNC and Duke Hospitals
  • Controlled organization finances by tracking member dues, event expenditures, and charity inflow and led bimonthly meetings with 60+ members to coordinate future events and develop crafts for dozens of patients

// Additional Info

Languages and Frameworks
Python
PyTorch
Julia
Slurm
MATLAB
Wolfram
HTML
CSS
Fortran
Java
Interests
Ice Hockey
Formula 1
Pittsburgh Sports
Strength Training
Hiking
Drumming