Rodica Curtu

Assistant Professor
PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Contact information

Department of Mathematics
University of Iowa
14 MacLean Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1419

Phone: (319)-335-0744
Departmental fax: (319) 335-0627
Email: rodica-curtu@uiowa.edu

Fall 2009

Office Hours: M W 10:00 - 11:30 AM, or by appointment
Teaching:
22M:026:DDD Calculus 2 (MWF 11:30 AM)
22M:142 Nonlinear Dynamics with Numerical Methods (MWF 1:30 PM)
                        (Students: please see ICON website for course announcements!)

 

Other Appointments

- Faculty of AMCS - Program in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences (University of Iowa)

- Affiliate member of the Delta Center - Development and Learning from Theory to Application

Research Interests

Mathematical and Computational Neuroscience
Mathematical Biology
Applied Dynamical Systems and Bifurcation Theory

I combine methods from nonlinear dynamical systems, pattern formation and bifurcation theory with numerical simulations to study how the dynamics of neuronal networks contributes to neural information processing. Previous projects include investigation of the existence of traveling and standing waves in a model for feature selectivity in local cortical circuits, and analysis of a model for alternating visual patterns caused by ambiguous stimuli as reported in binocular rivalry and moving plaids. Recent projects include computational models of learning and memory formation (in collaboration with Dr. Inah Lee), models of buffered Calcium diffusion near multiple sources (in collaboration with Dr. Pranay Goel and Dr. Lihe Wang), and modeling the unfolded protein response to ER stress (in collaboration with Dr. Tom Rutkowski).

Mathematical Biology Group

We have an active group of faculty and students interested in Mathematical Biology. We organize weekly seminars and lunch meetings. If you are a student or a visitor at the University of Iowa interested in the topic, or you would just like to join us, let us know!

Teaching

(At the University of Iowa)

Fall 2009
22M:142    Nonlinear Dynamics with Numerical Methods
                (Textbook: Jack Hale and Huseyin Kocak - Dynamics and bifurcations, Springer-Verlag 1991)

22M:026:DDD   Calculus II
                (Textbook: James Stewart - Singular Variable Calculus: Early Transcendentals, Thomson Brooks, 2008)


Summer 2009
22M:399:042    Reading Research


Spring 2009
22M:217    Partial Differential Equations II
                (Textbook: Lawrence C. Evans - Partial Differential Equations, AMS 2002)


Fall 2008
22M:216    Partial Differential Equations I
                (Textbook: Lawrence C. Evans - Partial Differential Equations, AMS 2002)

22M:026:AAA   Calculus II - Honors Class
                (Textbook: James Stewart - Singular Variable Calculus: Early Transcendentals, Thomson Brooks, 2008)


Spring 2008
22M:100   Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations
                (Textbook: George F. Simmons - Differential Equations with Applications and Historical Notes, 2nd. ed, McGraw-Hill, 1991)


Fall 2007
22M:034:081   Engineer Math IV- Differential Equations
22M:034:101   Engineer Math IV- Differential Equations
                (Textbook: W.E. Boyce and R.C. DiPrima - Elementary Differential Equations and Boundary Value Problems, 8th ed., Wiley & Sons, 2005 )

Publications

Refereed Journal Papers

1. Curtu R., Shpiro A., Rubin N., Rinzel J. (2008) - Mechanisms for frequency control in neuronal competition models, SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst., 7(2), pp. 609 - 649. Download pdf file.

2. Shpiro A., Curtu R., Rinzel J., Rubin N. (2007) - Dynamical characteristics common to neuronal competition models, J. Neurophysiol 97, pp. 462 - 473. Download pdf file.

3. Golomb D., Shedmi A., Curtu R., Ermentrout B. (2006) - Persistent synchronized bursting activity in cortical tissues with low magnesium concentration: a modeling study, J. Neurophysiol 95, pp. 1049 - 1067. Download pdf file.

4. Curtu R., Ermentrout B. (2004) - Pattern formation in a network of excitatory and inhibitory cells with adaptation, SIAM J. Appl. Dyn. Syst., 3(3), pp. 191 - 231. Download pdf file.

5. Osan R., Curtu R., Rubin J., Ermentrout B. (2004) - Multiple-spike waves in a one-dimensional integrate-and-fire neural network, J. Math. Biol. 48, pp. 243-274. Download pdf file.

6. Curtu R. (2001) - The static bifurcation diagram for the Gray-Scott model, Intl. J. of Bif. and Chaos 11 (9), pp. 2483 - 2491. Download pdf file.

7. Curtu R., Ermentrout B. (2001) - Oscillations in a refractory neural net, J. Math. Biol. 43, pp. 81 - 100. Download pdf file.

Conference Proceedings Papers

1. Curtu R. (2007) - Mechanisms for oscillations in a biological competition model, PAMM Proc. Appl. Math. Mech. 7(1), pp. 2030019 - 2030020.

2. Osan R., Rubin J., Curtu R., Ermentrout B. (2003) - Traveling waves in a one-dimensional integrate-and-fire neural network with finite support connectivity, Neurocomputing 52-54, pp. 869 - 875. Download pdf file.

Other Publications

1. Curtu R, Tudor H. (2004) - Mathematical Analysis, Transilvania University Press, Romania (276 pp/ in English) (A course of advanced calculus for engineering students)

2. Curtu R. (2002) - Dynamics and bifurcations for the Gray-Scott model with uncatalyzed conversion, Transilvania University Press, Romania (240 pp/ in Romanian). ISBN 973-635-070-3 (MR1993249; Zbl 1031.37073)

3. Curtu R. (2000) - Introduction to dynamical systems theory, Infomarket, Romania (132 pp/ in Romanian). ISBN 973-99827-2-7 (A course for undergraduate and graduate students in mathematics).

CV

Matlab figures

XYZ_1_100
XYZ_2_100
XYZ_3_100
XYZ_fp_man_100
XYZ_1_5000
XYZ_2_5000
XYZ_fp_man_5000


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