I'm a fourth-year PhD student in computational neuroscience at Yale University, working under the supervision of Ilker Yildirim. My research explores how mathematical structures—particularly those from dynamical systems theory and quaternionic geometry—can illuminate both neural computation and the fundamental nature of physical reality.
Before returning to academia, I worked as a merchant mariner—an experience that shaped my approach to intellectual work in unexpected ways. Navigation requires holding multiple coordinate systems in mind simultaneously; the sea teaches patience with complex dynamics; and there's something about the vastness of open water that puts even the hardest problems in perspective.
That practical grounding continues to inform my research. I'm drawn to mathematics that connects to physical reality, to theories that can be implemented and tested, to abstractions that ultimately illuminate rather than obscure.
My primary contribution has been developing the dynamical Structure-Preserving Manifolds (dSPM) framework—a method for analytically programming reservoir computers using physics-based representations, without requiring traditional training. This work addresses the interpretability crisis in modern AI by building systems whose internal representations we can actually understand.
More recently, I've been developing Quaternionic Quadrature (QQ), a comprehensive mathematical framework connecting number theory, quaternions, and fundamental physics. This work has revealed surprising connections: deterministic patterns in the Collatz conjecture, new approaches to integer factorization, and potential explanations for why biological systems might use quaternionic-like representations for spatial cognition.
Beyond my core research, I'm fascinated by the deep connections between:
I'm also a writer, though I approach writing as a scholar rather than a professional—as a means of clarifying thought rather than producing content.
I'm always interested in conversations about mathematics, neuroscience, the philosophy of science, or potential collaborations. The best way to reach me is by email.