Jon VanLaarhoven
2006-7
VIGRE has given me the opportunity to network with undergraduate and beginning graduate students as well as focus more on my own research. During the 6 week rotation, I worked with a beginning graduate student on geometric conditions for Euclidean minimal Steiner trees. The VIGRE also allowed me more time to focus on a heuristic algorithm for computing Steiner minimal trees. The summer REU was an excellent experience in teaching Linear algebra and undergraduate research as applied to fractals and dynamical systems. In my spare time I write electronic music and am assistant instructor at the Hawkeye Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Club.