Phoenix Nenar Portfolio

A summary of my academic, research, and teaching experience is provided below.

Education

University of Colorado Denver — Denver, CO
M.S. Applied Mathematics (Computational Mathematics & Biophysics), May 2026

Thesis: A General Analytical Framework for the Ising Model with Applications to Neural Dynamics
Advisor: Masoud Asadi-Zeydabadi, Ph.D.

Gonzaga University — Spokane, WA
B.S. Mathematics (Concentration: Physics and Film Studies), May 2020

Research Experience

M.S. Thesis Research — University of Colorado Denver
Advisors: Masoud Asadi-Zeydabadi, Ph.D.; Mazen Al-Borno, Ph.D.

Analytical and computational approaches to the Ising model with applications to neural dynamics. Developed theoretical and computational frameworks for forward and inverse Ising problems, with emphasis on interpreting interaction structure and system behavior in biological systems.

Statistical Analysis Projects — University of Colorado Denver
Faculty: Joshua French, Ph.D.; Adam Spiegler, Ph.D.; Erin Austin, Ph.D.

Applied statistical modeling across multiple domains, including:

• Spatial analysis of hate crime clustering in Denver
• Regression modeling of diabetes risk factors
• Time series analysis of suicide rate data

Focused on extracting meaningful patterns from real-world data using statistical inference and visualization.

Undergraduate Research — Gonzaga University

Equivariant cohomology and intersection theory on Grassmannian manifolds (Advisor: Eric Hogle, Ph.D.)

Quantum mechanics and Hilbert space methods (Advisor: Richard Cangelosi, Ph.D.)

Muon detection and simulation research (Advisor: Matthew Geske, Ph.D.)

Technical Skills

Programming: Python, R
Methods: Statistical modeling, Bayesian inference, time series analysis, regression analysis
Scientific Computing: Numerical methods, simulation, data analysis
Tools: LaTeX, Jupyter Notebooks, Google Colab, Quarto, HPC/SLURM
Domains: Statistical physics, Ising models, neural data analysis

Publications

Williams, P. (2026). A General Analytical Framework for the Ising Model with Applications to Neural Dynamics. (M.S. Thesis)

Williams, M. (2020). An Evaluation of Moonlight’s Intersectional Pedagogy. International Journal of Servant Leadership.

Williams, M. (2019–2018). Additional creative and scholarly publications in Reflection, Charter, and The Fringe.

Presentations

Williams, P. (2026). A General Analytical Framework for the Ising Model with Applications to Neural Dynamics. Master’s Thesis Defense, University of Colorado Denver.

Williams, P. & Enserro, G. (2025). Exploring Critical Behavior in Purkinje Cell Neurodynamics through the Ising Model. Front Range Applied Mathematics Student Conference.

Williams, P. (2023). Spatial Analysis of Hate Crime Clustering in Denver. Data 2 Policy Symposium.

Williams, P. & Kilfoyle, J. (2020). Equivariant Intersection Theory on Grassmannian Manifolds. Pacific Inland Mathematics Undergraduate Conference.

Teaching Experience

University of Colorado Denver — Graduate Teaching Assistant (2023–Present)

Courses taught:

• College Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Introductory Statistics

Gonzaga University — Teaching Assistant (Physics)
Link Community Charter School — Teaching Assistant (U.S. History)

Honors & Awards

Best Presentation — Data 2 Policy Symposium (2023)
Jesuit Mission Fellowship — Gonzaga University (2020)