Undergraduate Research
I am happy to work with you to pursue an area of study that goes beyond our current catalog offerings. Anyone interested in pursuing additional study or research should
- Email stephen.flood@bridgew.edu or
- Visit my office in DMF 443
My office hours are posted on my door, and you are welcome to drop in any time I am in my office.
Research Topics
I am interested in the many connections between mathematics, human reasoning, and computer science. I am influenced by the "two systems" framework from Thinking, Fast and Slow. Mathematics and computer algorithms implement careful "System 2" reasoning, whereas LLM's better match fast and unconsicous "System 1" reasoning.
- Foundations of Mathematics (♾️)
- Understanding the (many) things people mean when they talk about 'proofs' or 'randomness'
- Connecting 'proofs in words' with 'algebra like computations'
- Advanced Study in other areas of mathematics
- Algorithms and Programming ( 💻 )
- Understanding mathematics by implementing algorithms
- Writing code to perform a specific task
- Modern AI and Large Language Models ( 🌐 )
- Testing model abilities through benchmarking
- Developing AI powered applications
- Training models that have specific abilities
- Understanding the mathematics behind LLM's
Past Projects
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Larger Projects (Honors Thesis and Funded Undergraduate Research)
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The Role of Surprise In Guessing Games, Fall 2020 - Spring 2021. ♾️ 💻
An exploration of Information Theory and Randomness in games. -
Analysis of Emergency Responder Patrolling Techniques through Agent-Based Modeling, 2019-2020. 💻
Supported by a Summer ATP Grant.
Developed an Agent-Based Model in NetLogo
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Formal Directed Study (Math/Comp 499)
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Foundations of Mathematical Logic, Fall 2025. ♾️
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Retrieval Augmented Generation for Learning Assistants, Summer 2025. 💻 🌐
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Hyper Real Numbers and Nonstandard Models of Arithmetic, Fall 2024. ♾️
Nonstandard Analysis uses Mathematical Logic to create a number system that contains Infinitecimal Numbers that can be used to develop calculus without the use of limits. -
Designing and Prototyping a Computer Algebra System, Fall 2016 Semester. ♾️ 💻
Supported by a Semester ATP Grant.
Explore and implement portions of a Computer Algebra System
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Informal Directed Studies
- Introductory Measure Theory, Fall 2018 - Spring 2019. ♾️
Graduate level Measure Theory through the first two chapters of Folland.
- Introductory Measure Theory, Fall 2018 - Spring 2019. ♾️