John Samuel Sterling
Mathematics Ph.D. Student at Purdue University
Research Interests: Algebraic topology, Vietoris-Rips and Čech complexes, persistent homology, and combinatorial topology.
Academic Employment
2025–present
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Purdue University
Mathematics Graduate Teaching Assistant
West Lafayette, IN
2023–2025
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Auburn University
Mathematics Graduate Teaching Assistant
Auburn, AL
2024–2024
UAH RSESC
Huntsville, AL
UAH RSESC
Research Associate I, Step I
Huntsville, AL
Developed large scale SysML models for financial optimization.
Education
2025–present
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
Purdue University
PhD in Mathematics
West Lafayette, IN
2023–2025
Auburn University
Auburn, AL
Auburn University
M.S. in Mathematics
Auburn, AL
Advised by Ziqin Feng.
Thesis: “Vietoris-Rips Complexes of Torus Grids”.
GPA: 4.0
2022
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
The University of Alabama in Huntsville
B.S. in Mathematics, Minor in Philosophy
Huntsville, AL
GPA: 4.0, summa cum laude
Papers [Interactive Version]
Publication
P1
Vietoris-Rips Complexes of Torus Grids
Henry Adams,
Adenike Y. Adetowubo,
Hector Barriga-Acosta,
Ziqin Feng,
John Sterling
.
Mediterranean Journal of Mathematics, 2025.
Thesis
Talks [Interactive Version]
Seminar
Strategies for Teaching Precalculus
—
Auburn GTA Teaching Seminar
, Auburn, AL
Vietoris--Rips Complexes of Torus Grids
—
Auburn University
, Auburn, AL
Combinatorial Laplacians
—
Auburn Student Research Seminar
, Auburn, AL
Teaching
Spring 2026
MATH 261: Calculus III
MATH 261: Calculus III
Fall 2025
MATH 261: Calculus III
Recitation Leader
Purdue University
Recitation Leader
Held three weekly recitation sessions and office hours.
Spring 2025
MATH 1610: Calculus I
Auburn University
MATH 1610: Calculus I
Recitation Leader
Auburn University
Held recitation sessions and office hours twice weekly.
Fall 2024
MATH 1000: College Algebra
Auburn University
MATH 1000: College Algebra
Instructor
Auburn University
Prepared and taught lectures. Created and graded assignments.
Spring 2024
MATH 2660: Linear Algebra
Auburn University
MATH 2660: Linear Algebra
Teaching Assistant
Auburn University
Held weekly problem solving sessions and office hours.
Fall 2023
MATH 1120: Precalculus Algebra
Auburn University
MATH 1120: Precalculus Algebra
Teaching Assistant
Auburn University
Held weekly problem solving sessions and office hours.
Awards & Grants
Undergraduate Astronomy Award
Awarded to student with the highest grade average in Astronomy across all sections.
President's List, UAH
Awarded every semester.
Service & Outreach
Fall 2025
Mentor at Purdue Mathematics Directed Reading Program
West Lafayette, IN
Fall 2024
Mentor at Auburn Mathematics Directed Reading Program
Auburn, AL
Spring 2024
Judge at Alabama Science and Engineering Fair
Auburn, AL
2022
Co-organizer at UAH Putnam Club
Huntsville, AL
2018–2020