Nathan Carter

About Me

While I was born in South Carolina, growing up in a military family meant that a lot of my early years were spent moving across the United States. Through all of these moves and changes, two things stayed constant: my love for games and my passion for learning new things.

While I initially expected to become a veterinarian, even shadowing at clinics as a child, my path took a detour through the arts. I spent nine years as a saxophonist, earning various honors and intending to pursue music professionally. However, during my time at James Madison University, I discovered the beauty of Mathematics. My experiences in early math courses marked a turning point, transforming a subject I once wrote off into a lifelong calling.

After working as a Software and DevOps Engineer, I realized that my true passion lies at the intersection of theory and application. I have since presented research both within and outside of JMU, and I am now dedicated to pursuing a life in academia and advanced mathematics. I believe that quantitative rigor can unlock new insights into the world that many may not recognize as possible.

When I’m not deep in a proof or researching, you can find me tutoring students in music and math, volunteering, or spending time with my girlfriend. I am a firm believer in the power of lifelong learning and am always looking for the next complex problem to solve.

Education

• James Madison University — B.S. in Mathematics
  President's List | Minors: Computational Analytics & Data Analytics | Fall 2024 – Spring 2027
• Mountain Empire Community College — A.A.S. in General Studies
  Summa Cum Laude | Summer 2022 – Spring 2024
• Central High School
  High School Diploma | Fall 2021 – Spring 2024

Community Involvement

In addition to my passion for mathematics and animal welfare, I am committed to giving back to my community. Here are some of the organizations and events I have had the privilege to support:

• Anicira Pet Food Pantry – Volunteer
  Helped weekly to distribute pet food to community members in need.
• James Madison University STEM Corps – Student Volunteer
  Visited a local elementary school twice a week to facilitate engaging biology lessons for students.
• Cat's Cradle – Shelter Volunteer
  Volunteered twice a week to assist with facility maintenance and daily cat care.
• World Tutors – Volunteer Tutor
  Tutored students two to four times a week in elementary through high school mathematics, as well as English and science.
• High School Band Tutor – Volunteer Music Instructor
  Provided instrumental instruction to local high school students across saxophone, clarinet, piano, trumpet, and percussion.
• National Honor Society – Student Volunteer
  Participated in various community service projects and local initiatives.
• Local Food Bank – Volunteer
  Participated in annual food drive packing events to prepare non-perishable goods for distribution.
• Caring Hands Animal Hospital – Clinical Volunteer
  Shadowed veterinarians and assisted staff with daily patient care and clinic support.

Current Research

Past Research and Presentations

• Stability of Proximal Average Relaxation for Signal Recovery
  Presented at: James Madison University [View Presentation Slides]
• Normal Mixture Density Estimation for Major US Stocks: A Four-Year Empirical Study
  Presented at: James Madison University and MAA MD-DC-VA Section [View Presentation Slides]
• A Comprehensive Examination of University-Based Induction Support for Early Career Teachers
  Presented at: James Madison University FYRE Symposium [View Presentation Poster]

Teaching & Student Resources

Welcome to my students! Below you will find resources, course materials, and office hour schedules.

Teaching Philosophy

I aim to bridge abstract mathematical concepts with practical computational applications, helping students develop strong analytical intuition.

Future Plans: Research in Applied Mathematics

I plan to pursue graduate studies and research in applied mathematics, focusing on how continuous modeling, optimization, and dynamical systems can be applied to complex real-world phenomena.

Areas of Interest:

• Applied optimization, continuous algorithms, and numerical analysis.
• Search theory and optimal search strategies for target detection and location problems.
• Applied optimization techniques and numerical algorithms for physical and ecological systems.
• Flexible quantitative modeling across physical, computational, and natural systems.

While I remain deeply interested in search theory and computational modeling, I aim to build a strong foundation across deterministic and stochastic methods before selecting a specific dissertation topic. I am excited to explore new subfields in applied math and build tools that translate across disciplines.

Get In Touch