S.B. Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1964Ph.D. Applied Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1969
Professor William W. Roberts, Jr., a native of Huntington, West Virginia, earned his S.B. in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1964 and his Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1969. Professor Roberts came to the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia as an assistant professor in 1969. In 1974, he was promoted to associate professor; in 1982, he became full professor; in 1992, he was appointed to the Commonwealth Professor Chair of Engineering and Applied Science; and in 2004, he was appointed Director of Applied Mathematics. The UVA Board of Visitors appointed Professor Roberts at his retirement in 2010 Professor Emeritus.
Professor Roberts has carried out consulting work for industrial firms and has held visiting positions at: the State Univ. of New York, the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifiques in France, the University of Groningen in The Netherlands, the Stockholms Observatorium in Sweden, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Leiden in The Netherlands, the Kitt Peak National Observatory, the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, the NASA Langley Research Center, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, and the NASA Ames Research Center. Among these visiting appointments were honorary awards of NORDITA Guest Professorship in 1974-75 and National Research Council Senior Research Associateship in 1989.
Awards
Instructor of the Year for Distance Learning2005
NCR-University Stakeholder Innovation Award1990
Distinguished Teaching Award1980
Invitation to and Attendance at The Nobel Prize Ceremony and Nobel Banquet, Stockholm, Sweden, December 10, 19741974
Election to membership in The International Astronomical Union [I.A.U.]1973
Research Interests
Bridging Applied Mathematics, through modeling and computer algorithm development, to other scientific and engineering disciplines and fields
Selected Publications
CGEP - Dedicated Distance-Education Instruction, Distance Learning News, CGEP 25th Anniversary Edition (University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 2008), pp. 8-9 WW Roberts Jr
Fibrous assemblies: modeling/computer simulation of compressional behavior, International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, Vol. 16, No. 1/2 (2004), pp. 108 - 118. WW Roberts Jr, NB Beil
Modeling and Computer Simulation of the Compressional Behavior of Fiber Assemblies. Part II: Hysteresis, Crimp, and Orientation Effects, Textile Research J., Vol. 72, No. 5 (2002), pp. 375-382 NB Beil, WW Roberts Jr
Computing and Aerodynamics: Textile Machines and Processes towards 2000, TIWC96: Niches In The World Of Textiles, Vol. 2 (Textile Institute, Manchester, U.K., 1996), pp. 29-40 WW Roberts, Jr
Computational Modeling of Fiber Formation in Polypropylene Spunbonding with Crystallization: Comparison with Experiments, International Nonwovens Journal, Vol. 6 (1994), pp. 31-41. AC Smith, WW Roberts Jr
Modal Approach to the Morphology of Spiral Galaxies. III. Application To The Galaxy M 81, Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 427 (1994), pp. 184-201. SA Lowe, WW Roberts Jr, J Yang, G Bertin, CC Lin
Straightening of Crimped and Hooked Fibers in Converging Transport Ducts: Computational Modeling, Textile Research Journal, Vol. 64, No. 6 (1994), pp. 335-344. AC Smith, WW Roberts Jr
Hypersonic, Stratified Gas Flows Past An Obstacle: Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Calculations, Journal of Computational Physics, Vol. 77, No. 2 (1988), pp. 283 - 317. WW Roberts Jr, MA Hausman
Spiral Structure and Star Formation. I. Formation Mechanisms and Mean Free Paths, Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 277 (1984), pp. 744-767 WW Roberts Jr, MA Hausman
Large-Scale Shock Formation in Spiral Galaxies and Its Implications on Star Formation, Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 158 (1969), pp. 123-143. WW Roberts Jr
Courses Taught
Applied Mathematics courses at all undergraduate and graduate levels