Rate My Professor Jeremy James Becnel

Jeremy James Becnel is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU), where he joined as an Assistant Professor in June 2006, advanced to Associate Professor in September 2012, and to Professor in September 2015. He currently holds additional appointments as Internship Director since August 2023, Course Coordinator for Introductory Computer Science since August 2024, and previously served as Director of Undergraduate Research from August 2020 to August 2022 and Faculty Senate member from August 2021 to May 2024. Becnel received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from Louisiana State University in August 2006, with a dissertation on the extension of Shor's period-finding algorithm to infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces under advisor Ambar Sengupta. He earned an M.S. in Mathematics from LSU in December 2002 and a B.S. in Computer Science (summa cum laude, second major in Mathematics, Nicholls State University Student Hall of Fame inductee) from Nicholls State University in May 2001. His extensive teaching experience includes undergraduate courses such as software engineering, introductory data analytics, algorithm design, discrete structures, VR and game development, numerical analysis, calculus sequence, and probability and statistics, as well as graduate courses in mathematical modeling, real analysis, linear algebra, and mathematical technology.

Becnel's academic interests have transitioned from quantum computing, radon transforms and tomography, probability theory, white noise analysis, and topological vector spaces to virtual, augmented, and mixed reality in education, deep learning for student success, and computer science pedagogy. He secured a National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Research grant to develop CalcVR, a virtual reality app for multivariable calculus, and authored the book 'Tools for Infinite Dimensional Analysis' (CRC Press, 2021). Select publications encompass 'Design of virtual reality modules for multivariable calculus and an examination of student noticing within them' (Research in Mathematics Education, 2023, with S.R. Jones and N.E. Long), 'A Limiting Process to Invert the Gauss-Radon Transform' (Communications in Stochastic Analysis, 2019), 'Recovering a Random Variable from Conditional Expectations Using Reconstruction Algorithms for the Gauss Radon Transform' (with D. Riser-Espinoza, 2019), 'Nuclear Space Facts, Strange and Plain' (Mathematics, 2016, with A. Sengupta), 'The Schwartz Space: Tools for Quantum Mechanics and Infinite Dimensional Analysis' (Mathematics, 2015, with A. Sengupta), and 'Hidden Subspace Algorithm in White Noise Analysis' (Transactions of the American Mathematical Society, 2012). Additional contributions include open educational resources like 'Introduction to Data Analytics' (2023). Becnel has earned the SFASU Teaching Excellence Award (2023), Distinguished Research/Creative Activity Award (Fall 2019), Bravo Student Support Award (Fall 2022), Diversity Champion recognition (2022), and fellowships such as NSF K-12 Fellow (2005-2006) and LSU Dissertation Year Fellowship (2005). He has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in research projects leading to publications and awards.