Rate My Professor Benjamin Jackson

Benjamin D. Jackson is Chair and Professor of Mathematics at Walla Walla University, where he joined the faculty in 2015. He also serves as Chair of the Department of Computer Science. His academic journey includes a B.S. from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2001, an M.S. from Washington State University in 2003, and a Ph.D. from Montana State University in the Department of Mathematical Sciences in 2015. These qualifications have equipped him to lead departments and conduct advanced research at the intersection of mathematics and applied sciences.

Jackson's research interests focus on partial differential equation models, parameter estimation, and uncertainty quantification, with an emphasis on collaborations with experimentalists. A key project involves developing a mathematical model for the drainage system of Octopus Hot Spring in Yellowstone National Park. This work examines the effects of water flow over microbial mats on extremophile life forms, incorporating measurements of water velocity, microscopy, and image analysis of cell counts. Initiated during his graduate studies in 2011 through partnerships with Montana State University researchers and supported by a substantial research grant, the findings were published in 2021 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology under the title "Relationship between Microorganisms Inhabiting Alkaline Siliceous Hot Spring Mat Communities and Overflowing Water." Another significant publication from 2021 is "Bayesian estimation and uncertainty quantification in gravitationally coupled double-porosity poroelasticity," which contributes to advancements in modeling complex porous media under gravitational influences. Beyond research, Jackson actively participates in university academic life, serving on the Academic Excellence Symposium Planning Committee and moderating sessions, such as one on trauma and healing in 2024. His interdisciplinary approach enhances the academic environment at Walla Walla University, bridging theoretical mathematics with environmental microbiology and geophysics.