Research Interests and Activities

Publications Presentations Conferences attended


Research Interests
  • Low-dimensional topology, in particular the homotopy type of 2-dimensional CW complexes
  • Combinatorial group theory
  • Knot theory

    Publications
  • M. Brittenham and J. A. Jensen, Canonical Genus and Whitehead Doubles of Pretzel Knots, under revision.

  • M. Brittenham and J. A. Jensen, Families of Knots for which Morton's Inequality is Strict, Communications in Analysis and Geometry, Volume 15, Number 5, 971 - 984.

  • J. Harlander and J. A. Jensen, Exotic relation modules and homotopy types for the (2,3)-Baumslag-Solitar Group, Algebraic and Geometric Topology 6 (2006), 2163 - 2173. (More information)

  • K. Agre, T. Hamilton, J. A. Jensen, and K. Kornelson, Our Experiences as IMMERSE Faculty, FOCUS, Vol 25 Issue 9 (December, 2005), 20-21. (Article)

  • J. A. Jensen, Surprising Effects of Inquiry Based Learning, Texas College Mathematics Journal, Volume 3, Number 1, 1-9. ( Article)

  • J. Harlander and J. A. Jensen, On the Homotopy Type of CW-Complexes with Aspherical Fundamental Group, Topology and Its Applications, Volume 153, Issue 15. (Article)

  • C.S. Crouch and J. A. Jensen, Which came first: e or ln?, preprint.

  • C.S. Crouch and J. A. Jensen, An Interview with the Natural Logarithm, preprint.

  • J. A. Jensen and J. C. Jones, What We Have Learned From Our Undergraduate Research Program, FOCUS, Vol 24 Issue 9 (December, 2004), 16. (Article)

  • J. A. Jensen, A Magnus Embedding Theorem for Second Homotopy Modules, Texas Project NExT Journal, Volume 2 (2004), Number 1, 1-10. (Article)

  • J. C. Jones and J. A. Jensen, Starting an Undergraduate Research Program, FOCUS, Vol 23 Issue 8 (November 2003), 6-7. (Article)

  • J. A. Jensen, Finding pi_2 Generators for Exotic Homotopy Types of Two-Complexes, Ph.D. Dissertation 2002 (University of Oregon).

    Recent Presentations

  • Colloquium, Texas A&M - Galveston, Spring 2008

  • Special Session on Geometric Group Theory
    AMS Southeastern Sectional Meeting, Baton Rouge, LA, March 2008.

  • Whitehead Doubles of Arborescent Knots, Topology Seminar, Rice University, January 2008
    (Abstract)

  • Co-organizer
    AMS-MAA-SIAM Special Session on Research in Mathematics by Undergraduates
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 2008.

  • The Benefit of Locally Hosted Undergraduate Conferences and Speaker Series
    MAA Session on Research and Professional Development Activities for Math Majors, Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 2008.

  • Panelist, "MAA Special Presentation: Help for Undergraduates: Negotiating the Joint Meetings"
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 2008

  • Panelist, "Session for Math Club Advisors"
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 2008

  • The Canonical Genus of Whitehead Doubles of Pretzel Knots
    Colloquium, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX (5 September 2007).
    (Talk)

  • The Canonical Genus of Whitehead Doubles of Certain Knots
    SMP REU, Carleton College, Northfield, MN (July 2007).
    (Talk)

  • An Honors Liberal Arts Mathematics Course
    Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Edinburg, TX (April, 2007).

  • What Can a Math Degree Do For You at the Blinn College Mu Alpha Theta Induction ceremony.
    Blinn College, Brenham, TX (April 2007).
    (Talk)

  • Canonical genus and the Whitehead doubles of pretzel knots in Topology and Geometry III
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, LA (January 2007). (Talk)

  • Designing a "Methods of Research" Course in "Research and Other Mathematical Experiences for Students Outside the Classroom" MAA Session
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, LA (January 2007).
    (Talk)

  • Panelist, "Getting Tenure Without Going Insane: Advice From Those That Have Gone Before"
    Project NExT Panel, Math Fest, Knoxville, TN (August 2006).

  • Panelist, "Building Effective Student Groups"
    Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Wichita Falls, TX (April 2006).

  • Organizer of Texas NExT Events,
    Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Wichita Falls, TX (April 2006).

  • Integrating Students into the Mathematics Community in "Special Mathematical Outreach Programs" poster session.
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Antonio, TX (January 2006).

  • Panelist, "You Have a Job, Now What? Professional Development Opportunities"
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Antonio, TX (January, 2006).

  • Organizer of Inagural Texas Undergraduate Mathematics Conference.
    Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX (October 2005).


  • Recruiting Women to Mathematics.
    Panelist at Fall TAAAMS (Texas Association of Academic Administrators in the Mathematical Sciences) Meeting, Waco, TX (October 2005).


  • Co-organizer.
    Young Mathematicians Network / Project NExT Graduate Student Panel "Negotiating with the Administration",
    Math Fest 2005, Albuquerque, NM (August 2005).


  • Surprising Effects of Inquiry-Based Learning.
    Math Fest 2005, Albuquerque, NM (August, 2005).
    (Abstract) (Slides)

  • Two Approaches to Teaching Calculus III.
    Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Arlington, TX (April, 2005).
    (Abstract) (Slides)

  • On the Homotopy Type of CW-Complexes with Aspherical Fundamental Group.
    Meeting of the AMS Southeastern Section, Bowling Green, KY (March 2005).
    (Abstract)

  • Building Two-complexes From Group Presentations.
    Colloquium, Texas State University - San Marcos (January, 2005)
    (Abstract) (Talk)

  • Two-Complexes with Aspherical Fundamental Group.
    Joint Mathematics Meetings, Atlanta, GA (January 2005).
    (Abstract)

  • Undergraduate Research.
    Fall Meeting of Texas Project NExT Fellows, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX (October 2004).
    (Abstract)

  • Generators of Certain Second Homotopy Modules.
    Mathematics Lectureship Series, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX (September 2004).
    (Abstract) (Talk)

  • Classifying Celtic Knots.
    Parabola (Undergraduate Mathematics Forum), Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX (September 2004).
    (Abstract)

  • Co-organizer.
    Young Mathematicians Network / Project NExT Graduate Student Panel "Negotiating with the Dean", Math Fest 2004, Providence, RI (August 2004).


  • Panelist, "Tips on Interviewing".
    Young Mathematicians Network / Project NExT Graduate Student Panel "Tips on Interviewing", Math Fest 2004, Providence, RI (August 2004).


  • Starting an Undergraduate Research Program.
    General contributed paper session, Math Fest 2004, Providence, RI (August 2004).
    (Abstract)

  • On the Homotopy Classification of 2-Complexes.
    Texas NExT Research Session, Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Corpus Christi, TX (April 2004).
    (Abstract)


  • On the Homotopy Classification of 2-Complexes.
    Topology Seminar, Rice University, Houston, TX (March 2004).
    (Abstract)


  • On the Homotopy Classification of 2-Complexes.
    AMS Special Session on Low-Dimensional Topology II, Joint Mathematics Meetings, Phoenix, AZ (January 2004).
    (Abstract)


  • A Magnus Embedding Theorem for Second Homotopy Modules.
    Texas NExT Research Session, Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Huntsville, TX (April 2003).
    (Abstract)

  • A New Magnus Embedding Theorem.
    Contributed paper session, Joint Mathematics Meetings, Baltimore, MD (January 2003).
    (Abstract)

  • Further Examples of Homotopy Inequivalent 2-Complexes at a Non-Minimal Level.
    AMS Special Session on Low-Dimensional Topology, Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, CA (January 2002).
    (Abstract)




    Recent Conferences Attended
  • Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Stephenville, TX, April 2008
  • Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics, Lincoln, NE, February 2008
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 2008
  • Texas Geometry and Topology Conference, College Station, TX, October 2007
  • Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Edinburg, TX, April 2007
  • Texas Geometry and Topology Conference, Fort Worth, TX, March 2007
  • Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics, Lincoln, NE, February 2007
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, New Orleans, LA, January 2007
  • Texas Geometry and Topology Conference, Houston, TX, October 2006
  • Math Fest, Knoxville, TN, August 2006
  • The 9th Annual Legacy of R. L. Moore Conference, Austin, TX, May 2006
  • Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Wichita Falls, TX, April 2006
  • Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women, Lincoln, NE, February 2006
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Antonio, TX, January 2006
  • AMS Central Section Meeting, Lincoln, NE, October 2005
  • TUMC (Texas Undergraduate Mathematics Conference), SHSU, Huntsville, TX, October 2005
  • Math Fest, Albuquerque, NM, August 2005
  • Nebraska Commutative Algebra Conference: WiegandFest, Lincoln, NE, May 2005
  • The 8th Annual Legacy of R. L. Moore Conference, Austin, TX, April 2005
  • Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Arlington, TX, April 2005
  • Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the AMS, Bowling Green, KY, March 2005
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, Atlanta, GA, January 2005
  • Texas Geometry and Topology Conference, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX October 2004
  • Math Fest, Providence, RI, August 2004
  • Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Corpus Christi, TX, April 2004
  • The 7th Annual Legacy of R. L. Moore Conference, Austin, TX, March 2004
  • Texas Geometry and Topology Conference, TCU, Fort Worth, TX, February 2004
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, Phoenix, AZ, January 2004
  • Texas Project NExT Fall Meeting, Mesquite, TX, November 2003
  • Texas Geometry and Topology Conference, Rice University, Houston, TX October 2003
  • Math Fest, Boulder, CO, August 2003
  • Meeting of the Texas Section of the MAA, Huntsville, TX, April 2003
  • The 6th Annual Legacy of R. L. Moore Conference, Austin, TX, March 2003
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, Baltimore, MD, January 2003
  • Texas Project NExT Fall Meeting, SMU, Dallas, TX, November 2002
  • Math Fest, Burlington, VT, August 2002
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings, San Diego, CA, January 2002