PhD Research

University of North Texas 2019 - 2025

Energy-stable numerical schemes for gradient flow problems:
nematic + cholesteric liquid crystals, blue phases, multicomponent phase-field models.

Liquid Crystals

I worked on energy stable numerical schemes for liquid crystals in the Q-tensor model.

Multicomponent Phase-Field Models

I also worked on extending the classic Cahn-Hilliard model to three or more components.

Publications

  • Efficient Linear Schemes for a Penalized Ternary Cahn-Hilliard System
    Justin Swain, Giordano Tierra
    Submitted March 2025
  • Directed Self-Assembly of Chiral Liquid Crystals into Biomimetic Bouligand Structures
    Tejal Pawale, Justin Swain, ..., Xiao Li
    Nature Communications 2025 - doi - code
  • Nucleation and Growth of Blue Phase 3D Cubic Structure
    Xiaowei Wang, Tejal Pawale, Justin Swain, ..., Xiao Li
    Advanced Optical Materials 2024 - doi
  • Linear Numerical Schemes for a Q-Tensor System for Nematic Liquid Crystals
    Justin Swain, Giordano Tierra
    Comp. Meth. Appl. Mech. Eng. 2024 - doi
  • Dynamic Motions of Topological Defects in Nematic Liquid Crystals
    Tejal Pawale, Justin Swain, ..., Xiao Li
    Advanced Materials Interfaces 2023 - doi
  • Genome Sequences of Streptomyces Phages Amela and Verse
    Sonya Layton et al.
    Genome announcements 2016 - doi

Conference Presentations

  • SIAM CSE25 - Fort Worth, Mar 2025
  • SIAM TX-LA 2024 - Waco, Oct 2024
  • UNT Research Day 2024 - Denton, Oct 2024
  • SIAM TX-LA 2023 - Lafayette, Nov 2023
  • SIAM Annual 2022 - Pittsburgh, Jul 2022
  • SIAM TX-LA 2022 - Houston, Nov 2022
Final conference talk

My first conference presentation - SIAM TX-LA, Houston, October 2022

Q:How many graduate students does it take to replace a lightbulb??

A:Only one: But it takes six years.
Final conference talk

My last conference presentation - SIAM TX-LA, Waco, October 2024