WORK EXPERIENCE
Full professor. Western Kentucky University. 1998-present.
Associate professor. Western Kentucky University. 1993-1998
Assistant professor. Western Kentucky University. 1988-1993.
Teaching/research assistant. Florida State University. 1983 - 1988.
EDUCATION
Ph. D. Florida State University 1988
Advisor: Professor De Witt Sumners.
Masters Florida State University 1986
Vordiplom Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universitaet 1983
AREA OF RESEARCH
My research specialization is geometric topology and knot theory. In particular I am interested in knot energies, tangles and applications of knot theory to molecular biology (DNA recombination experiments) and chemistry.
Other Interests: Incorporating computer technology into the classroom whenever possible. Using Mathematica in teaching and research.
PUBLICATIONS:
J. Emert and C.Ernst. n-string Tangles. (preprint)
C.Ernst and U. Ziegler. Palindromes by Subtraction. (preprint)
Y. Diao, C. Ernst, J. V. Rensburg. Thicknesses of Knots . Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 126 (1999), 293 - 310.
C. Ernst and D. W. Sumners. Solving Tangle Equations arising in a DNA Recombination Model. Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 126 (1999), 23 - 36.
Y. Diao, C. Ernst, J. V. Rensburg. Knots with Minimal Energies. Ideal Knots (eds.A.Stasiak, V. Katritch and L.H. Kauffman), Series on Knots and Everything. World Scientific. Vol. 19 (1998), 52 69.
Y. Diao, C. Ernst, J. V. Rensburg. Properties of Knot Energies. Topology and Geometry in Polymer Science (eds. S. G. Whittington, D. W. Sumners and T. Lodge), The IMA Volumes in Mathematics and Its Applications 103 (1998), 37 47.
Y. Diao, C. Ernst. The complexity of Lattice Knots., Topology and Its Applications. 90 (1998), 1-9.
Y. Diao, C. Ernst, J. V. Rensburg. In Search of a Good Polygonal Knot Energy. Journal of Knot Theory and its Ramifications, 6 no. 5 (1997), 633-657.
Y. Diao, C. Ernst, J. V. Rensburg. Knot Energies by Ropes. Journal of Knot Theory and its Ramifications, 6 no 6 (1997), 799 - 807.
C. Ernst. Tangle equations II. Journal of Knot Theory and its Ramifications, 6 no. 1 (1997), 1-11.
Y. Diao, C. Ernst, J. V. Rensburg. Energies of Knots. IMA Preprint Series #1403 (May 96)
C. Ernst. Tangle equations. Journal of Knot Theory and its Ramifications, 5 no. 2 (1996), 145-159.
D. W. Sumners, C. Ernst, S. J. Spengler, N. R. Cozzarelli. Analysis of the mechanism of DNA recombination using tangles. Quart. Rev. Biophysics 28, 3 (1995), 253 - 313.
C. Ernst and D. W. Sumners. A calculus for rational tangles with applications to DNA. Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 108 (1990), 489 - 515.
C. Ernst and D. W. Sumners. The growth of the number of prime knots.
Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 102 (1987), 303 - 315.
MEMBERSHIPS:
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
Pi Mu Epsilon, a Mathematics Honor Society
AMS = American Mathematical Society
MAA = Mathematical Association of America
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