Dr. Carlson is an assistant professor of Mathematics. He received his PhD from Iowa State University. Before coming to Drake University, he was a visiting assistant professor at Williams College in Massachusetts.
His current research interests lie in the field of graph theory and combinatorics. Specifically, he studies combinatorial games that model the way information can be searched for or spread throughout a network.
The two most notable games of interest are called Cops and Robbers and Zero Forcing. It is a research experience as an undergraduate that inspired Dr. Carlson to pursue an advanced degree and he returns the favor by providing accessible research opportunities for students with a variety of backgrounds.
