I am no longer maintaining these webpages. If you want to see the current pages, please go to sites.lafayette.edu/meierj.

I arrived at Lafayette College in the Fall of 1992. Since then I have taught lots and lots of calculus, along with some differential equations, geometry, linear algebra, real analysis and topology. I have also taught a sophomore level intensive writing class as part of Lafayette's core curriculum.

I have an active pedagogical interest in the use of writing in the mathematics curriculum. In fact, Tom Rishel and I have a book on the use of writing as an aid for teaching and learning mathematics. (It is available from the MAA.)

Research

My research is in geometric group theory. In other words, I study infinite groups, borrowing liberally from other areas of mathematics and closely related fields. In particular, my work involves algorithmic, combinatorial, geometric and topological issues that arise in the study of infinite groups.

If you are interested in a gentle introduction to geometric group theory, then take a look at my book: Groups, Graphs and Trees. Also, if you are searching for papers, postscript and/or pdf versions of some recent papers are available on my vita web-page.

The two pictures on the right came from some of my research projects. The one on the top is an illustration of how one can form a "braid group" via moving unknotted and unlinked circles in space, similar to the description of the standard braid group as points moving in the plane. The picture on the bottom is a Sigma-invariant of a certain group with staggered presentation. This picture was produced as part of Susan Garner Garille's senior thesis project that became a joint paper published in IJAC.

In addition to doing research with students as part of senior theses, the Lafayette College Mathematics Department also hosts a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program each summer. A select group of students comes to our campus to do research on a variety of topics, that includes infinite groups whenever I am directly participating. This program is funded by the NSF. (Thanks!)

I was born in Wyoming and grew up in various Western and mid-Western states. I try to get back out West whenever possible, especially to the Teton Valley. I was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia and earned my PhD at Cornell.

My wife Trisha Thorme works at the Community Based Learning Initiative at Princeton University.