Associate Professor Vanessa Robins
PhD, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2000
Associate Professor in Fundamental and Theoretical Physics
ANU College of Science
Areas of expertise
- Applied Mathematics 0102
- Pattern Recognition And Data Mining 080109
- Theoretical And Applied Mechanics 010207
- Ordinary Differential Equations, Difference Equations And Dynamical Systems 010109
- Surfaces And Structural Properties Of Condensed Matter 020406
- Statistical Mechanics, Physical Combinatorics And Mathematical Aspects Of Condensed Matter 010506
Research interests
My main research interest is in computational topology and geometry. I work on the underlying mathematics, algorithms, and applications to scientific problems.
Available student projects
See my physics profile page (also linked at the bottom of this page).
http://physics.anu.edu.au/people/profile.php?ID=75&tab=available_projects
Current student projects
Co-ADVISOR FOR:
Yossi Bokor, MSI, PhD Candidate. Topological Data Analysis for stratified manifolds.
PRIMARY ADVISOR FOR:
Yanzhi Guo, RSPhys, MPhil Candidate. Topological Data Analysis of molecular dynamics simulations of disordered materials.
PRIMARY ADVISOR FOR:
Musashi Koyama, RSPhys, PhD Candidate. Fast algorithms and applications of Vietoris-Rips persistent homology
Past student projects
Adam Onus, MSI, Honours 2020. Persistent homology of periodic cell complexes.
Bettina Hill, MSI, Honours 2020. Shape signatures for leaves.
James Morgan, MSI, Honours 2020. Euler characteristic of clique complexes from random graphs.
Kelly Maggs, MSI, MPhil 2020. Topological Data Analysis of induced software exception call stacks.
Sahar Masoudian, RSPE, MPhil 2020. Computable invariants for links in the three-torus.
Kelly Maggs, MSI, Honours 2019. Discrete Morse theory and persistent homotopy.
Amit Singh, RSB, PhD 2018. Dynamics Properties, Formation and Shape of Leaves
Joel Martin, MSI, Honours 2018. Topological crystallography of graphs and surfaces.
Toen Castle, RSPE, PhD 2013. Entangled Graphs on Surfaces in Space.
Myfanwy Evens, RSPE, PhD 2011. Three-Dimensional Entanglement: Knots, Knits, and Nets.
Kassel Hingee, MSI, Hons 2008. Morse-Smale functions and image analysis.
Publications
- Gasparovic, E, Robins, V & Turner, K, eds, 2022, Research in Computational Topology 2, Springer, Switzerland.
- Kolbe, B & Robins, V 2022, 'Tile-Transitive Tilings of the Euclidean and Hyperbolic Planes by Ribbons', in Ellen Gasparovic, Vanessa Robins & Katherine Turner (ed.), Research in Computational Topology 2, Springer, Switzerland, pp. 77-98.
- Bleile, B, Garin, A, Heiss, T et al. 2022, 'The Persistent Homology of Dual Digital Image Constructions', in Ellen Gasparovic, Vanessa Robins & Katherine Turner (ed.), Research in Computational Topology 2, Springer, Switzerland, pp. 1-27.
- Armstrong, R, Lanetc, Z, Mostaghimi, P et al. 2021, 'Correspondence of max-flow to the absolute permeability of porous systems', Physical Review Fluids, vol. 6, no. 5.
- Maggs, K & Robins, V 2021, 'Topology-Inspired Method Recovers Obfuscated Term Information From Induced Software Call-Stacks', Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, vol. 7, pp. 1-13.
- Pedersen, M, Robins, V, Mortensen, K et al. 2020, 'Evolution of local motifs and topological proximity in self-assembled quasi-crystalline phases', Proceedings of the Royal Society A, vol. 476, no. 2241, pp. 1-15.
- Kader, M, Brown, A, Hazell, P et al. 2020, 'Geometrical and topological evolution of a closed-cell aluminium foam subject to drop-weight impact: An X-ray tomography study', International Journal of Impact Engineering, vol. 139, no. 103510.
- Herring, A, Robins, V & Sheppard, A 2019, 'Topological Persistence for Relating Microstructure and Capillary Fluid Trapping in Sandstones', Water Resources Research, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 555-573.
- Armstrong, R, McClure, J, Robins, V et al 2018, 'Porous Media Characterization Using Minkowski Functionals: Theories, Applications and Future Directions', Transport in Porous Media, vol. 130, no. 1, pp. 305-335.
- Bai, S, Robins, V, Wang, C et al 2017, 'The maximally symmetric surfaces in the 3-torus', Geometriae Dedicata, vol. 189, no. 1, pp. 79-95.
- Saadatfar, M, Takeuchi, H, Robins, V et al. 2017, 'Pore configuration landscape of granular crystallization', Nature Communications, vol. 8, pp. 15082-15082.
- Robins, V, Saadatfar, M, Delgado-Friedrichs, O et al 2016, 'Percolating length scales from topological persistence analysis of micro-CT images of porous materials', Water Resources Research, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 315-329.
- Robins, V & Turner, K 2016, 'Principal component component analysis of persistent homology rank functions with case studies of spatial point patterns, sphere packing and colloids', Physica D, vol. 334, no. -, pp. 99-117.
- Seccombe, E & Robins, V 2015, '3D X-ray Art', Australian Physics, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 18-22.
- Evans, M, Robins, V & Hyde, S 2015, 'Ideal geometry of periodic entanglements', Proceedings of the Royal Society A, vol. 471, no. 2181, pp. 20150254-1-23.
- Delgado-Friedrichs, O, Robins, V & Sheppard, A 2015, 'Skeletonization and Partitioning of Digital Images Using Discrete Morse Theory', IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 654-666.
- Robins, V 2015, 'Algebraic Topology', in Michael Grinfeld (ed.), Mathematical Tools for Physicists, Wiley - VCH Verlag GmbH & CO. KGaA, UK, pp. 211-239.
- Hanifpour, M, Francois, N, Robins, V et al 2015, 'Structural and mechanical features of the order-disorder transition in experimental hard-sphere packings', Physical Review E-Statistical, Nonlinear and Soft Matter Physics, vol. 91, no. 6.
- Hyde, S, Ramsden, S & Robins, V 2014, 'Unification and classification of two-dimensional crystalline patterns using orbifolds', Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography, vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 319-337.
- Delgado-Friedrichs, O, Robins, V & Sheppard, A 2014, 'Morse Theory and Persistent Homology for Toplogical Analysis of 3D Images of Complex Materials', 2014 IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP), IEEE Signal Processing Society, USA, pp. 4872-4876.
- Francois, N, Arnoux, T, Garcia, L et al 2014, 'Experimental investigation of the mechanical stiffness of periodic framework-patterned elastomers', Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Series A, vol. 372, no. 2008, p. 17.
- Mitschke, H, Robins, V, Mecke, K et al 2013, 'Finite auxetic deformations of plane tessellations', Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, vol. 469, no. 2149, pp. 1-17.
- Evans, M, Robins, V & Hyde, S 2013, 'Periodic entanglement II: Weavings from hyperbolic line patterns', Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography, vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 262-275.
- Evans, M, Robins, V & Hyde, S 2013, 'Periodic entanglement I: Networks from hyperbolic reticulations', Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography, vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 241-261.
- Castle, T, Evans, M, Hyde, S et al 2012, 'Trading spaces: Building three-dimensional nets from two-dimensional tilings', Interface Focus, vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 555-566.
- Robins, V, Wood, P & Sheppard, A 2011, 'Theory and Algorithms for Constructing Discrete Morse Complexes from Grayscale Digital Images', IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, vol. 33, no. 8, pp. 1646-1658.
- Mitschke, H, Schwerdtfeger, J, Schury, F et al 2011, 'Finding auxetic frameworks in periodic tessellations', Advanced Materials, vol. 23, no. 22-23, pp. 2669-2674.
- Sheppard, A, Sok, R, Averdunk, H et al 2006, 'Analysis of Rock Microstructure using High-resolution X-ray Tomography', International Symposium of the Society of Core Analysts 2006, ed. Conference Program Committee, Society of Core Analysts, Dublin Ireland, pp. SCA2006-26-1-12.
- Ramsden, S, Robins, V & Hyde, S 2009, 'Three-dimensional Euclidean nets from two-dimensional hyperbolic tilings: kaleidoscopic examples', Acta Crystallographica Section A: Foundations of Crystallography, vol. A65, pp. 81-108.
- Robins, V 2006, 'Betti number signatures of homogeneous Poisson point processes', Physical Review E-Statistical, Nonlinear and Soft Matter Physics, vol. 74, no. 6, pp. 061107-1-11.
- Hyde, S, Delgado Friedrichs, O, Ramsden, S et al 2006, 'Towards enumeration of crystalline frameworks: the 2D hyperbolic approach', Solid State Sciences, vol. 8, pp. 740-752.
- Robins, V, Ramsden, S & Hyde, S 2005, 'A note on the two symmetry-preserving covering maps of the gyroid minimal surface', European Physical Journal B, vol. 48, pp. 107-111.
- Robins, V, Abernethy, J, Rooney, N et al 2004, 'Topology and intelligent data analysis', Intelligent Data Analysis, vol. 8, pp. 505-515.
- Arns, J, Robins, V, Sheppard, A et al 2004, 'Effect of Network Topology on Relative Permeability', Transport in Porous Media, vol. 55, pp. 21-46.
- Robins, V, Rooney, N & Bradley, E 2004, 'Topology-based Signal Separation', Chaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 305-316.
- Robins, V, Ramsden, S & Hyde, S 2004, 'Symmetry Groups and Reticulations of the Hexagonal H Surface', Physica A: Statistical mechanics and its applications, vol. 339, pp. 173-180.
- Robins, V, Ramsden, S & Hyde, S 2004, '2D Hyperbolic Groups Induce Three-periodic Euclidean Reticulations', European Physical Journal B, vol. 39, pp. 365-375.
- Robins, V, Abernethy, J, Rooney, N et al 2003, 'Topology and Intelligent Data Analysis', in M.R. Berthold, H.J. Lenz, E. Bradley, R. Kruse, C. Borgelt (ed.), Advances in Intelligent Data Analysis: 5th International Symposium on Intelligent Data Analysis, IDA 2003, Berlin 2003, Proceedings, Springer, Amsterdam, pp. 111-122.
- Hyde, S, Larsson, A, Di Matteo PhD, T et al. 2003, 'Meditation on an Engraving of Fricke and Klein (The Modular Group and Geometrical Chemistry)', Australian Journal of Chemistry, vol. 56, pp. 981-1000.
- Robins, V 2002, 'Computational Topology for Point Data: Betti Numbers of Alpha-Shapes', in Klaus Mecke, Dietrich Stoyan (ed.), Morphology of Condensed Matter: Physics and Geometry of Spatially Complex Systems, Springer, Germany, pp. 261-274.
Projects and Grants
Grants information is drawn from ARIES. To add or update Projects or Grants information please contact your College Research Office.
- Topological data analysis for enhanced modelling of the physical properties of complex micro-structured materials (Primary Investigator)
- Foundations and advanced algorithms for topological image processing (Secondary Investigator)
- Dependency of elastic and transport properties of soft or porous materials on morphological properties (Secondary Investigator)
