profile image for Nathaniel Karst

Nathaniel Karst

  • Professor
  • Division Chair
Academic Division: Mathematics, Analytics, Science, and Technology
781-239-5508
Dr. Nathan Karst received his B.S. in electrical and computer engineering from Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in 2007 and his doctorate in applied mathematics from Cornell in 2011. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2017 and Professor in 2022.

Nathan is an avid teacher and researcher, having won the Dean's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in 2014 and the Dean's Award for Excellence in Scholarship in 2015. His research has focused on the role of nonlinear dynamics in microvascular networks and various problems in surface hydrology.

In recent years, Nathan has co-chaired the Babson Faculty Research Fund and the Appointments Decision-Making Body (governing contract renewals, tenure, and promotion), and currently serves as chair of the Mathematics, Analytics, Science, and Technology Division.

Academic Degrees

  • Ph D, Cornell University
  • BS, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering

Academic Interest / Expertise

Applied mathematics; modeling; simulation

Awards & Honors

  • 2022 — Faculty Service Award, Babson College
  • 2018 — Eco-analytics: co-teaching activities on forest ecology and predictive analytics, Babson Teaching Innovation Fund
  • 2016 — “Variability in streamflow recession”, Faculty Research Fund, Babson College
  • 2015 — Dean’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship, Babson College
  • 2015 — “Spiral wave formation in fairy ring fungi”, Faculty Research Fund, Babson College
  • 2014 — Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, Babson College
  • 2014 — “Oscillations and spontaneous flow reversal in a simple fluid network”, Faculty Research Fund, Babson College
  • 2013 — “Cryptology in context”, Teaching Innovation Fund, Babson College
  • 2012 — Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) Fellow, Mathematical Association of America
  • 2007 — Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT), National Science Foundation
  • 2003 — Franklin W. Olin full tuition scholarship, Franklin W. Olin Foundation

Courses

  • Degree Courses 2024

    • QTM 7571 MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR BUS
  • Degree Courses 2023

    • QTM 7571 MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR BUS
    • MSB 6300 BUSINESS ANALYTICS FIELD PROJECT

Publications

Journal Articles

  • Karst, N.J., Geddes, J.B. (2023). Modeling Transit Time Distributions in Microvascular Networks. Journal of Theoretical Biology. Elsevier. link
  • Firth, W., Geddes, J., Karst, N.J., Oppo, G. (2021). Analytic instability thresholds in folded Kerr resonators of arbitrary finesse. Physical Review A. Vol: 103, Issue: 2. link
  • Dralle, D., Rempe, D., Hahm, W.J., Karst, N.J., Anderegg, L., Thompson, S., Dawson, T., Dietrich, W. (2020). Plants as sensors: vegetation response to rainfall predicts subsurface water storage capacity in Mediterranean climates. Environmental Research Letters. Vol: 15, Issue: 10. link
  • Karst, N.J., Shen, X., Troxell, D.S., Vu, M. (2020). Blocking zero forcing processes in Cartesian products of graphs. Discrete Applied Mathematics. Vol: 285, Page: 380-398. Elsevier. link
  • Beaudouin-Lafon, M., Chen, S., Crawford, M., Karst, N.J., Nielsen, L., Troxell, D.S. (2020). On the zero blocking number of rectangular, cylindrical, and Möbius grids. Discrete Applied Mathematics. Vol: 282, Page: 35-47. Elsevier. link
  • Karst, N.J., Dralle, D., Muller, M. (2019). On the effect of non-linear recessions on low flow variability: Diagnostic of an analytical model for annual flow duration curves. Water Resources Research. Vol: 55, Issue: 7, Page: 6125-6137. link
  • Beaudouin-Lafon, M., Chen, S., Karst, N.J., Troxell, D.S., Zheng, X. (2019). Pairwise compatibility graphs: complete characterization for wheels. Involve: a journal of mathematics. Vol: 12, Issue: 5, Page: 871-882. link
  • Karst, N.J., Slegers, R.M. (2019). Cryptography in Context: Co-Teaching Philosophy and Mathematics. PRIMUS. link
  • Dralle, D., Hahm, J., Rempe, D., Karst, N.J., Thompson, S., Dietrich, W. (2018). Quantification of the seasonal hillslope water storage that does not drive streamflow. Hydrological Processes. Vol: 32, Issue: 13, Page: 1978-1992. link
  • Beaudouin-Lafon, M., Chen, S., Karst, N.J., Troxell, D.S. (2018). Labeling crossed prisms with a condition at distance two. Involve: a journal of mathematics. Vol: 11, Issue: 1, Page: 67–80. link
  • Khachatryan, D., Karst, N.J. (2017). V for Voice: Strategies for Bolstering Communication Skills in Statistics. Journal of Statistics Education. link
  • Dralle, D., Karst, N.J., Muller, M., Vico, G., Thompson, S. (2017). Stochastic modeling of interannual variation of hydrologic variables. Geophysical Research Letters. Vol: 44, Issue: 14, Page: 7285-7294. link
  • Karst, N.J., Langowitz, J., Oehrlein, J., Troxell, D.S. (2017). Radio k-Chromatic Number of Cycles for Large k. Discrete Mathematics, Algorithms and Applications. Vol: 09, Issue: 03. link
  • Karst, N.J., Geddes, J., Carr, R. (2017). Model Microvascular Networks Can Have Many Equilibria. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. Vol: 79, Issue: 3, Page: 662–681. Springer. link
  • Dralle, D., Karst, N.J., Charalampous, K., Thompson, S., , . (2017). Event-scale power law recession analysis: Quantifying methodological uncertainty. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. link
  • Karst, N.J., Dralle, D., Thompson, S. (2016). Spiral and rotor patterns produced by fairy ring fungi. PLoS ONE. Vol: 11, Issue: 3. Public Library of Science. link
  • Dralle, D., Karst, N.J., Thompson, S. (2016). Dry season streamflow persistence in seasonal climates. Water Resources Research. Vol: 52, Issue: 1, Page: 90–107. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.. link
  • Dralle, D., Karst, N.J., Thompson, S. (2015). a, b careful: The challenge of scale invariance for comparative analyses in power law models of the streamflow recession. Geophysical Research Letters. Vol: 42, Issue: 21, Page: 9285-9293. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.. link
  • Karst, N.J., Geddes, J., Storey, B. (2015). Oscillations and Multiple Equilibria in Microvascular Blood Flow. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. Vol: 77, Issue: 7, Page: 1377-1400. Springer New York LLC. link
  • Karst, N.J., Oehrlein, J., Troxell, D.S., Zhu, J. (2015). L(d,1)-labeling of the edge-path-replacement by factorization of graphs. Journal of Combinatorial Optimization. Vol: 30, Issue: 1, Page: 34-41. link
  • Karst, N.J., Oehrlein, J., Troxell, D.S., Zhu, J. (2015). On distance labelings of amalgamations and injective labelings of general graphs. Involve: a journal of mathematics. Vol: 8, Issue: 3, Page: 535–540. Mathematical Sciences Publishers. link
  • Storey, B., Hellen, D., Karst, N.J., Geddes, J. (2015). Observations of spontaneous oscillations in simple two-fluid networks. Physical Review E: covering statistical, nonlinear, biological, and soft matter physics. Vol: 91, Issue: 2, Page: 5. American Physical Society. link
  • Karst, N.J., Oeherlein, J., Troxell, D.S., Zhu, J. (2015). The minimum span of L(2, 1)-labelings of generalized flowers. Discrete Applied Mathematics. Vol: 181, Page: 139–151. Elsevier. link
  • Karst, N.J., Oehrlein, J., Troxell, D.S., Zhu, J. (2014). Labeling amalgamations of Cartesian products of complete graphs with a condition at distance two. Discrete Applied Mathematics. Vol: 178, Issue: 11, Page: 101-108. Elsevier BV North-Holland. link
  • Karst, N.J., Storey, B.D., Geddes, J.B. (2014). Spontaneous Oscillations in Simple Fluid Networks. SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems. Vol: 13, Issue: 1, Page: 157-180. Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. link
  • Montovana , K.J., Karst, N.J., Jones, L.E., Seeley, T.D. (2013). Local behavioral rules sustain the cell allocation pattern in the combs of honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera). Journal of Theoretical Biology. Vol: 336, Issue: 7, Page: 75-86. Academic Press. link
  • Adams, S.S., Howell, N., Karst, N.J., Troxell, D.S., Zhu , J. (2013). On the L(2,1)-labelings of amalgamations of graphs. Discrete Applied Mathematics. Vol: 161, Issue: 7-8, Page: 881-888. Elsevier BV, North-Holland. link
  • Karst, N.J., Wicker, S. (2012). On the Rekeying load in group key distribution systems using cove-free families. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Vol: 52, Issue: 10, Page: 6667-6671. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. link
  • Adams, S., Davis, J., Karst, N.J., Murugan, M., Lee, B., Crawford, M., Greeley, C. (2011). Novel classes of minimal delay and low PAPR rate-1/2 complex orthogonal designs. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Vol: 57, Page: 2254-2262. IEEE Information Theory Society. link
  • Adams, S., Karst, N.J., Murugan, M., Wysocki, T. (2011). On transceiver signal linearization and the decoding delay of maximum rate complex orthogonal space-time block codes. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Vol: 57, Issue: 6, Page: 3618-3621. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. link
  • Adams, S., Karst, N.J., Murugan, M. (2010). The final case of the decoding delay problem for maximum rate complex orthogonal designs. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. Vol: 56, Page: 103-113. IEEE Information Theory Society. link
  • Karst, N.J. (2008). Quaternion orthagonal designs from complex companion designs . Linear Algebra and Its Applications. Vol: 428, Issue: 4, Page: 1056–1071. Elsevier. link
  • Adams, S., Karst, N.J., Pollack, J. (2007). The minimum decoding delay of maximum rate complex orthogonal designs. IEEE Transactions on Information Theory. link
  • Geddes, J., Carr, R., Karst, N.J., Wu, F. (2007). The onset of oscillations in microvascular blood flow. SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems. Vol: 6, Issue: 4, Page: 694–727. SIAM. link

Book Chapters

  • Karst, N.J., Slegers, R.M. (2015). I am not a statistic (even if everyone else is): a cross-disciplinary activity: Evolving Entrepreneurial Education: Innovation in the Babson Classroom .
  • Karst, N.J., Wicker, S.B. (2012). Secure Key Distribution and Revocation for Advanced Metering Infrastructure: Distributed Sensor Networks, Second Edition: Image and Sensor Signal Processing. Issue: 2nd, Page: 335-350. CRC Press.

Presentations

  • Synthesis as a Tool for Research and Scholarship: A Cross-Disciplinary Examination Carey, J. Goldstein, M. Karst, N. Pinard, M. Babson Research Day, Babson College (2020)
  • Minimal Zero Blocking Sets of Rectangular, Cylindrical, and Mobius Grids Karst, N. Troxell, D. Beaudouin-Lafon, M. Chen, S. Crawford, M. Nielsen, L. , . 2020 Joint Mathematics Meetings, Denver, CO (2020)
  • "Research for a Long Poem about Prairies: Military History, Botany, and Photography” Goldstein, M. Karst, N. Carey, J. Pinard, M. Babson Faculty Research Day, Babson College (2020)
  • Synthesis in Applied Mathematics Research Karst, N. Babson Research Day, Babson College (2020)
  • Innovations in Undergraduate Business Education Crittenden, V. Beitelspacher, L. Greenberg, D. Karst, N. 2017 Innovations in Undergraduate Business Education Conference, New Jersey (2017)
  • Spectrum allocation and graph labelings Karst, N. Guest Lecture, Olin College (2017)
  • I'm not a statistic (even if everyone else is) Karst, N. Marketing Management Association Fall Educators' Conference, Providence, RI (2016)
  • The minimum span of L(2,1)-labelings of generalized flowers Karst, N. Oehrlein, J. Troxell, D. Zhu, J. 2016 Joint Mathematics Meetings, Seattle, WA (2016)
  • Data Analytics for Non-STEM Majors (in the Age of Big Data) Khachatryan, D. Karst, N. Joint Mathematics Meetings, Seattle, WA (2016)
  • Eliminating a Confounding Factor in Power Law Parameter Interpretation Karst, N. Dralle, D. Thompson, S. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA (2015)
  • Spiral and rotor patterns produced by fairy ring fung Karst, N. Dralle, D. Thompson, S. American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA (2015)
  • Spectrum allocation and graph labelings: why research is awesome Karst, N. Discrete Mathematics guest lecture, Needham, MA (2014)
  • From blood flow to lava: the mathematics of oscillating fluids Karst, N. Wellesley College Mathematics Colloquium Series, Wellesley, MA (2014)
  • Oscillations and spontaneous flow reversal in a simple fluid network Karst, N. Babson Faculty Research Chat, Wellesley, MA (2014)
  • Ideation exercise Karst, N. Babson Faculty Learn & Share, Wellesley, MA (2014)
  • The Transition from a Lecture Based to an Activity Based Classroom: Lessons Learned and Recommendations Rybolt, W. Recck, G. Karst, N. 26th International Conference on Technology in Collegiate Mathematics, San Antonio, TX (2014)
  • L(d,1)-labelings of the edge-path-replacement by factorization of graphs Karst, N. Oehrlein, J. Troxell, D. Zhu, J. 2014 Joint Mathematics Meetings, Baltimore, MD (2014)
  • On the L(2,1)-labelings of amalgamations of graphs Adams, S. Howell, N. Karst, N. Troxell, D. Zhu, J. 2014 Joint Mathematics Meetings, Baltimore, MD (2014)
  • Spontaneous oscillations in simple fluid networks Karst, N. 2014 Joint Mathematics Meetings, Baltimore, MD (2014)
  • When "catastrophic" means "not that bad" Karst, N. BOW Applicable Mathematics Series , Olin College (2012)
  • Combinatorial designs for key distribution and secure rekeying in group communication systems Karst, N. , Cornell University (2011)
  • Security, Scheduling, and Statistics: Some Applications of Combinatorial Designs Karst, N. , Babson College (2011)
MoreGreen Chevron

Department & College Wide Services

  • Division Chair (Fall 2022 - Summer 2025)
  • Appointments Decision-Making Body (Fall 2020 - Spring 2021)
  • Babson Faculty Research Fund (Fall 2017 - Spring 2020)