Melvin Robert Currie

Born: November 2, 1948; Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pa

B.A. (1970) Mathematics and Economics Yale University; M.S. (1978) University of Pittsburgh

Ph.D. (1983) Mathematics University of Pittsburgh
thesis:   A Metric Characterization of the Irrationals via a Group Operation; Advisor: William Fleissner

Area of Research Interests: Topology/Number Theory

Currie attended public schools in Pittsburgh, a school. His skill for mathematics was noticed early, ande was among the few chosen to study algebra in the eighth grade. Due to an accident, the students were forced to learn algebra on their own, using self-paced study material. Near the completion of the school year, they took a standardized exam to see if they had learned enough to be exempted from high school first-year algebra. Melvin Currie was one of two who passed the exam

Currie did well in tenth grade mathematics and the school principal suggested that he apply to a special academic program being held at Yale University. The students took courses in English Literature and Mathematics. The mathematics topics included mathematical induction and linear programming. At the end of the program he returned to Pittsburgh, but the situation was set for him to attend college their.

He entered college in 1965. Currie was also a member of Yale's varsity track team and ran the 4 x 110-yard relay. This relay team set the Yale record in 1969, a record which still stands.

Melvin R. Currie received the B.A. from Yale University in 1970 and worked as an economic analyst at the headquarters of Gulf Oil. Currie received the Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1983. From 1983 to 1986, Dr. Currie was an Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Auburn University. From 1986 to 1990, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Richmond. Since 1990 Dr. Currie has held the position of Mathematician at the National Security Agency.

Currie has traced his family back to the 17th century in Virginia (Yorktown, Lunenburg County, Halifax County, Pittsylvania County). Has a common ancestor with Arthur Ashe. Present day notables in the family include jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, his mother's younger brother. Suspects a link to mathematician David Blackwell, Blackwell being a notable name on his family tree.

RESEARCH NOTES

Published research is in the area of metric spaces but has recently begun to cultivate his long-running interest in number theory, especially analytic number theory. With regard to analytic number theory, has had the good company of Donald J. Newman, Newman having in 1996 become a member of the Agency branch that Currie supervises.

PUBLICATIONS

Currie, M. R. and Goins, E. H. The fractional parts of $\frac nk$. Council for African American Researchers in the Mathematical Sciences, Vol. III (Baltimore, MD, 1997/Ann Arbor, MI, 1999), 13--31, Contemp. Math., 275, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, RI, 2001.

Currie, M. R. Metric characterization and the integers, Topology Appl. 22 (1986), 123--129.

Currie, M. R. A metric characterization of the irrationals via a group operation, Topology Appl. 21 (1985), no. 3, 223--236.

references: Dr. Currie (communications); Math Reviews; Math Geneology web site

SUMMA Melvin Currie web page is very good: http://www.maa.org/summa/archive/mcurrie.htm

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