Yellowstone Times

Brittany Terese Fasy, an associate professor at Montana State University, has been recognized with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This accolade is considered the highest honor given by the U.S. government to scientists and engineers who are in the early stages of their careers. The White House announced Fasy as one of approximately 400 recipients on January 14.

Fasy is a faculty member in MSU's Gianforte School of Computing within the Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering and serves as an affiliate faculty member in mathematical sciences in the College of Letters and Science. Reflecting on her achievement, Fasy expressed surprise upon receiving news of her award: “I was surprised when they told me I had won a PECASE award,” she said. “When they announced the award recipients, I started getting congratulations emails from program officers across NSF. I was in disbelief at first.”

Her research interests include computational topology and geometry, along with computer science education. Previously, she secured a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation that provided $600,000 for her research pursuits in computational topology in 2021. Her academic accolades date back to her undergraduate years when she received a Goldwater Scholarship in 2006.

John Paxton, director of MSU’s school of computing, attributed Fasy's success to several factors: “Brittany's research success is due to many factors,” he stated. He highlighted her ability to apply research to social problems such as aiding doctors in diagnosing prostate cancer stages more accurately, collaborating with researchers internally and externally, and attracting talented graduate students.

The PECASE awards were established in 1996 to honor promising scientists and engineers who demonstrate potential for leadership early in their careers. The awards aim to recognize innovation in science and technology while enhancing awareness about scientific careers.

Fasy describes her work as "finding shape and structure in data" through an interdisciplinary approach involving mathematics, computer science, and statistics. She collaborates with researchers like Mark Owkes from MSU’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering on projects requiring advanced data analysis methods.

Owkes has developed numerical methods aimed at improving fluid simulations' accuracy—a collaboration where Fasy contributes by using topological descriptors to create databases that facilitate future simulations: “Those simulations are very expensive," she explained about making them faster through computational techniques.

Fasy emphasizes parameterized data analysis for nuanced information capture: "If you were to look at van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ up close...only when you step back can you see the moon and stars."

Her educational background includes dual Bachelor degrees from Saint Joseph’s University followed by a doctorate from Duke University; she also completed postdoctoral work at Tulane University and Carnegie Mellon University.

Alison Harmon praised Dr. Fasy’s recognition: “I am so pleased to see Dr. Fasy receive this recognition for her unique research accomplishments...We know how fantastic our faculty are."