Christopher Byrnes
Professor and Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science
Christopher Byrnes received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Manhattan College in 1971, and his master’s and doctorate
in mathematics from the University of Massachusetts in 1973 and 1975.
From 1975 to 1978, he was an instructor at the University of Utah.
From 1978-1984, he was an assistant professor, then an associate professor in the Division of Applied Science at Harvard University. From 1984-1989, he was research professor of engineering and
mathematics at Arizona State University.
In 1989, he came to Washington University as chairman and professor in the Department of Systems Science and Mathematics.
In 1991, he became dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science. He has held visiting appointments at various institutions including: Kungliska Tekniska Hogskolan, Stockholm, Sweden;
Ceremade, Universite Paris - Dauphine, Paris, France; Universita di Roma, Rome, Italy; Soviet Academy of Sciences, Irkutsk, Kiev Moscow, USSR; IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria;
University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Universiteit Groningen, The Netherlands, and Universitat Bremen, Bremen, BRD.
During the last decade impressive progress has been made in the understanding of nonlinear dynamical systems, using newly developed geometric, algebraic, and analytic methods. Nonlinear distributed parameter systems, in particular, provide models for many important physical systems, including rigid spacecraft with feasible appendages, lightweight flexible structures (such as elastic robot arms), and air flow across an airport.
One of the long range goals of Dean Christopher Byrnes’ research is the development of a systematic methodology, similar in intuitive appeal and scope to classical automatic control, for designing feedback laws capable of stabilizing or perhaps even shaping the time response of nonlinear lumped and distributed parameter systems.
To this end, he and his students have been studying two closely allied approaches, which have their origins in two aspects of the control of complex dynamical systems: the development and analysis of a system description as accurate as possible and the alternate development of reduced order models, capturing some of the dominant dynamical effects.
Dr. Byrnes is also active in research programs in deigital signal processing and speed processing.
Professional Activities
