Below is a list of research publications. *UMM student co-authors are starred. I am always looking for good students interested in helping with these and many other projects which go beyond required coursework. See Student Research .

At the moment, my major research projects are in two areas(see below) and I also work with the Computing Research Association to interest more women students in computer science careers.

1) A research colleague, Dr. Alan Olness, from the USDA Agriculture Research Laboratory (ARS) in Morris and I have an on-going research project. We received a $25,000 grant to hire students to help with this research for three years. Topic: Computer modeling of Nitrogen needed for corn production We developed a computerized model called the Nitrogen Decision Aid for the application of Nitrogen fertilizer to the soil.

2) I also work with a research colleague, Dr. Tsan-sheng Hsu, from Academia Sinica, the major research laboratory in Taiwan. Last year, we had a journal publication with UMM students from this research and are planning a second journal article to be published soon. Topic: Scheduling algorithms for parallel processing (involves algorithms on trees and graphs)

Refereed Publications (UMM student authors are starred)

Alan Olness, Dian Lopez, *Jason Cordes, *Colin Sweeney, *Neil Mattson, and W.B. Voorhees, "Application of a Management Decision Aid for Sequestration of Carbon and Nitrogen in Soil," Chapter 23 of Agriculture Practices and Policies for Carbon Sequestration in Soil published by CRC Press, 2002.

Articles:

*Jon Quarfoth, *Andy Korth, Dian Lopez (Advisor), "Task Allocation Algorithms with Communication Costs Considered," Proceedings of the Midwest Instructional and Computing Conference (MICS), April, 2005 pdf.

Lisa Kaczmarczyk(chair, UT, Austin), Gerald Kruse (Juniata College), Dian Lopez (UMM), and Keepak Kumar (Bryn Mawr), a panel session on "Incorporating Writing into the CS Curriculum," doc abstract published in the proceedings of the National Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE 2004), Norfolk, VA, March 3-7, 2004.

*Adeola Adewola, *Jon Quarfoth, *Dan Wespetal, and Dian Lopez, "Development of a Test Bed to Determine Performance of Scheduling Algorithms," doc Proceedings, Midwest Instructional Computing Conference (MICS), Morris, April 2004.

*Daniel Wespetal, *Joel Nelson and Dian Lopez, "Approximating a Parallel Task Schedule using Longest Path," doc Proceedings, Midwest Instructional Computing Conference (MICS), Duluth, April 2003.

*Monica Van Horn and *Angela Richter (Advisor: Dian Lopez), "A Random Graph Generator," pdf Proceedings, Midwest Instructional Computing Conference (MICS), Duluth, April 2003.

*Joel Nelson, Mark Logan, Dian Lopez, "A new Minimum k-Cut Algorithm," pdf Proceedings of the Midwest Instruction Computing Symposium (MICS), Duluth, April 11-12, 2003

*Dan Markert (advisor: Dian Lopez) "Data Compression Standards," pdf Proceedings, Midwest Instructional Computing Conference (MICS), Duluth, April 2003.

James McGuffee(chair), Herbert Dershem, Linda Lankewicz, Gary Lewandowski, Dian Lopez, Oberta Slotterbeck, "Managing Undergraduate Research," Panel, Abstract published in proceedings of SIGCSE(National Computer Science Education Conference), Feb 27 - Mar 3, 2002, Cincinnati

Dian R. Lopez, *Daniel D. O'Brien, *Karl J. Krohn, *Joel Nelson, and *Rhett Wilfahrt, "Design and Testing of Parallel/Distributed Precedence Tree Scheduling Algorithms,pdf Proceedings of the Midwest Instruction Computing Symposium(MICS), Cedar Falls, April 5-6, 2002.

Olness, A., Lopez, D., Archer, D., *Cordes, J., *Sweeney, C., *Mattson, N., Rinks, J., and Voorhees, W.B. "Factors affecting microbial formation on nitrate-nitrogen in soil and their effects on fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency," In Optimizing Nitrogen Management in Food and Energy Production and Environmental Protection: Proceedings of the 2nd International Nitrogen Conference on Science and Policy. The Scientific World 1(S2), pp 122-129, 2001.

*Dan Flies and Dian Lopez, "Designing and Implementing a Classroom Data Warehouse,"pdf Proceedings of the Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium (MICS), Cedar Falls, IA, April 5-7, 2001. [Won Best Student Paper Award]

Dian Lopez and *Luke Ludwig, "Data Mining at the Undergraduate Level," pdf Proceedings of the Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium (MICS), Cedar Falls, IA, April 5-7, 2001.

*Karl J. Krohn and *Daniel D. O'Brien (advisor, Dian Lopez), "Test Bed Construction and Algorithm Design for Parallel/Distributed Processing Models," Fifteenth National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR'01), published in Abstract Book, Lexington, KY, March 15-17, 2001.

Hsu, T.s., *Lee, J., Lopez, D.R., and *Royce, W., "Task Allocation on a Network of Processors," pdf IEEE Transactions on Computers, Vol. 49, No. 12, pp. 1339-1353, December 2000.

Lopez & Olness, "Legume Cover Crops Interseeded in Corn as a Source of Nitrogen," pdf GreenBook 2000, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, pp. 51-53, Spring, 2000

Mary Ann Robbert, Paul Leidig, Matthew Merzbacher, Dian Rae Lopez, Jane Fedorowicz, "Managing Data in the Twenty-First Century," Abstract published in Proceedings, 2000 Americas Conference on Information Systems, p. 2174, Long Beach, CA, August, 2000,

*Neil Mattson, Dian Lopez, Alan Olness, "Advantages of Object-Oriented Programming in Biological Modeling Illustrated with the Nitrogen Decision Aid," Proceedings of the Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium (MICS), Minneapolis, April 2000.

S. Fitzgerald, M. Fienup, N. Kubilus, D. Lopez, and M. McDonald, "Student Outcomes Assessment: What Works and What Doesn't," SIGCSE, Austin, TX, March 11-13, 2000. ( abstract published in proceedings)

Alan Olness, Dian Lopez, *Jason Cordes, *Colin Sweeney, *Neil Mattson, and W. B. Voorhees, "Application of a Management Decision Aid for Sequestration of Carbon and Nitrogen in Soil," (submitted to journal, fall, 1999).

Olness, A., D. Lopez, *J. Cordes, *C. Sweeney, and W. B. Voorhees, "A description of the general effect of pH on formation of nitrate in soils," Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, (Accepted for publication July, 1999).

Lopez & Olness, "Legume Cover Crops Interseeded in Corn as a Source of Nitrogen," GreenBook '98, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Spring, 1999 (invited article).

*N. Mattson, A. Olness, D. Lopez, "Enhancement of the Decision Aid of Predicting Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs," Proceedings. National Council on Undergraduate Research Conference, pp. 1204-1208, Fall, 1999.

Lopez and Olness, "Legume Cover Crops Interseeded in Corn," GreenBook '98, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Spring, 1998 (invited article).

Hsu, T.S. and Lopez, D.R., "Executing Divisible Jobs on a Network with a Fixed Number of Processors, "Proceedings of the Cocoon'98, Fourth Annual International Computing and Combinatorics Conference, Taipei, August 12-14,1998, published by Springer-Verlag.)

*Joseph C. Lee and *Amy G. Schultz, (with Faculty Advisors: Dian Lopez and Tsan-sheng Hsu), "Testing Practical Parallel Scheduling Algorithms," Twelfth National Conference on Undergraduate Research(NCUR-98), Salisbury State University, MD, April 23-25, 1998.

Alan Olness, Dian Lopez, *Jason Cordes, *Colin Sweeney, and W. B. Voorhees, "Predicting Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs using Soil and Climatic Data," Proceedings, Eleventh World Fertilizer Congress, September 7-13, 1997, Ghent, Belgium.

*Hollermann, L., Hsu, T.S., Lopez, D. & *Vertanen, K., "Scheduling Problems in a Practical Allocation Model," ps Journal of Combinatorial Optimization, Vol. 1 (2), pp.129-149, 1997.

*Colin Sweeney, Alan Olness, Dian Lopez, *Jason Cordes, and W. B. Voorhees, "A Model for Predicting Leaching of Nitrate- Nitrogen in Soil," Abstract published in proceedings, Eleventh National Conference on Undergraduate Research(NCUR- 97), April 24-26, 1997, Austin, TX.

*Lee, J., Lopez, D., *Royce, B., "Simulation Studies of a Parallel Scheduling Algorithm," Proceedings, 30th Annual Small College Computing Symposium, pp. 227-234, April 17-19, 1997, Kenosha, WI.

*Keller, D., Lopez, D., and Richards, R, "Three Practical Applications of Computer-Aided Multimedia," Proceedings, 30th Annual Small College Computing Symposium, pp. 241-248, April 17-19, 1997, Kenosha, WI.

Hsu, T. S. and Lopez, D. R., "Bounds and Algorithms for a Practical Task Allocation Model(Extended Abstract)," Proceedings, Seventh International Symposium on Algorithms and Computation - ISAAC '96, Osaka, Japan, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 1178, Springer-Verlag, 1996.

Rose, P., Lopez, D., Wallingford, E., Holey, A., & Lewandowski, G., "The Use of Computer Labs in the Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum," proceedings, Small College Computing Symposium, St. Cloud, April 18-20, 1996.

*Sweeney, C., Olness, A., Lopez, D., Voorhees, W., "A Model for Predicting Leaching of Nitrate-Nitrogen," Winchell Undergraduate Research Symposium, St. Paul, April 27, 1996(abstract published in the Minnesota Academy of Science Journal). The above paper won a Winchell Best Paper Award and we have been invited to submit a full paper to the Minnesota Academy of Science Journal.

Lopez, D., Sides, S. & Redelfs, A. "New booklet reaches out to young women," invited article for Expanding the Pipeline column in Computing Research News, Vol. 8(1), p. 3, Jan., 1996.

Women in Computer Science, Computing Research Association, March, 1996 (a booklet funded by NSF and CRA to interest young women in computer science careers - 15,000 copies printed. I chaired committee which produced the booklet).

F. Angell, S. Aronson, D. Lopez, "Bringing Women's Accomplishments to the Classroom," Proceedings, American Association of University Women (AAUW) Achieving Gender Equity in the Classroom and on the Campus - The Next Steps, Orlando, FL, June , 1995

Lopez, D.R., "Opening Doors to Exciting CS & E Careers," invited article for Expanding the Pipeline column in Computing Research News, March, 1995.

*Schumacher, Matt, "Using Computational Geometry to Enhance Enclosing Polygon Algorithms," Proceedings, Fourth Annual Argonne Symposium for Undergraduates; Argonne National Laboratories, Argonne, Ill. Nov. 5-6, 1993, pp 75. (Note: This is also my research, but I did not include my name since it was an undergraduate conference.)

A. Lopez, D. Lopez, and *B. Schoenecker, "Electronic Data Interchange - Its Present and Future Impact on World Trade," Proceedings, 26th Annual Small College Computing Symposium, Cedar Falls, Iowa, April, 1993, pp. 120-126.

J. DeRung, D. Lopez, and *D. Tracy, "An Inexpensive Environment for Parallel and Distributed Computing," Proceedings, 26th Annual Small College Computing Symposium, Cedar Falls, Iowa, April, 1993, pp 191-198.

K. Benson, R. Brewer, D. Lopez, K. Quina, and A. Rubenstein, "The Future of Women in Higher Education: Key Issues in the Pursuit of Equity," Proceedings, General Issues in the Classroom and on Campus, Conference sponsored by the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Minneapolis, June, 1993, pp. 19-20.

*Dan Swenson, A. Olness and D. Lopez, "Effect of Topping on the Management of Maize," Abstract published in the Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol 63(3), Spring, 1999.

*Neil Mattson, A. Olness and D. Lopez, "Growth of Legumes Interseeded in Vegetatively Mature Maize," Abstract published in the Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol 63(3), Spring, 1999.

*Neil Mattson, Alan Olness, Dian Lopez, *Colin Sweeney, *Jason Cordes, and W. B. Voorhees, "Enhancement of the Decision Aid for Predicting Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs,"pdf Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol. 62(2), Spring, 1998.

*Joleen Hanson, A. Olness, D. Lopez, "Accumulation of Nitrogen by Legume Cover Crops Interseeded in Maize," Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol. 62(2), Spring, 1998.

Alan Olness, D.R. Lopez, *J. Cordes, *C. Sweeney and W.B. Voorhees, "A Nitrogen Fertilizer Decision Aid: Theory," 89th American Society of Agronomy Meetings, Anaheim, CA, October 26-31, 1997.

*J. Cordes, Alan Olness, D.R. Lopez, *C. Sweeney and W.B. Voorhees, "A Nitrogen Fertilizer Decision Aid: Development of Components," 89th American Society of Agronomy Meetings, Anaheim, CA, October 26-31, 1997.

*C. Sweeney, Alan Olness, D.R. Lopez, *J. Cordes, and W.B. Voorhees, "A Nitrogen Fertilizer Decision Aid: Results of Field Trials," 89th American Society of Agronomy Meetings, Anaheim, CA, October 26-31, 1997.

*Jason Cordes, Alan Olness, Dian Lopez, and Ward Voorhees, "Modeling Changes in Nitrate-Nitrogen in the Natural Environment Using Five Components," 63rd Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Academy of Science, UMM, April 28-29, 1995 (Abstract published in the Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science, Vol. 59, No. 3, 1995).

Other Publicatons:

Lopez, D., "Talking with High School Students about Computing Careers," Computing Research Association, March, 1996. (A pamphlet distributed throughout the United States and Canada to help computer professionals talk with high school students).

Lopez, D., "Models and Algorithms for Task Allocation in a Parallel Environment," Ph.D. thesis, Texas A&M University, Dec., 1992.

Within UMM:

*Gilbertson, Jeanne and Lopez, Dian, "1994 Summer Research Opportunities" and "1994 Internship Opportunities"(two booklets to help computer science students obtain meaningful summer employment), 1994. Updated by students *Lisa Hollermann and *Melissa Merdan, Fall, 1995, updated by students *Lisa Hollermann and *Melissa Pankratz, 1996. Updated by students *Sarah Retka and *Lynette Boom, Winter, 1997.

Conference Presentations:

Castaneda, S., Lopez, D., "The Perspective from the Smaller Schools," CRAW Workshop on Academic Careers," Federated Computing Research Conferences(FCRC), Philadelphia, May 20-28, 1996.

Angell, F, Aronson, S., and Lopez, D., "From Starting Out to Sustaining Programs: Achieving Excellence for Women and Minority Men in the Sciences," Workshop on Diversity and Scientific Questions - From Campus Climate to Curricular Change, sponsored by Association of American Colleges and Universities, Charleston, April 11-13, 1996.

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