Paula joined FAS Research Computing in March 2022. Before joining Harvard, she worked in a wide range of computational modeling projects from flow and nanoparticle transport in porous media (as part of the Advanced Energy Consortium) to tissue mechanics during embryonic development. She is interested in supercomputing, computational fluid dynamics, numerical modeling, and scientific visualization.

Paula received a BS in Applied Mathematics and a BA in Computer and Information Systems from Siena Heights University in Michigan in 2007. In 2010, she obtained a MS in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, where she studied the propagation of periodic waves using wave confinement. She then joined Louisiana State University (LSU) to pursue a doctoral degree in Engineering Science and investigate image-based pore-scale flow and nanoparticle transport in porous media. After receiving her PhD in 2015, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at LSU (2015-2019) and Syracuse University (2019-2022).

Paula has many hobbies. Currently, she enjoys cycling (virtually and in real life), running, rock climbing (gym), and snowboarding, especially when she can do these with her partner and daughters.

Publications

Sanematsu, P.C, Erdemci-Tandogan, G., Patel, H., Retzlaff, E.M., Amack, J.D., Manning, L. 3D viscoelastic drag forces contribute to cell shape changes during organogenesis in the zebrafish embryo. Special Inaugural Issue of Cells & Development (2021). doi: 10.1016/j.cdev.2021.203718

Sanematsu, P.C., Thompson, K., Willson, C. Pore-scale modeling of nanoparticle transport and retention in real porous materials. Computers and Geosciences (2019). doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2018.10.010

Molnar, I., Sanematsu, P.C., Gerhard, J., Willson, C., O'Carroll, D. Quantified pore-scale nanoparticle transport in porous media and the implications for colloid filtration theory. Langmuir (2016). doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b01233

Sanematsu, P.C., Shen, Y., Thompson, K., Yu, T., Wang, Y., Chang, D., Alramahi, B., Takibiri-Borujeni, A., Tyagi, M., Willson, C. Image-based Stokes flow modeling in bulk proppant packs and propped fractures under high loading stresses. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering (2015).  doi: 10.1016/j.petrol.2015.09.017

Steinhoff, J., Chitta, S., and Sanematsu, P.C. Nonlinear localized dissipative structures for solving wave equations over long distances. In C. Constanda & P. J. Harris (Eds.), Integral Methods in Science and Engineering -- Computational and analytical aspects (357--368).  New York, NY: Springer (2011). doi: 10.1007/978-0-8176-8238-5\_33