sbdough 'at' umn 'dot' edu
Teaching Assistant Professor of Mathematics, University of Minnesota, 2024 - present
MathCEP Assistant Director, University of Minnesota, 2021 - present
Discipline-Based Educational Research Postdoc in Mathematics, Michigan State University, 2019 - 2021
Graduate Research Assistant in Mathematics, University of Minnesota, 2013 - 2019
Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of Minnesota, 2019
Dissertation: The Topological Complexity of Spaces of Digital Images
M.S. in Mathematics, University of Minnesota, 2016
B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics, Saint Lawrence University, 2013
Summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
UMTYMP Calculus IIIB (MATH 2473), University of Minnesota (UMN), Spring 2025
UMTYMP Calculus IIA (MATH 1473), UMN, Fall 2023
UMTYMP Calculus IIB (MATH 2471), UMN, Spring 2023
UMTYMP Calculus IB (MATH 1472), UMN, Spring 2022, Spring 2024
Precalculus II (MATH 1151), UMN, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2023, Fall 2024
UMTYMP Calculus IA (MATH 1471), UMN, Fall 2021, Fall 2022, Fall 2024, Fall 2025
Advanced Topics in Mathematics (MATH 4990), UMN, Fall 2021
College Algebra II (MTH 103B), MSU, Spring 2020
College Algebra I (MTH 103A), MSU, Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Spring 2021
Intro to Modern Algebra (MATH 4281), UMN, Summer 2019
College Algebra & Probability (MATH 1031), UMN, Summer 2018
Precalculus II (MATH 1151), UMN, Spring 2018, Summer 2017, Spring 2017, Summer 2016, Summer 2015
*Precalculus II (MATH 1151), UMN, Fall 2016, Spring 2015, Spring 2014
*Sequences, Series, and Foundations (MATH 3283W), UMN, Fall 2015
*Precalculus I (MATH 1051), UMN, Fall 2014
*Calculus I (MATH 1271), UMN, Fall 2013
AMC 8 Competition Manager, UMN, Spring 2022, Spring 2023
AMC 10B/12B Competition Manager, UMN, Fall 2021, Fall 2022
"Making Math at Home" Summer Camp Staff, MSU, Summer 2021
"Writing Enhanced Curriculum" Research Assistant, UMN, 2018 - 2019
Ximera Developer, UMN, 2018
Topological Data Analysis for Math Education Research, MSU, 2020 - 2021
Analyzing eye-tracking data from mathematicians and students reading mathematical proofs
Collecting data on student usage of learning software during remote-teaching
Utilizing Scikit-Learn and Ripser Python libraries for visualizing persistent homology
Modeling finite spaces with Python, MSU, 2019 - 2021
Building structure for modeling finite topological spaces using NetworkX
Formulating and coding algorithms for computing topological invariants
The Topological Complexity of Spaces of Digital Images, UMN, 2015 - 2019
Defined topological structure for representing digital images
Applied topological robotics theory to image processing algorithms
Implementations of RSA Cryptographic Algorithm, Saint Lawrence University (SLU), 2013
Implemented RSA in Python and Java and using different prime number generation algorithms
Analyzed the effects of each implementation on runtime
A Paradoxical Decomposition of the Real Line, SLU, 2012
Generalized a version of the Banach-Tarski Paradox for arbitrarily many dimensions
Efficient Implementations of AES, REU at University of Connecticut, 2012
Defended AES against side-channel attacks using masking schemes
Implemented AES in C and Assembly using three different methods
Analyzed implementations for most efficient uses of time and physical memory
Simple and Efficient Compact Graph Generation, SLU, 2011
Collaborated with Geology Department to write a program for graphing geochemical data
Peer-Reviewed Publications
[1] Kate Diamond, Shelley Kandola & Mike Weimerskirch (2020) Developing Problem-Solving Skills in Active Learning Pre-Calculus Courses, PRIMUS, DOI: 10.1080\10511970.2020.1772917
Dissertation
[2] Shelley Kandola. (2019). The Topological Complexity of Spaces of Digital Images. Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy, http://hdl.handle.net/11299/206253
Preprints
[3] Shelley Kandola. (2018). The topological complexity of finite models of spheres. arXiv e-prints, page arXiv:1812.07604.
[4] Shelley Kandola and Sam Vandervelde. (2015). A paradoxical decomposition of the real line. arXiv e-prints, page arXiv:1511.01019.
Member-at-Large, MAA North Central Section, July 2025 - Present
Co-Leader of Minnesota's COMMIT, Summer 2023 - Present
Facilitating statewide-discussions on developing and implementing inquiry-based learning techniques in mathematics classrooms
MathCEP Postdoc Hiring Committee, UMN, 2022, 2023
Reviewing applications and interviewing candidates for the teaching-focused MathCEP postdoc position
Graduate Student Recruitment, MSU, 2020
Leading departmental effort to recruit graduate school applicants for the CMSE Dept at MSU
Prioritizing over 10K potential applicants to seek recruits that will contribute to the academic strength and diversity of the department
Topological Data Analysis Seminar, MSU, 2020 - 2021
Moderating weekly seminar to share state-of-the-art research in the TDA community
Inviting speakers that contribute to the diversity and breadth of knowledge
Journal Reviews
Journal of Topology and its Applications, Existence of a proper subspace of $({\mathbb Z}^n, (T_{S_k})^n)$ which is homeomorphic to the $n$-dimensional Khalimsky topological space, 2023
The European Workshop on Computational Geometry, Mapping Multiple Regions to the Grid with Bounded Hausdorff Distance, 2021
SIAM Undergraduate Research Online, Collision-Free Motion Planning on a Wedge of Circles, 2020
Journal of Applied and Computational Topology, A Fundamental Group for Digital Images, 2020
Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM)
Judged Undergraduate Poster Session, 2021
Judged Undergraduate Poster Session, 2019
Chaired AMS Contributed Paper Session on Topology, January 2019
Postdoctoral Prize for Excellence in Teaching, MSU, 2021
Women + Data Science, MSU, 2021
Outstanding Teaching Award, UMN, 2017
Applied Algebraic Topology Research Network, 2015 - present
Dr. O. K. Bates Mathematics Award, SLU, 2013
Phi Beta Kappa, inducted 2013
Outstanding Undergraduate Poster Award, JMM, 2013
Pi Mu Epsilon, inducted 2011
Motion Planning Algorithms on Categorical Subsets of Finite Topological Spaces, JMM, 2022
Joint Mathematics Meetings
AWM Special Session on Women in Computational Topology
*Algorithms for the Lusternik-Schnirelmann Category of Finite Topological Spaces, JMM, 2021
AMS Special Session on Combinatorial Approaches to Topological Structures and Applications
The Topological Complexity of the Space of Digital Images, 2019
AMS Fall Southeastern Sectional Meeting
Special Session on Topological Complexity and Related Topics
University of Florida, Gainsville, FL
The Topological Complexity of the Space of Digital Digital Images, 2019
Union College Mathematics Conference, Schenectady, NY
The Topological Complexity of the Space of Digital Jordan Curves, 2019
Computer Science & Engineering Colloquium
University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
Training TAs for Consistent Implementation of Growth-Oriented Grading Schemes, JMM, 2025
*Improving the Quality of Mathematical Writing, MSU, 2021
Conversations among Colleagues - Michigan State University
Flipping the Formula in Active Learning Classrooms, JMM, 2020
The Topological Complexity of Finite Models of Spheres, JMM, 2020
Digital Topology, 2018
MAA North Central Sectional Fall Meeting
The Topological Complexity of the Space of Digital Jordan Curves, 2018
International Conference of Algebra and Related Topics - Rabat, Morocco
A Paradoxical Decomposition of the Real Number Line (poster), JMM, 2013
GPVPlot: Simple and Efficient Graph Generation for Geochemical Data (poster), 2011
CMO Workshop on Topological Complexity and Motion Planning, 2020
Connecting Advanced and Secondary Mathematics, 2019
Upstate New York Topology Seminar, 2018
TGDA@OSU TRIPODS Center Summer School, 2018
Topological Robotics Symposium, 2018
Women in Topology Workshop, 2017
Applied Topology in Bedlewo, 2017
TGDA@OSU, May 2016