Welcome!

My name is David James Pittman Jr., and I am currently working on a Ph.D. in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences at Clemson University. My Ph.D. advisor is Dr. Brian Fralix.

My Clemson Profile page may be found here.

My research area is broadly in stochastic processes. My current focus is on Pólya Urns, Pólya Urn Processes, and Generalized Pólya Processes. I have also done some work with matrix-analytic methods in the theory of Markov chains, particularly using the random product technique developed by Patrick Buckingham and Brian Fralix.

You can contact me by emailing me at djpittm@clemson.edu.

Educational Background

• B.S., Mathematics, Bob Jones University (December 2021)
• M.S., Mathematical Sciences, Clemson University (December 2023)

My expected graduation date for the Ph.D. in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University is August 2027.

Teaching Experience

My teaching statement can be found here: Open PDF

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• STAT 2301 (Statistical Methods I Laboratory) - Spring 2022
• MATH 1981 (College Algebra Lab) - Summer 2022, Summer 2023

Graduate Instructor of Record

• MATH 1030 (Elementary Functions) - Fall 2023, Fall 2024
• MATH 1060 (Calculus of One Variable I) - Fall 2025
• MATH 1080 (Calculus of One Variable II) - Spring 2026, Fall 2026

Research Papers

My research statement can be found here: Open PDF

Submitted or Under Revision

• Pittman, D. and Fralix, B.

  “A Fresh Look at Calculating the Stationary Distribution of a Markov Chain, with Applications.”

  Undergoing revisions.

  A link to a pre-print can be found here: Open PDF

In Preparation

• Pittman, D., Fralix, B., and Kharoufeh, J.

  “Multivariate Generalized Pólya Processes and Related Models”

  To be submitted.

• Pittman, D. and Fralix, B.

  “On the time-dependent behavior of various types of continuous-time Pólya-like random walks.”

  To be submitted.

Research Presentations

All talks listed were given by D. Pittman.

Invited Talks

• Pittman, D. and Fralix, B.

  “Calculating the Stationary Distribution of a Markov Chain by Decomposing its Set of Global Balance Equations”

  Joint Mathematics Meetings 2025, Seattle, January 8-11

• Pittman, D. and Fralix, B.

  “A New Look at the Pólya Urn Process”

  Joint Mathematics Meeting 2027, Chicago, January 12-15

Contributed Talks

• Pittman, D. and Fralix, B.

  “A Fresh Look at Calculating the Stationary Distribution of a Markov Chain, with Applications”

  22nd INFORMS Applied Probability Society Conference 2025, Atlanta, June 30 - July 3