The Peter O’Donnell Jr. Postdoctoral Research Fellows: 2025-2026

The Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences is excited to welcome three outstanding researchers as the Peter O’Donnell, Jr. Postdoctoral Research (O’Donnell) Fellows for the 2025 – 2026 academic year.  

The O’Donnell Fellowship Program was established in 2001 and supports recent Ph.D. graduates in fields such as computer science, material science, mathematics, physics, and engineering disciplines to engage in interdisciplinary research with world-renowned Oden Institute faculty at The University of Texas at Austin. Meet this year’s accomplished cohort of O’Donnell Postdoc Fellows below.

Paul Beckman 

Paul Beckman joins the Oden Institute after completing his Ph.D. in mathematics at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University (NYU). His doctoral research focused on adapting computational techniques, originally designed for partial differential equations, to accelerate statistical tasks like sampling high-dimensional random variables and estimating correlations in spatial data. 

Beckman will work with Joe Kileel, Oden Institute Principle Faculty member and assistant professor of mathematics, and Per-Gunnar Martinsson, Oden Institute Deputy Director, on randomized matrix and tensor decompositions. Their research aims to develop efficient computational methods to uncover and exploit low-rank and hierarchical linear algebraic structures that arise across a wide range of applications from classical mathematical physics to modern machine learning. 

“Coming from NYU where school buildings are scattered around the city, I’m looking forward to being at a centralized campus like UT. I think it brings a nice, concentrated teaching and learning environment,” Beckman said. Outside of research, Beckman enjoys playing the drums, listening to music, printmaking, and learning new languages. 

Jingqi Li

Jingqi Li completed his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley, where he focused on dynamic game theory, control theory, and reinforcement learning with applications to autonomous driving, drone racing, and multi-robot manipulation. Li is excited to be working closely with David Fridovich-Keil, Oden Institute Core Faculty member and assistant professor of aerospace engineering & engineering mechanics. 

Li’s research will focus on developing theoretical and practical computational methods, including model-based optimization, data-driven model-free learning, and hybrid approaches, to enable safe and strategic decision-making in autonomous systems. His work aims to address critical challenges faced by autonomous agents operating in complex multi-agent environments, where effective coordination is essential despite persistent uncertainties and limited communication. 

“I chose to pursue this fellowship due to its exceptional interdisciplinary research environment that aligns seamlessly with my research interests in theoretical and computational methodologies for autonomous systems and multi-agent coordination,” Li explained.  

Having only visited Austin briefly in the past, Li looks forward to exploring the city’s rich cultural scene, including its live music venues, diverse culinary offerings, museums, and abundant outdoor activities.

Arjun Vijaywargiya

Arjun Vijaywargiya returns to the Oden Institute after completing his Ph.D. in applied mathematics at the University of Notre Dame. His dissertation focused on developing high-order finite element methods for computing gradient flows and barycenters in generalized Wasserstein-2 spaces. 

An alumnus of UT Austin, Vijaywargiya graduated in 2019 with dual bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics and an undergraduate certificate in Computational Sciences and Engineering from the Oden Institute. 

Vijaywargiya will work with George Biros, Oden Institute Principal Faculty and professor of mechanical engineering, and Stella Offner, Oden Institute Core Faculty member, associate professor of astronomy, and director of the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins at the Oden Institute. His research will focus on developing surrogate models to accelerate large scale astrochemical simulations. 

“The fellowship unifies my past experiences into one coherent story. As an undergraduate, I was deeply interested in mathematics, physics, computer science, and astronomy. In graduate school, I specialized in computational mathematics and gained hands-on experience in surrogate modeling at Sandia National Laboratories,” Vijaywargiya said. “This fellowship is an opportunity to bring together my longstanding interdisciplinary interests and represents a natural convergence of all my academic paths.” 

Outside of research, Vijaywargiya is excited to reconnect with Austin after a few years away and looks forward to supporting the Texas Longhorns football, revisiting some of his favorite taco spots, and enjoying live concerts.  

The Peter O’Donnell, Jr. Postdoctoral Fellowship is open to candidates who have been awarded their Ph.D. within the last two years. The application period is Sept. 1 – Dec. 1, 2025, for the academic year beginning Sept. 1, 2026. For more information follow this link.