BiomathematicsBiomathematics is an exciting frontier of research that involves the application of mathematics to biology and medicine. The twenty-first century will see enormous strides and breakthroughs in understanding and dealing with changes in the environment, the introduction and interplay between new and displaced species, the treatment of new and old diseases, and the abstraction of the human body from the sub-cellular level up to the groups of individuals, just to mention a few. Mathematics is pushing the envelope of the current knowledge of these fields, and many of these new discoveries will be fueled by this cooperative interaction.
The course work for this new concentration (in addition to the required course work for all majors) include the following courses: MATH 301 Differential Equations MATH 380 Introduction to Mathematical Biology MATH 527-528 Methods of Applied Mathematics for the Life Sciences I and II MATH 529 Computational Modeling in Mathematical Biology Three additional upper-level credits in mathematical sciences The last four courses are newly designed courses. MATH 527-528 was taught during the academic year of 2006-2007 and will be taught again in the academic year of 2008-2009. MATH 380 and MATH 529 will be taught as topic classes in the fall of 2007. A short description of these courses follow:
MATH 380 – Introduction to Mathematical Biology. (MATH 391)
This class is co-taught by faculty in the Departments of Mathematics and Biology. The goals for the class is first demonstrate the utility of abstract mathematical modeling of a variety of biological phenomena in order to better understand the processes behind them; and secondly to give students an understanding of the process involved in doing interdisciplinary research between the fields of Mathematics and Biology. Some of the mathematical topics will include Graph Theory, Fractals, Cellular Automata, and Difference Equations. Some of the biological topics will include population biology, gene sequences, pollen movement, and gene networks. Prerequisites for the class are MATH 200 and BIOL 151.
MATH 527-528 - Methods of Applied Mathematics for the Life Sciences
The first course emphasizes difference equations and ordinary differential equations. In both cases, students will familiarize themselves with the idea of mathematical modeling in biology by studying scalar linear equations and systems of linear equations, whose solutions can be obtained explicitly and then characterized qualitatively. Biological
examples will include populations of organisms such as that of bacteria and plants, growth of organisms such as that of insects, and delivery of drugs by infusion.
The second course emphasizes partial difference equations and partial differential equations. These types of equations are important when creating mathematical models of biological systems that depend upon several independent variables. This includes the cases when time and spatial scales are relevant. Analytical and numerical techniques for solving these equations will be the main thrust of this course. Some biological topics covered in this course will include studying the spread of an epidemic, the propagation of action potentials through brain tissue, waves of pursuit and evasion in predator-prey systems, and strategies for insect pest control.
MATH 529 – Computational Modeling in Mathematical Biology (MATH 591)
The course will move through the biological modeling processes, from the theoretical development of the mathematical model through the implementation of a computational solution and then to the validation of the model using experimental data. Emphasis will be placed on the iterative modeling process by analyzing the computational results relative to the biological application and learning how to manipulate/modify the model to gain insight into the biological system. Applications will involve current open problems in physiology, ecology and epidemiology. Computational project work will be required. Prerequisite: Math 301 and 310 or the equivalent.For more information, please click here.