Research Training Group in Mathematical Behavioral Sciences

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This award provides funds for the establishment of a Research Training Group in Mathematical Behavioral Sciences. The faculty group is a mixture of outstanding senior and junior investigators who come from a diverse set of disciplinary backgrounds, but who share a common interest in the use of mathematical models in the study of cognition and related phenomena. The research programs in which trainees will participate are aimed at investigation of axiomatic and foundational issues, and at modeling behavioral phenomena from psychophysics, decision making, cognition processes and social networks. The funds will provide stipends for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, will defray part of the cost of the trainees' research and will enable the trainees to attend scientific meetings. In addition, funds will be used to purchase specialized research equipment to be used by trainees, and to bring visiting faculty from other research and academic institutions to provide specialized seminars and coursework. Traditionally, the study of behavior has been undertaken by investigators in a number of distinct disciplines, often defined by the subjects with which the behavior deals. Thus there are important behavioral aspects to the study of economics, political science, sociology, anthropology, risk management and decision science, among others. Because of the considerable specialized knowledge required by each discipline and the differing arenas in which the behavior may occur, it has been difficult for investigators to identify underlying commonalities in behavior patterns. Increasingly, the use of mathematical models is providing an important approach for identifying such commonalities and for providing a means for applying principles recognized in one discipline to the problems of another. The training program funded by this award will produce researchers able to bridge disciplines and to bring the full power of mathematics to bear on a large variety of problems in the social and cognitive sciences.