UBM: Training Undergraduate Students in Mathematics and Biology at UL Lafayette

越来越多的国家需要应用数学分析来解决复杂的生物学问题。该项目通过为本科生提供项目开发和研究项目的跨学科培训来帮助满足这一需求。该项目团队正在开发两门新课程和两个研讨会，并正在为本科生建立一个新的数学生物学选项。通过生物数学和建模、生态场技术、实验设计和分析等课程对学生进行交叉培训。除课程外，还开展研究项目，学生们每人花一年时间进行两个长期的实地项目和与之相关的数学建模。这些学生从事实地研究和实验，以调查动物和植物种群动态，昆虫-植物相互作用和入侵物种的表现。每一批学生都由大学数学系和生物系的学生组成，这些学生由这两个系的教师指导。 有些项目还有一名来自路易斯安那州拉斐特的美国地质调查局国家湿地研究中心的指导员。

There is an increasing national need to apply mathematical analysis to solve complex biological problems. This project is helping to meet this need by providing cross-disciplinary training via program development and research projects for undergraduate students. The project team is developing two new courses and two seminars, and is establishing a new mathematical biology option for undergraduates. The students are being cross-trained through courses, for example, in biomathematics and modeling, ecological field techniques, and experimental design and analysis.In addition to coursework, research projects are underway in which cohorts of students spend a year each on two long-term field projects and the mathematical modeling associated with them. These students are engaged in conducting field studies and experiments to investigate animal and plant population dynamics, insect-plant interactions, and invasive species performance. Each cohort is composed of students from the university's Mathematics and Biology Departments, and these students are being mentored by faculty members from the two departments. Some of the projects have an additional mentor from the United States Geological Survey's National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, Louisiana.