UBM-Group UNLV Mathematical Biology Program

生物和数学科学系的研究人员正在为本科生创建数学生物学的跨学科课程和研究经验。初学数学（包括微积分）和生物学的学生将进一步学习生物数学课程，包括跨学科模块的新课程。他们还加入了一个由教师和学生组成的多学科小组，合作开展一系列核心研究项目，包括种群生物学、植物的水运、生物力学和运动，或对环境线索的遗传反应，并根据他们的发现在一年一度的研究生和本科生会议上进行正式的口头或海报展示。一个名为“数学与生物学——面向21世纪的界面”的系列研讨会让学生和教师都能接触到数学生物学领域杰出研究人员的工作。这些活动的智力价值在于它们帮助本科生对生物学和数学有一个更统一的看法。学生最初主要是生物学或数学专业的学生，但与这两个领域的教师和学生的互动以及他们在研究上的合作随后形成了一个肥沃的环境，鼓励学生在这两个领域的界面上工作的兴趣和能力。该项目更广泛的影响是它对未来科学基础设施发展的贡献。为了让未来的科学家能够在数学和生物学之间的界面上克服挑战，该项目旨在在早期阶段影响他们的发展——例如，在他们成为传统的生物学家之前，他们甚至没有考虑将数学应用于他们的研究的背景。为了实现这一目标，灵活的项目入口点允许数学或生物学背景较低的学生早期参与，研究项目的设计对研究经验相对较新的学生来说是可访问的和有吸引力的。这个项目代表了改变学生早期发展的开始，并引导他们中的一些人进入一个不断发展的领域，在那里他们熟悉数学和生物学，并可以开始为这个重要的界面做出贡献。该项目得到数学和物理科学理事会数学科学司的部分资金支持。

Researchers in the Departments of Biological and Mathematical Sciences are creating an interdisciplinary curricular and research experience in mathematical biology for undergraduates. Students with an initial introductory background in mathematics (including calculus) and biology are taking further coursework in biomathematics, including new courses with interdisciplinary modules. They also join a multidisciplinary group of faculty and students collaborating on a series of core research projects in population biology, water transport in plants, biomechanics and locomotion, or genetic responses to environmental cues, and give formal oral or poster presentations based on their findings at an annual one-day conference of graduate and undergraduate students. A seminar series entitled "Mathematics and Biology - An Interface for the 21st Century" is exposing both students and faculty to the work of prominent researchers in mathematical biology. The intellectual merit of these activities lies in their helping to expose undergraduate students to a more unified perspective of biology and mathematics. Students start out as primarily biology or mathematics students, but the interaction with faculty and students from both fields and their collaborating on research subsequently forms a fertile environment to encourage the interest and ability of students to work at this interface of fields. The broader impact of the project is its contribution to the development of scientific infrastructure for the future. In order for future scientists to conquer the challenges at the interface between mathematics and biology, the project aims to influence their development at an early stage - before, for example, they have become the traditional biologist who does not have the background to even consider applying mathematics to their research. In keeping with this goal, flexible program entry points allow for early participation of students with less background in mathematics or biology, and research projects are designed to be accessible and compelling to students relatively new to the research experience. This project represents a start at modifying the early development of students and directing a number of them into a growing realm where they have familiarity with both mathematics and biology and can begin to contribute to this important interface.This project is partially supported by funds from the Division of Mathematical Sciences in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.