REU Site: A Distributed REU in the Mathematical Biosciences

该项目支持由数学生物科学研究所（MBI）推动的数学生物科学多机构REU计划。该计划的目标是：(1)向数学生物学领域介绍多样化的本科生，广义上解释为包括生物统计学，生物信息学和计算生物学等领域，以及生物启发的数学建模；(2)鼓励学生攻读数学生物科学的研究生；(3)增加在这一领域接受培训的学生进入劳动力市场的人数。MBI提供的基础设施通过提供真实的研究经验以及广泛接触数学生物学领域，为实现这些目标提供了必要的资源。REU的参与者将从事分子进化、神经振荡模式、癌症遗传学、流行病和疫苗接种战略以及动物运动等领域的项目。参与者将在专家导师的指导下单独或结对工作，在这些领域做出具体的研究贡献，通常会发表同行评审的出版物和会议报告。REU计划将在整个夏季纳入各种专业和研究技能发展活动，以帮助确保参与者成功完成他们的夏季项目，并为研究生学习或进入劳动力市场做好准备。数学生物科学中的分布式REU计划将产生以下更广泛的影响。首先，该计划将增加最终进入数学生物学领域工作的受过训练的学生的数量。第二，作为该计划一部分开发的在线材料将被存档，并在MBI网站上提供，供其他人免费使用。特别是，MBI将记录为期一周的训练营期间的讲座，REU期间的每周研讨会以及Capstone会议上的口头报告。最后，传播REU项目参与者的研究成果将有助于建立一个具有凝聚力和垂直整合的国家数学生物科学研究社区。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project supports the multi-institution REU program in the mathematical biosciences, facilitated by the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI). The objectives of the program are: (1) to introduce a diverse cohort of undergraduate students to the field of mathematical biology, broadly interpreted to include areas such as biostatistics, bioinformatics, and computational biology, in addition to biologically-inspired mathematical modeling; (2) to encourage students to pursue graduate study in the mathematical biosciences; and (3) to increase the number of students who enter the workforce with training in this field. The infrastructure provided by the MBI gives the necessary resources to accomplish these goals by providing both an authentic research experience as well as exposure to the field of mathematical biology broadly. REU participants will work on projects in areas such as molecular evolution, neuronal oscillatory patterning, cancer genetics, epidemics and vaccination strategies, and animal movement. Participants will work individually or in pairs under the guidance of expert mentors to make specific research contributions in these areas, often leading to a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. The REU program will incorporate various professional and research-skills development activities throughout the summer to help ensure the participants' success in completing their summer project and to prepare them for graduate study or entering the workforce. The Distributed REU Program in the Mathematical Biosciences will have the following broader impacts. First, the program will increase the number of trained students who ultimately enter the workforce in the area of mathematical biology. Second, online materials developed as part of the program will be archived and made available on the MBI website for free use by others. In particular, MBI will record the lecture sessions in the one-week bootcamp session, the weekly seminars during the REU segment, and the oral presentations at the Capstone Conference. Finally, dissemination of research findings of the participants in the REU program will contribute to a cohesive and vertically integrated national research community in the mathematical biosciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.