The Department of Mathematics has a prominent program in mathematical biology, with current strength in Mathematical Ecology. The group has significant collaborative relationships with colleagues in the life sciences across campus and at other institutions. Group members have mathematical backgrounds in several areas of pure and applied mathematics, including dynamical systems, partial differential equations, algebraic and differential geometry, topology, control theory, game theory, operations research and mathematical modeling. The group runs a very successful weekly research seminar that typically involves faculty and graduate students from mathematics, the School of Biological Sciences, and the School of Natural Resources.
Faculty
Bo Deng has interests in Mathematical Biology, which include the origins and the evolution of DNA codes, electrical neurophysiology and neural communication, foodweb chaos and ecological stability, disease dynamics, and epidemic modeling. The main tools that Professor Deng uses in his research activities include information and communication theory, circuitry, differential equations, qualitative theory of dynamical systems, and applied nonlinear analysis. Through modeling, Professor Deng hopes to use mathematics to gain a better understanding of biological processes.
Huijing Du's main research develops computational and mathematical models for studying biological problems in a quantitative manner. With a new 3D hybrid framework which includes the discrete stochastic Subcellular Element Model, continuum reaction-diffusion-advection partial differential equations, and a stochastic decision-making model for cell lineage transition, her results demonstrate how a modeling approach coupling biologically relevant scales can provide new insights into the complex biological problems related to intestinal crypt structure, embryonic development, and epidermal tissue regeneration.
Yu Jin has research interest in applied mathematics with the main focus on dynamical systems and mathematical biology. Her research work is the conjoining of nonlinear dynamics and biology. This includes the establishment of appropriate mathematical models (mainly ordinary/partial/functional differential equations and difference equations) for phenomena in spatial ecology, population dynamics, and epidemiology, as well as mathematical and computational analysis for models. Her current research is mainly focused on spatial population dynamics, especially on population spread and persistence in streams or rivers.
Richard Rebarber has research interests in Mathematical Ecology and in Distributed Parameter Control Theory. His research in Ecology is in population dynamics, including the effect of parameter uncertainty (such as modeling error) and perturbations (such as global warming) on long-term and transient population growth; the application of robust control theory methods to population analysis and management; stability properties of nonlinear models; and analysis of models with stochasticity.
Brigitte Tenhumberg uses stochastic, discrete-time models tailored to specific biological systems to advance the understanding of ecological processes. The models she uses include stochastic dynamic programming, matrix models, and agent-based simulation models. One area of research emphasis is the optimal decision-making of animals (foraging or life history decisions) or humans (management of wildlife populations). Recent work addresses topics in invasion ecology, in particular, understanding ecological mechanisms promoting ecosystem resistance to invasions.
Emeritus Professor Steve Dunbar has research interests in nonlinear differential equations and applied dynamical systems, particularly those that arise in mathematical biology. In conjunction with his work with differential equation models and systems of mathematical biology, he is also interested in stochastic processes, the numerical and computer-aided solution of differential equations, and mathematical modeling. He also is interested in issues of mathematical education at the high school and collegiate level. He is the Director of the American Mathematics Competitions program of the Mathematical Association of America, which sponsors middle school and high school mathematical competitions leading to the selection and training of the USA delegation to the annual International Mathematical Olympiad. In addition, he has an interest in documenting trends in collegiate mathematics course enrollments and using mathematical software to teach and learn mathematics.
Emeritus Professor Wendy Hines does research in dynamical systems. She is interested in the general theory and applications to delay equations and partial differential equations. Currently, she is working on a reaction-diffusion equation with nonlocal diffusion, which models gene propagation through a population. This is a very interesting problem as very little has be done on it, and it defies the application of standard reaction-diffusion methods.
Emeritus Professor Glenn Ledder works in mathematical modeling for life sciences and physical sciences. He is currently working with an international team of plant scientists (including Sabrina Russo of the UNL School of Biological Sciences) to develop a tree physiology model that connects water flow and photosynthesis to soil properties and environmental conditions. The long-term goal of the project is to incorporate the tree physiology model into a dynamic energy budget model that can track the growth of a tree over time in various settings. Such a model would be useful in predicting the responses of tree communities to climate change. He is also interested in models that combine population dynamics of predator-prey systems with optimal foraging.
Emeritus Professor David Logan works in the areas of applied mathematics and ecological modeling. His interests include ordinary and partial differential equations, difference equations, and stochastic processes. His current research in mathematical ecology includes work on nutrient cycling, physiologically-structured population dynamics, the effects of global climate change on ecosystems and food webs, and insect eco-physiology.
Emeritus Professor Thomas Shores is interested in the numerical solutions of ordinary and partial differential equations, especially those singular and nonlinear equations that are amenable to sinc methods. He is also interested in numerical methods for problems in inverse theory, especially parameter identification problems in ordinary and partial differential equations. More generally, he has research interests in issues dealing with scientific computation. Finally, he is interested in the mathematical modeling of populations and porous medium problems.
Current Graduate Students
Jan Schmidt
Advised by: Huijing Du
Recent Graduates
Maia Van Bonn (MS 2024)
Advised by: Huijing Du
Abbey D'Ovideo Long (PhD 2024)
Advised by: Huijing Du
Lawrence Seminario-Romero (PhD 2024)
Advised by: Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhumberg
Molly Creagar (PhD 2023)
Advised by: Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhumberg
Matthew Reichenbach (PhD 2020)
Advised by: Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhumberg
David McMorris (PhD 2020)
Advised by: Glenn Ledder
William Jamieson (PhD 2019)
Advised by: Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhumberg
Nathan Poppelreiter (PhD 2019)
Advised by: Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhumberg
Christina Edholm (PhD 2016)
Advised by: Richard Rebarber and Brigitte Tenhumberg
Caitlyn Parmelee (PhD 2016)
Advised by: Jamie Radcliffe and Carina Curto
Brittney Hinds (PhD 2015)
Advised by: Bo Deng and Etsuko Moriyama
Sara Reynolds (PhD 2015)
Advised by: Chad Brassil and Glenn Ledder
Nora Youngs (PhD 2014)
Advised by: Carina Curto and Judy Walker
Ben Nolting (PhD 2013)
Advised by: David Logan
Eric Eager (PhD 2012)
Advised by: Richard Rebarber