Truman State University has Missouri's only undergraduate program in mathematical biology. We prepare undergraduate to work at the intersection of the life and mathematical sciences through coursework and through an innovative, team-based research program.

1. Training Undergraduates
in Mathematical Biology
using Research with Faculty
Jason Miller, Ph.D.
Department of Mathematics
Truman State University
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

2. Outline
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

3. Outline
• Where
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

4. Outline
• Where
• Program Goals
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

5. Outline
• Where
• Program Goals
• Current Program
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

6. Outline
• Where
• Program Goals
• Current Program
• Concluding Remarks
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

7. Truman
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

8. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

9. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

10. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

11. Professional Societies

12. Professional Societies

13. Professional Societies

14. Professional Societies

15. Professional Societies

16. Professional Societies

17. Mathematical Biology
Seminar (since 2003)
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

18. Mathematical Biology
Seminar (since 2003)
• Program fulcrum
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

19. Mathematical Biology
Seminar (since 2003)
• Program fulcrum
• Biweekly meeting of faculty and
undergraduates
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

20. Mathematical Biology
Seminar (since 2003)
• Program fulcrum
• Biweekly meeting of faculty and
undergraduates
• Initially, a “Biology Fashion Show”
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

21. Mathematical Biology
Seminar (since 2003)
• Program fulcrum
• Biweekly meeting of faculty and
undergraduates
• Initially, a “Biology Fashion Show”
• Engineered several cross-disciplinary,
research hook-ups
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

22. Professional Societies

23. Professional Societies

24. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

25. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

26. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

27. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
Bioinformatics
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

28. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
Bioinformatics
Biostatistics
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

29. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
Bioinformatics Intro to MathBio
Biostatistics
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

30. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
Bioinformatics Intro to MathBio
Biostatistics Intro to Scientific Programming
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

31. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
Bioinformatics Intro to MathBio
Biostatistics Intro to Scientific Programming
• Run two interdisciplinary research teams
each summer
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

32. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
Bioinformatics Intro to MathBio
Biostatistics Intro to Scientific Programming
• Run two interdisciplinary research teams
each summer
Math+Bio Pair of Faculty each
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

33. • Allowed us to do the following over two
years:
• Develop some interdisciplinary courses
Bioinformatics Intro to MathBio
Biostatistics Intro to Scientific Programming
• Run two interdisciplinary research teams
each summer
Math+Bio Pair of Faculty each
Math+Bio Pair of Student each
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

34. Introduction to Mathematical Biology
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

35. Bioinformatics
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

36. Biostatistics
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

37. Introduction to Scientific Programming
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

38. Interdisciplinary Research Teams
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

39. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

40. Interdisciplinary Minor
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

41. Interdisciplinary Minor
• Designed to foster thoughtful integration of
skills and knowledge in mathematics and
biology
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

42. Interdisciplinary Minor
• Designed to foster thoughtful integration of
skills and knowledge in mathematics and
biology
• outcome based (electronic portfolio), not
course/credit based
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

43. Interdisciplinary Minor
• Designed to foster thoughtful integration of
skills and knowledge in mathematics and
biology
• outcome based (electronic portfolio), not
course/credit based
• for majors in biology, mathematics, computer
science, agricultural science
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

44. Minor’s Outcomes
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

45. Minor’s Outcomes
• Data Acquisition
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

46. Minor’s Outcomes
• Data Acquisition
• Modeling
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

47. Minor’s Outcomes
• Data Acquisition
• Modeling
• Computation
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

48. Minor’s Outcomes
• Data Acquisition
• Modeling
• Computation
• Statistics
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

49. Minor’s Outcomes
• Data Acquisition
• Modeling
• Computation
• Statistics
• Research
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

50. Requirements
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

51. Requirements
• Demonstrate proficiencies in each category
(though research, courses)
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

52. Requirements
• Demonstrate proficiencies in each category
(though research, courses)
• Earn 15+ credits doing so (must take Intro
to MathBio)
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

53. Requirements
• Demonstrate proficiencies in each category
(though research, courses)
• Earn 15+ credits doing so (must take Intro
to MathBio)
• Attend MathBio Seminar
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

54. Requirements
• Demonstrate proficiencies in each category
(though research, courses)
• Earn 15+ credits doing so (must take Intro
to MathBio)
• Attend MathBio Seminar
• Participate in two half-semester program
workshops/seminars
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

55. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

56. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

57. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

58. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

59. Social Relevance
• With quantitative techniques, students can
contribute to understanding serious social
issues
public health cancer
disease control genetic engineering
bio-warfare human performance
bio-technology enhancement
bio-inspired science resource management
robotics public policy
(Chris Arney, USMA)
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

60. JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

61. FBI,
St. Louis Field
Office
Donald Danforth
Plant Science
Center
Wolfram
Research
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.

62. http://mathbio.truman.edu
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF
UBM #0337769 and NSF UBM #0436348. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or
recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
JMM, 6 January 2009
Washington, D.C.