The primary goal of this proposal is to provide integrated undergraduate research projects at the interface of biology and mathematics to produce graduates ready for rigorous interdisciplinary graduate studies and career opportunities. Our program focuses on investigating critical problems at the intersection of mathematics and the biological sciences, creating new knowledge, and advancing the fields. Each year, eight students will work in interdisciplinary teams with biological and mathematical science professors to conduct research on topics that include animal behavior, population genetics, demography, and community ecology. Participants will present their work at regional, national and international STEM meetings.
UNCG recognizes the importance of producing 21st-century graduates with broad, interdisciplinary scientific training. The faculty mentors have strong histories of productively involving undergraduate students and at least 30% of participants will hail from groups under-represented in STEM fields. This math-biology initiative is of regional importance because 92% of UNCG students are from North Carolina, many from rural areas with traditionally little access to science and technology.
