2015 Summer Research Experiences (SRE) at NIMBioS for Undergraduates and Teachers

SRE 2015 participants.

Fifteen undergraduates and two high school teachers participated in the 2015 Summer Research Experience (SRE) at NIMBioS, June 8-July 31. During the eight-week program, participants lived on campus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and worked in teams with NIMBioS postdocs and UT faculty to conduct research at the interface of mathematics and biology. The award included a stipend, housing and some funding to support travel.

The Projects

• Modeling the distribution of fluid pressure in the kidney
• Development of mathematical models of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in mice
• Canine distemper modeling
• Exploring stressors in the host-pathogen interaction: Can a host use self-harming defenses to adequately protect itself?
• Ships, ports, invasions and math: Invasive species movements through global shipping routes

Descriptive Flyer

SRE Participants
Click on the names below for comments from some of the 2015 SRE participants.

Mariel Bedell Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA School: Carnegie Mellon University Major/Degree and Year: Biological Sciences/Pre-Med, Junior SRE Mentors: Vasileios Maroulas and Ioannis Sgouralis SRE Research Project: Modeling the Distribution of Fluid Pressures in the Kidney

Talon Johnson Hometown: Dallas, TX School: Morehouse College Major/Degree and Year: Mathematics, Senior SRE Mentors: Judy Day and Edmund LeGrand SRE Research Project: Exploring Stressors in the Host-Pathogen Interaction

Virginia Parkman Hometown: Knoxville, TN School: University of Tennessee, Knoxville Major/Degree and Year: Mathematics, Junior SRE Mentors: Rebecca Wilkes and Ben Levy SRE Research Project: Canine Distemper Modeling

Diya Sashidhar Hometown: Fayetteville, NC School: North Carolina State University Major/Degree and Year: Mathematics, Junior SRE Mentors: Shigetoshi Eda and Vitaly Ganusov SRE Research Project: Development of Mathematical Models of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Mice

Ryan Yan Hometown: Centreville, VA School: College of William and Mary Major/Degree and Year: Mathematical Biology, Senior SRE Mentors: Louis Gross and Daniel Simberloff SRE Research Project: Invasive Species Movements through Shipping Routes

Questions? Check our SRE Frequently Asked Questions page. If that doesn't help, contact us at SRE2015@nimbios.org.

Evaluation Report

Blogging from the 2015 program:

SRE students win award for ComFlo
Fireflies, farms, food: NIMBioS SRE 2015 underway!

SRE in the News:

Students create tool to stop pests in their tracks. Phys.org, August 5, 2015.
UT researchers trying to stop the spread of canine distemper. local8now.com, July 21, 2015.
Students Conduct Research to Control Canine Distemper. Tennessee Today, July 20, 2015.
Researchers developing models to understand, fight canine distemper. American Veterinary Medical Association newsletter, July 23, 2015.
Researchers combine math, biology to find improved tuberculosis vaccine. News Sentinel, June 30, 2015.
Students, mentors study tuberculosis at the University of Tennessee. Channel 6 ABC affiliate, July 1, 2015.

Related Links

Main SRE page

For further information about the program, please contact:
     Greg Wiggins, Education and Outreach Coordinator, NIMBioS (Email: wiggybug@nimbios.org) or
     Dr. Suzanne Lenhart, Associate Director for Education and Outreach, NIMBioS (Email: slenhart@tennessee.edu).

NIMBioS
1122 Volunteer Blvd., Suite 106
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3410
PH: (865) 974-9334
FAX: (865) 974-9461
Contact NIMBioS

From 2008 until early 2021, NIMBioS was supported by the National Science Foundation through NSF Award #DBI-1300426, with additional support from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. 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.