MATH 563 - Advanced Mathematical Methods for the Biological Sciences

Instructor: Forger
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 217, 417, or 419 and MATH 216, 286, or 316 and to have a basic familiarity with partial differential equations as would be gained by the completion of MATH 450 or 454 or to have permission of the instructor.

Models and analysis will be presented in three main topics: Computational Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Fluid Flow in the Human Body.  Subtopics include: computation within a single neuron, visual signal processing in the retina and brain, reaction-diffusion and stochasticity in genetic networks, propagation of pulses in arteries, “heart attacks” and the spread of urinary tract infections.  Models will typically use partial differential equations. Consideration will be given in the problem sets and course project to interdisciplinary student backgrounds.  Teamwork will be encouraged.