Kevin Anderson
I am a recent graduate of the Program in Applied Mathematics at The University of Arizona interested in mathematical biology. While at the U of A, I participated in the biomathematics program supported by the Flinn/IGERT initiative. A major benefit of my interaction with Flinn/IGERT was financial support which allowed me to complete the research which formed my dissertation. This research was an application of probability to the field of bacteriology. I performed experiments in the laboratory of Dr. Neil Mendelson of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and together with my advisor, Dr. Joseph Watkins of the Department of Mathematics, I built and tested stochastic models which explained observed phenomenon. Another benefit of my experience with Flinn/IGERT is the interaction with graduate students and faculty members from other departments. I am currently finishing up a project with another former Flinn/IGERT student, Wade Leitner. This is an application of probability to conservation biology which we hope to have published later this year. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications taking part in their special "Year in Mathematical Biology" .While here I plan to continue research at the interface of probability and biology. I feel that probability provides a very natural and useful set of tools for studying biological systems. I feel that the entire Flinn/IGERT experience prepared me well for this position, and am very excited both about my future and the future of mathematical biology!HOMEPAGE