College of Science launches Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems
The leadership of the Center for Mathematics of Biosystems (from left): Associate Director Lauren Childs, Director Stanca Ciupe, Interim Director Nicole Abaid, and Associate Director Silke Hauf. Photo by Melissa McKeown for Virginia Tech.
In today’s world, mathematical models are an integral part of the study of biological systems.
But with the increase in the ability to collect data at various scales of resolution, modern mathematical biology must actively integrate rigorous statistical, data science, and computer science frameworks as well.
With the new Virginia Tech Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems (VT-CMB), administered by the College of Science, researchers will have the opportunity to bring together their expertise and promote engagement within and between these fields.
The center, officially launched in August, is a restructuring of the Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics (ICAM), which was founded in 1987 to support and facilitate transdisciplinary research in applied and computational mathematics. Led by founders John Burns and Terry Herdman, ICAM helped establish Virginia Tech as a global leader in applied mathematical modeling.
When the administrative structure for ICAM transitioned from the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation to the College of Science in the spring of 2023, a request for proposals was sent to faculty for suggestions on redefining the center’s mission.
Stanca Ciupe, professor in the Department of Mathematics, answered the call with her vision for a center focused on the mathematics of biological systems. The idea was to build a bridge between often unrelated disciplines with a two-pronged goal: to understand the native states of biological systems and use that knowledge to find solutions when those systems are compromised, for example, under environmental challenges and disease.
“The Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems has the unique ability to support research and education in mathematical modeling of biological systems, data driven development of novel mathematical techniques, and advancement of computational methods through innovative interdisciplinary programs and activities,” said Ciupe, the director of the new center.
The Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems has a three-part mission:
- To foster and broaden collaborations between mathematicians, biologists, data scientists, and experimentalists from within the College of Science, the university, and beyond
- To train the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists
- To advance the quantitative understanding of biological systems in ways that ultimately improve the human condition
The center’s research will cover diverse biological themes, initially focusing on three topics: cellular decision making, dynamics of infectious disease, and collective/collaborative behavior in animal systems.
Meanwhile, themes in the development of mathematical theory will include multiscale modeling, uncertainty quantification, inverse problems, network dynamics, forecasting, and dynamical system theory.
The center features core and affiliated faculty members from around the university, with representation in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Natural Resources and Environment, College of Science, and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. Nicole Abaid, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics, is serving as acting director of the center while Ciupe is on research leave.
“The interdisciplinary foundation of the leadership team, core and affiliated faculty will facilitate an interdisciplinary environment for mathematicians, biologists, statisticians, and engineers at Virginia Tech to interact, exchange ideas, and use differing expertise for advancing both mathematics and applications,” said Ciupe.
In order to reach its goal of developing a national and international reputation as a destination for mathematical biology, future plans for the center include hosting an international conference and applying for federally funded mathematical biology institutes. The center will also
- Provide seed grants for interdisciplinary collaborations
- Sponsor yearly modeling workshops for interdisciplinary groups
- Engage with graduate programs to identify interdisciplinary students for seed projects
- Provide financial support to graduate student organizations
- Offer opportunities for undergraduate research to students from diverse backgrounds
- Provide matching financial support for postdocs and grad students to travel to conferences and workshops
- Organize yearly summer school for undergraduates
- Develop K-12 outreach programs
The ultimate goal for the Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems is to become established as a strong and integrated center whose vision, maturity, and infrastructure would make Virginia Tech a viable candidate to host a national institute in the future.
“The new Virginia Tech Center for the Mathematics of Biosystems will build on the strong foundation in applied mathematics developed over decades by ICAM, which helped to establish Virginia Tech as a destination for modeling,” said John Morris, associate dean for research in the College of Science. “Today, we are excited by the potential for VT-CMB to transform our understanding of biological systems, to help predict the impact of environmental challenges on biosystems, and to develop new modeling capabilities that leverage emerging computational tools in novel ways.
“Beyond research, VT-CMB will help to train the next generation of undergraduate and graduate students in the field of mathematics as applied to biosystems — an area critical to health care, drug development, and environmental science.”
