Dr. Robert Schneider is featured in the most recent edition of the Michigan Tech Magazine. The article, published earlier this month, highlights Dr. Schneider’s background, how he came to teach at Michigan Tech, and some of his research. Make sure to check out the article!
We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Bruce Sagan from Michigan State University to deliver the eighth of our Kliakhandler Lectures.
Dr. Sagan specializes in enumerative, algebraic, and topological combinatorics, with his book “The Symmetric Group” being considered a classic. He has published over 100 research papers, and given over 300 talks in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. These included keynote addresses at the International Conference on Formal Power Series and Algebraic Combinatorics (2006), the British Combinatorial Conference (2011), and Permutation Patterns (2015). Dr. Sagan is also a folk musician playing music from Scandinavia, England, and Bulgaria on traditional instruments. He has recorded four albums, is working on a fifth album, and has composed over 30 tunes.
Dr. Sagan presents the public Kliakhandler Lecture Thursday, October 9 at 5 p.m. in Fisher Hall 138. The lecture (5–6 p.m.) will be followed by an interactive Q&A session with the speaker (6–7 p.m.).
Michigan Tech’s College of Sciences and Arts welcomes Rodica Curtu as the new chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, effective July 1. Curtu comes to Michigan Tech from the University of Iowa, where she recently brought the math graduate program into the Internship Network in the Mathematical Sciences and served as faculty senate president.
“As the new chair of mathematical sciences, Professor Curtu leads a department with a strong record of accomplishments in research and teaching,” said LaReesa Wolfenbarger, dean of the College of Sciences and Arts. “I look forward to working with Rodica as she leverages her skills and experience with interdisciplinary and multi-institution research collaborations to lead the department to even greater accomplishments as MTU moves forward as an R1 institution.”
Curtu’s expertise is in mathematical biology and computational neuroscience. She earned her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003 and worked during her informal postdoctoral studies as a visitor exchange scientist with researchers from the Center for Neural Science at New York University.
She said she looks forward to stepping into a leadership role where she can guide the math department toward further growth by developing online courses and expanding existing master’s degree and PhD programs.
Curtu said she’s passionate about student-focused teaching, championing the approach at the University of Iowa, where it was well received by students. Having worked on teams with neuroscientists, biologists, and engineers to apply math to real-world problems, she was drawn to Michigan Tech’s interdisciplinary research opportunities.
“I love working on interdisciplinary teams,” said Curtu. “In order to solve complicated problems we need to talk more with each other and share perspectives from different fields. Michigan Tech is a great place to come for that collaboration.”
“Mathematics is everywhere!” Rodica Curtu, Chair, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Michigan Tech College of Sciences and Arts
As chair, Curtu plans to work with the department, dean’s office, and across the University to facilitate dialogue and help align goals. She describes her approach to leadership as “working at the speed of trust” with the intention to start by listening. Her goals include growing the department’s graduate programs and embracing Michigan Tech’s R1 classification. She looks to support students through more diverse training opportunities, interview preparation, and guidance in pursuing industry and government jobs and internships. Curtu will also encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between mathematical sciences and other departments on campus.
The Math Department’s own Tim Wagner, Assistant Teaching Professor, was awarded Michigan Technological University’s 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award. Read the full article for more information. Congratulations, Tim!
The Math Department’s own Teresa Woods, Associate Teaching Professor, was awarded Michigan Technological University’s 2025 Distinguished Teaching Award. Read the full article for more information. Congratulations, Teresa!
We’re delighted to welcome Dr. Susanne Brenner to deliver the seventh of our Kliakhandler Lectures. Dr. Brenner is a Boyd Professor, a leading researcher in numerical analysis, and an IAM, AMS, AAAS, and ASM fellow who serves on multiple publication editorial boards. She was also appointed to the NSF Advisory Committee for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Additionally, she is a former SIAM president.
Dr. Brenner presents the Public Kliakhandler Lecture Thursday, October 3 at 6 p.m. in Fisher Hall 139. Her public lecture focuses on the history as well as the current challenges and opportunities offered by computational mathematics. Mark your calendars to attend this highly anticipated mathematics event—spread the word! Let’s give Dr. Brenner our best UP welcome!
Then, on Friday, October 4, Dr. Brenner presents her Mathematics Department research colloquium. This presentation, titled “Novel Finite Element Methods for Elliptic Optimal Control Problems with Pointwise State Constraints,” is at 1 p.m. in Fisher Hall 230. Faculty, staff, and students make sure to attend this memorable event.
To read more details on the events and on our esteemed guest, please see the College of Sciences and Arts blog.
Mathematicians at Michigan Technological University conduct research and guide students in applying concepts to fields like business, engineering, healthcare, and government. The Mathematical Sciences Department offers undergraduate degrees in business analytics, mathematics, mathematics and computer science, and statistics and graduate programs with degrees in mathematical sciences, applied statistics, and statistics. Students supercharge their math skills at Michigan’s premier technological university and graduate prepared for successful careers in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business environment.
Questions? Contact us at mathdept@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook.
Congratulations to Qiuying Sha, named a 2024 Distinguished Professor by the Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. The Distinguished Professor title is awarded to outstanding faculty members who have made substantial contributions to the University and their discipline that are not currently recognized with an endowed position.
Sha is a professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The nomination materials commended Sha’s excellence in all areas of teaching, research, and service. Sha is one of four honorees in 2024, and the first department member to be recognized with this honor.
In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at Michigan Tech since 2005, Sha was a co-creator of the online Master of Science in Applied Statistics — one of the University’s first online graduate degrees.
Sha is an internationally recognized leader in statistical genetics, developing statistical methods for understanding the genetic basis of human diseases and traits. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, and she has published over 70 papers. Graduate students supported and advised by Sha work at Southfield University and the University of Illinois Chicago, while others have accepted postdoctoral appointments with Yale, Columbia, and the University of Michigan.
Sha has served on NIH’s review panel and as an editorial board member for Scientific Reports. She has also served on early career management committees and many other committees at Michigan Tech.
“Dr. Sha demonstrates exemplary leadership in teaching, research, and service,” said Melissa Keranen, Department of Mathematical Sciences chair. “She has gone above and beyond to ensure our undergraduate and graduate students succeed. She is a valuable member of our department, and we are thrilled for her well-deserved recognition.”
Mathematicians at Michigan Technological University conduct research and guide students, applying concepts to fields like business, engineering, healthcare, and government. Students supercharge their math skills at Michigan’s premier technological university. They graduate prepared for successful careers in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business environment.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers undergraduate and graduate programs with degrees in mathematical sciences, applied statistics, and statistics. Questions? Contact us at mathdept@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook or read the Mathematical Sciences news blog for the latest happenings.
Steve Mintz is the marketing and communications manager for the College of Sciences and Arts at Michigan Tech.
The Mathematical Sciences (MS) Department proudly announces that Aili Toyli and Sean Phelan have been selected for the Undergraduate Research Internship Program (URIP)*. Toyli and Phelan will spend the academic year working on individual research projects under the guidance of a Michigan Tech faculty mentor.
Additionally, Sean Phelan was awarded a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)**. Research is conducted over the summer semester.
Both SURF and URIP are high-caliber undergraduate research opportunities that create a unique collaboration with professors and hone a student’s skills to distinguish themselves.
Phelan’s SURF project title is, “Discovering Genetic Markers for Alzheimer’s Disease Using Genome-Wide Association and Rare Variant Association for Risk Prediction.” He is a dual major in Statistics and Mathematics–Business Analytics, under the advisory of Weihua Zhou—Applied Computing. We conducted an email exchange to find out more about Sean.
MS: What do you hope to do with your degree?
SP: “Work as a data scientist where I draw insights from large company data sets. I am interested in the operations and supply chain side of business where I can optimize the flow of resources.”
MS: What piqued your interest in doing research?
SP: “I want to apply my statistical knowledge from MTU to real-world data and explore the world of deep learning. Research at the MTU bioinformatics lab is a perfect fit, where I learn about medical deep-learning models and develop statistical risk scores. My research also draws from an elective science course I took, Intro to Biotechnology with Dr. Busov.”
MS: What do you enjoy most about the research you do?
PS: “Learning about new measures and models that I can apply in the future and keeping on top of cutting-edge machine learning methods are important for a budding data scientist.”
MS: What do you like to do outside of school?
PS: “I like to camp and backpack while exploring the outdoors. I also mountain bike and snowboard depending on the season.”
MS: Why did you choose to study here at Michigan Tech?
SP: “I like the UP, I received a solid scholarship, and the math program is great.”
MS: What do you like the most about Michigan Tech?
SP: “It’s a double-edged sword, but I like being in the middle of nowhere—so much outdoors and the air is so fresh. Also, the small-town energy here is very safe and friendly, which is much nicer than a large city like New York.”
Toyli is pursuing a B.S. in Statistics—under the advisory of Qiuying Sha— that she anticipates will open the door to a graduate degree in biostatistics, and a career as a statistical consultant for medical research. She has always been interested in both medical sciences and statistics, and knew she wanted to be in research. We asked Aili a bit about herself.
MS: What piqued your interest in research?
AT: “I attended the undergraduate research forum last fall and reached out to Dr. Zhou because I was intrigued by his work.”
MS: What do you enjoy most about research?
AT: “I enjoy applying what I’ve learned in class to real-world problems. I’m excited to contribute to research that could lead to improvements in medical treatments.”
MS: What have you learned most about yourself by doing research?
AT: “I’ve learned about my ability to learn independently. Research topics can seem daunting at first, but I’ve learned to create a plan and tackle it one step at a time.”
MS: What do you like to do outside of school?
AT: “I love to spend time with friends and family, especially outside. I enjoy hiking, skiing, and spending time on the lake!”
MS: Why did you choose to study here at Michigan Tech?
AT: “I chose to come to Michigan Tech because I really love both the area and the school’s STEM focus.”
MS: What do you like the most about Michigan Tech?
AT: “The people I’ve met are my favorite part of Michigan Tech. I’ve made so many wonderful friends!”
We, in the Mathematical Science’s Department, applaud our student’s success! Congratulations Aili and Sean!
*The URIP is open to all Tech undergraduates interested in joining a research project under the guidance of a Michigan Tech faculty mentor during the regular academic year (September-March). Student researchers showcase their findings at Michigan Tech’s annual Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium, national conferences, and contribute to peer-reviewed journal articles graduation.
**SURFs are open to all Michigan Tech undergraduates who have at least one semester remaining after the summer term. Fellowship recipients conduct a research project under the guidance of a Michigan Tech faculty mentor, during the summer semester. SURF Fellowship recipients are required to:
Mathematicians at Michigan Technological University conduct research and guide students, applying concepts to fields like business, engineering, healthcare, and government. The Mathematical Sciences Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs with degrees in mathematical sciences, applied statistics, and statistics. Students supercharge their math skills at Michigan’s premier technological university. They graduate prepared for successful careers in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business environment.
Questions? Contact us at mathdept@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook or read the Mathematical Sciences news blog for the latest happenings.
We are thrilled to announce that Meiling Zhou, a dedicated PhD candidate in Statistics, has been honored with a prestigious $3,000, 12-month grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation. This grant recognizes her exceptional work and commitment to advancing research in the field of genetics, particularly in detecting genetic variants associated with diabetes.
First and foremost, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation for their invaluable support, acceptance, and acknowledgment.
Meiling’s academic journey started in China with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English Language & Literature with a focus on Cultural Anthropology. Her thirst for knowledge and interdisciplinary exploration led her to earn a second Master’s degree in Applied Statistics and Research Methods from the University of Northern Colorado. Undeterred by challenges, Meiling furthered her education by obtaining a third Master’s in Statistics at Michigan Technological University. Next up, a Ph.D. in Statistics.
Meiling’s transition from the social sciences to the captivating realm of mathematics and genetic statistics reflects her unwavering curiosity and determination. She finds immense satisfaction in the world of research and thinking deeply about statistical methods in human genetics. Her passion lies in developing novel statistical methods that unlock new genetic variants, offering profound insights into the genetic factors contributing to human diseases like Type I diabetes, breast cancer, autism, and more.
One of the highlights of Meiling’s journey is her collaboration with her advisor, Prof. Kui Zhang. Together, they dive into exciting ideas, navigate challenges, and share moments of laughter and discovery. Meiling attributes much of her growth and joy in research to this quote “Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish” from the famous Steve Jobs speech which was delivered after his cancer diagnosis and successful treatment.
For Meiling, Michigan Technological University is not just a place of education but a calling of destiny. Her journey alongside her husband and son has been enriched by the beauty of the campus and the supportive community. From jogging in Daniel Heights to studying in Fisher Hall, every moment has added to her appreciation for this vibrant academic environment.
Meiling’s advice to aspiring graduate students resonates with her own journey: “How you start is not always a good indicator of how things turn out. Work hard, fueled by your passion, it is never too late!” Her words encapsulate the essence of perseverance and dedication, encouraging others to pursue their dreams relentlessly.
Mathematicians at Michigan Technological University conduct research and guide students, applying concepts to fields like business, engineering, healthcare, and government. The Mathematical Sciences Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs with degrees in mathematical sciences, applied statistics, and statistics. Students supercharge their math skills at Michigan’s premier technological university. They graduate prepared for successful careers in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business environment.
Questions? Contact us at mathdept@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook or read the Mathematical Sciences news blog for the latest happenings.
Congratulations to Iosif Pinelis. Dr. Pinelis is the author of a paper published in the Journal Electronic Communications in Probability. The paper is titled “Asymptotics of the rate function in the large deviation principle for sums of independent identically distributed random variables.”
Dr. Pinelis is a professor of mathematical sciences whose main interests are in exact inequalities and limit theorems and extremal problems in probability theory. Other interests include optimization, evolutionary modeling, and operations research.
Mathematicians at Michigan Technological University conduct research and guide students, applying concepts to fields like business, engineering, healthcare, and government. The Mathematical Sciences Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs with degrees in mathematical sciences, applied statistics, and statistics. Students supercharge their math skills at Michigan’s premier technological university. They graduate prepared for successful careers in academia, research, and tomorrow’s high-tech business environment.
Questions? Contact us at mathdept@mtu.edu. Follow us on Facebook or read the Mathematical Sciences news blog for the latest happenings.