Overview & Purpose

The department offers a specialization^§ in Math Biology within the master degree program. It is supported by the Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI). The curriculum and its courses are designed and developed in a collaboration between the mathematics department, the MBI, as well as the College of Biological Sciences at OSU.

The training in this specialization aims to equip students with skills to model problems in the life sciences in mathematical terms and solve these with analytical and numerical methods in order to explain, predict, or optimize underlying biological situations. This constitutes the critical preparation to enter private or public biological and medical research, to find employment in government agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seek positions in education involved with mathematics and biology, as well as to pursue doctoral program that offer specializations in or related to mathematical biology.

Find below basic information about the curriculum of the program, prerequisites, and support. For further information about admission, contact Denise Witcher at dwitcher@math.ohio-state.edu or Thomas Kerler at kerler@math.ohio-state.edu

If you have further questions about the curriculum or content of courses please contact Avner Friedman at afriedman@math.ohio-state.edu.

Curriculum

The curriculum consists of about twelve quarter-long courses over two years. Besides satisfactory completion of these courses students are required to write a Master's thesis for graduation. See here a

Mathematics & Statistics Courses

The mathematical part of the curriculum consists of about eight courses as follows. The order in which the respective sequences is taken is flexible and depends on individual preparations.

• A year-long sequence in Applied Differential Equations trains students in ordinary and partial differential equations techniques with strong emphasis on applications to mathematical modeling in biology. Topics include bifurcation theory as well as nonlinear and chaotic dynamics.
• One or two additional courses on Numerical Analysis equip students with computational skills.
• A course on Modeling in Mathematical Biology introduces students to more advanced research questions towards the end of the second year.
• Finally, two courses in statistics and probability prepare students for the evaluation of experimental data.

Biology Courses & Electives

Further courses, besides those in mathematics and statistics, as the following

• An intensive introductory course in biology especially designed for this program give students the necessary background. Thus no prior knowledge of biology is required.
• Additionally students take two elective courses which can be in mathematics, statistics, or biology.

Thesis & MBI Program

In their second year students will write a thesis on a topic in Mathematical Biology under the supervision of a faculty member of the mathematics department and/or MBI. The thesis is defended at the end defended of the second year.

In the summer between the first and second year students will participate in the special MBI Summer Program for Graduate Students, which will help them find a thesis topic.

Application Requirements

All application information can be found at http://www.math.ohio-state.edu/graduate/apply. Specific requirements for the Mathematical Biology specialization are as follows:

• B.S. or B.A. degree with courses taken in multivariable calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra.
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Students from non-English speaking countries need to have excellent English skills. Both TOEFL and GRE General Test scores must be presented. (Neither test is required for domestic students).
• GRE Subject Test scores are useful but not required.
• Background in biology is useful but not required, however, a demonstrated interest in life sciences is useful.

Admission & Support

Nearly all students are admitted in the summer and supported as Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA).

Support

Students will be offered support as GTAs. A typical teaching load includes two recitations meeting twice a week. Support includes the following:

• Waiver of all instructional tuition fees.
• Waiver also of summer tuition fees.
• Stipend salary for a 9-month period of around $1800/month.
• Support also during the first summer.

Admission

We will admit around six students each year to this specialization of the M.S. program. Students are expected to arrive at the beginning of the summer quarter in June. During the summer they will participate in courses that prepare them for class room teaching and take further courses that count towards their degree.

^§) Formal recognition as graduate specialization is pending administrative approval.