A Research-based Model for Interdisciplinary Training of STEM Undergraduat…

MSU Chem Seminar17 October 2012

A Research-based Model for Interdisciplinary Training of STEM

Undergraduates

Jason Miller, Ph.D.Department of Mathematics

Truman State University

Missouri State UniversityChemistry Seminar17 October 2012



Outline• Introduce Truman State University

• Story of Truman’s research-focused mathematical biology program

• Truman’s interdisciplinary STEM efforts degree

• Opportunities for Collaboration


Truman

Truman is in rural Kirskville, Missouri


Truman


About Truman• Missouri’s only “highly selective” public

liberal arts University; pride in high-quality teaching, small class size

• ~6000 undergraduates, ~300 faculty, 150 Masters students

• Institutional commitment to Undergraduate Research and to Interdisciplinary teaching

• EX: all students must take a Junior Interdisciplinary Seminar


About Truman

• about 25 biology faculty, 35 mathematics faculty (math+stats+CS)

• biology: research expected of faculty (with students); experienced mentors

• mathematics: teaching focus, little or no support for research activity; 10 new faculty between 1998-2000



Professional Societies


2003


2007


F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 2

Executive O!ce of the PresidentPresident’s Council of Advisors

on Science and Technology

R EPORT TO THE PR ESIDENTENGAGE TO EXCEL: PRODUCING ONE MILLION

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE GR ADUATES W ITH DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEER ING, AND MATHEMATICS



Mathematical Biology Seminar (since 2003)

• Program fulcrum

• Biweekly meeting of faculty and undergraduates

• Initially, a “Biology Fashion Show”

• Engineered several cross-disciplinary, research hook-ups

• Pairings provided us with a foundation for NSF UBM grant proposals



Mathematical Scientist (faculty)

Life Scientist (faculty)

Life Scientist (trainee)

Mathematical Scientist (trainee)

























• selection occurs in the Fall, students start work in January (year-long)

• weekly meetings during the academic year

• Intense 10-week summer research program


Residence Hall

Small Group Meetings + MentorsWeekly Discussions/Workshops

Meals

Social EventsMathBio Seminar

Community

Summer


Automatic Annotation of Maize Genome

Collaboration between Truman, IA State, Cornell, Cold Spring Harbor.


Automatic Annotation of Maize Genome

Collaboration between Truman, IA State, Cornell, Cold Spring Harbor.


Geometric Modeling of C.elegan’s 4-cell stage


Graph Theoretic Modeling of Vascular Networks

Collaboration between Truman and AT Still University of Health Sciences.


Modeling Dispersion of Extinct Saccate Pollen

Collaboration between Truman and the College of New Jersey.


Identifying Volant Bats via Echolocation

with Lynn Robbins, MSU Biology


Habitat Suitability modeling for the Missouri Bladderpod

Collaboration between Truman and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.


Statistical Modeling of Abundance of Beetle Populations


Models of Tick Respiration and Physiology


• A modified Tajima-D statistic for identifying causes of HIV mutation

• Modeling host-parasite interaction in a long-term site study

• Geometric modeling of gravitropic sensitivity in flax roots


• an expensive program ($25k per team)

• low throughput

• high impact

• wanted to pursue tactics for long-term sustainability

Sustainability


Core Courses

• Bioinformatics

• Introduction to Mathematical Biology

• Biostatistics/Biometry

• Introduction to Computational Science*

• Calculus & Math Methods for the Life Sciences


Interdisciplinary Minor

• Designed to foster thoughtful integration of skills and knowledge in mathematics and biology

• outcome based (electronic portfolio), not course/credit based

• for majors in biology, mathematics, computer science, agricultural science


Minor’s Outcomes• Data Acquisition

• Modeling

• Computation

• Statistics

• Research


Requirements

• Demonstrate proficiencies in each category (though research, courses)

• Earn 15+ credits doing so (must take Intro to MathBio course)

• Attend MathBio Seminar

• Participate in two half-semester program workshops/seminars


Other Courses

• Math Modeling

• Ecology

• ODEs

• Genetics of Animal and Plant Improvement

• Developmental Biology

• (Electron) Microscopy

• Any that makes a connection between the areas. Some example:

Each student makes a case for each course in their learning plan.


Accomplishments:

Strong summer research community.

Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science

Competency-based minor in mathematical biology.

Faculty embrace interdisciplinary approaches to research.


• Program grew from institutional strengths and interests, meeting the needs of many

• Creates a learning-centered community for faculty and students

• Trains students through research; discomfort is a sign of success

MathBio Notes


• Our program was the perfect means for developing infrastructure and faculty buy-in

• It is an imperfect model for a sustainable quantitative or mathematical biology program

• (But it puts us in a very powerful position as Truman launches it next efforts.)


More details: Miller, Walston. Interdisciplinary Training in Mathematical Biology Through Team-based Undergraduate Research and Courses. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2010 Fall;9(3):284-9.


STEM Talent Expansion Programs (STEP) Office


2003


2007


F E B R UA R Y 2 0 1 2

Executive O!ce of the PresidentPresident’s Council of Advisors

on Science and Technology

R EPORT TO THE PR ESIDENTENGAGE TO EXCEL: PRODUCING ONE MILLION

ADDITIONAL COLLEGE GR ADUATES W ITH DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEER ING, AND MATHEMATICS


• Truman has leveraged training through undergraduate research for other programs

• NSF STEP

• NSF PRISM

• NSF S-STEM

• with all STEM disciplines, community college partners

STEM Talent Expansion


Degrees US MO

STEM BA/BS +15% -13%

AA -25% -48%

Degree Production 2002-2007

Source: NSF Science and Engineering Indicators, 2012

In Missouri, student starting college at 2-year school intending to transfer and earn a STEM degree have an

8% chance of succeeding.Source: CBHE IFC Baseline Report




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10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

WhiteHispanicBlackAsian/Pacific IslanderAmerican Indian/Alaska Native

Composition (%) of U.S. college-age cohort: 1990–2020

NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2006, Figure O-37 TU-HHMI Conference 2012


Missouri EPSCoR• Missouri is an EPSCoR State

• NSF funding must not exceed 0.75% of total NSF funding (criteria, table)

• Missouri’s planning process for a Track I grant lead by MU’s Bob Duncan ($20m over 5 years)

• This summer, representatives of institutions were invited to participate in process of creating the proposal

• scientific with robust workforce development and training elements

http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/epscor/eligible.jsp

http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/epscor/eligible.jsp

http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/epscor/FY2012_Eligibility.pdf

http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/epscor/FY2012_Eligibility.pdf

http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/epscor/about.jsp

http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/epscor/about.jsp


• A proposal was submitted on 3 October.

• “Accelerating Bioscience Discovery: Learning, Inference, and Modeling”

• data-intensive bioscience

• imaging and environmental sensing

• training and workforce development aspects are unclear

Missouri EPSCoR


• Gary Meints and I worked together at the workshop

• saw an opportunity for Truman and MSU to collaborate

• interdisciplinary training of undergraduates in STEM using research experiences

Missouri EPSCoR


Opportunities

• Missouri political and financial climate favors collaborations between Universities

• NSF funding favors partnerships

• 21st century professions are integrative, interdisciplinary, and team-based

• research on cognitive development (learning) shows strengths of undergraduate research


What can we do in partnership?


http://mathbio.truman.edu

More details: Miller, Walston. Interdisciplinary Training in Mathematical Biology Through Team-based Undergraduate Research and Courses. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2010 Fall;9(3):284-9.




This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF UBM #0337769, #0436348, and #0926737. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.




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A Research-based Model for Interdisciplinary Training of STEM Undergraduat…