The Daily Bulletin Archive

Buffalo State’s new applied mathematics program is providing a practical approach to solving problems—far beyond the typical a² + b² = c² variety. Participants are identifying critical issues and devising solutions using math.

Students have been working on mathematical models to determine why honeybees are disappearing (known as colony collapse disorder), are compiling data on avian influenza and sexually transmitted diseases, and will be investigating many other infectious diseases.

The bachelor of science degree program prepares students for careers as mathematicians in computer-related positions or as analysts or statisticians in government, industry, or business. Many students become math teachers while others become better prepared to enter graduate school in mathematics or computer science.

Graduates of applied mathematics programs also are hired as statisticians, credit analysts, environmental analysts, computer programmers, actuaries, safety inspectors, sales representatives for technical industries, and more. Typical hiring firms include manufacturers, banks, insurance companies, and state and federal government agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“In applied mathematics, students start with the problem, and then develop the solution using math,” said Joaquin Carbonara, associate professor of mathematics. “Math is a way of thinking, and we’re eager to apply it to different areas. Applied mathematics is particularly useful when rooted in science, and it really answers the question ‘What is math good for?’”

Feedback from students so far has been extremely positive, according to Carbonara. He says the program provides the right environment to examine how mathematics ties in with fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Carbonara hopes other faculty throughout campus will collaborate with the program as it develops.

Applied mathematics faculty members already are partnering with local research centers such as the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) and UB’s Center for Computational Research for grants and for field training opportunities for students. In fact, the program recently began sponsoring a special colloquium series with HWI. At the first seminar on September 28, Nobel laureate and HWI president Herbert Hauptman discussed the topic of x-ray crystallography with 45 attendees, mostly students. Hauptman’s seminar focused on how to reconstruct an atom (crystal), which can help create proteins and produce helpful drugs.

“Dr. Hauptman helped develop the machinery for x-ray crystallography, and his seminar was yet another way of showing how applied mathematics ties in to the community,” said Carbonara. “We’ve created a DVD of the seminar and will post the video online soon. We also are e-mailing student attendees so that they can get together on their own to further discuss what they learned.”

In addition to working with organizations like HWI, the applied mathematics program continues to grow internally and now has six professors. One—Valentin Brimkov, hired two years ago as an associate professor—is driving international attention to applied mathematics. Brimkov successfully lobbied to have the next International Workshop on Combinatorial Image Analysis in Buffalo April 7–9, 2008, and he is chair of the event. Past workshops were held in France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand, as well as Philadelphia and Washington. Topics will include imaging, pattern recognition, bioinformatics, and more—all designed to provide solutions for a wide range of disciplines such as medicine, robotics, defense, and security. The three-day event also will feature speakers and the presentation of original papers that will be published in mathematical journals.

As the applied mathematics program evolves and strengthens, it will incorporate visiting professors from top universities to facilitate enhanced learning. Two international visitors from Italy and France already visited the department for joint research activities with Brimkov. One of them, François de Vieilleville from the University of Bordeaux, will arrive later this semester to continue his joint research with Brimkov for 10 more months. He also will provide seminars for students and faculty. The French government is funding de Vieilleville’s visit through a prestigious Lavoisier grant.

“We will develop applied mathematics in the way that the market dictates,” said Saziye Bayram, a recently hired assistant professor for the program. “Our program is flexible, and we’re looking in multiple directions. If you look around, it’s easy to see that math is everywhere.”