I am a PhD student in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Utah,
studying mathematical biology under the supervision of Sean Lawley. My research
interests involve using stochastic processes to study biophysical systems. Here
is a link to my CV.
I study how including reactive sites on ligands and receptors affects binding
reaction rate calculations. In reality, a ligand and a receptor will react only
if they touch in particular orientations, but binding reaction dynamics are generally
studied without this consideration. My current project is on the dynamics of two
freely-diffusing ligands with small receptors, and future directions include one
freely-diffusing ligand and membrane-bound receptors, two membrane-bound ligands, and
a ligand tethered to the cell membrane as well as membrane-bound receptors.
I use spatial stochastic processes to model these systems and then consider survival
probabilities (here, the probability that a reaction has not yet occurred). These
probabilities satisfy partial differential equations with mixed (reflecting and absorbing)
AND stochastic boundary conditions, requiring some fun analysis!
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Graduate Student Colloquium
I presented on cookie random walks (also known as excited random walks) at the
September 24, 2019 GSAC colloquium, based on the research I did with the PRIME REU
in 2017.
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Math Bio Journal Club
I have led three discussions at the Mathematical Biology Journal Club on different
papers in mathematical biology, with topics including diffusion with stochastic
resetting, emergent behavior in stochastic gene expression, and surface-binding
regulation of enzymes.
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Biophysics and Stochastics
I present each semester at the Biophysics and Stochastics Group on my current research
progress and next steps.
I am serving as a TA for Vector Calculus and PDEs for Engineers (MATH 3140/2310)
in the Fall 2019 semester. I write assignments for and lead two laboratory sections
each week.
Association for Women in Mathematics
I am the secretary of the University of Utah Student Chapter of the Association for Women
in Mathematics for the 2019-2020 school year. Our chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics
is dedicated to supporting underrepresented groups, including women, in mathematics.