Undergradaute Research
  as Interdisciplinary
        Training
         Jason Miller, Ph.D.
      Truman State University


      For TU-HHMI Conference 2012
• Institutional Context
• Mathbio Program
 • Context
 • Structure
 • Outcomes
• A Pivot
• Partnerships
Truman State University
            Public
            Liberal Arts
            Highly-selective
            Affordable
            Primarily Undergraduate
            ≈6000 students




                        TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Truman State University
                       Public
                       Liberal Arts
                       Highly-selective
                       Affordable
                       Primarily Undergraduate
                       ≈6000 students

     Values undergraduate research
   Values interdisciplinary experiences
                                     TU-HHMI Conference 2012
2003
       TU-HHMI Conference 2012
2003
       TU-HHMI Conference 2012
2007
       TU-HHMI Conference 2012
R E P OR T T O T H E PR E SI DEN T
ENGAGE TO E XCEL: PRODUCI NG ONE M ILLION
  A DDI T IONA L COLLEGE GR A DUAT ES W I T H
     DEGR EES I N SCIENCE , T ECH NOLOGY,
      ENGI NEER I NG, A N D M AT HEM AT ICS




         Executive Office of the President
          President’s Council of Advisors
            on Science and Technology


                F E BRUA RY 2 01 2
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Life Scientist
   (faculty)




                 TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                  (faculty)
  (faculty)




                                TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                  (faculty)
  (faculty)



Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                 (trainee)
 (trainee)


                                TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                  (faculty)
  (faculty)



Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                 (trainee)
 (trainee)


                                TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                  (faculty)
  (faculty)



Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                 (trainee)
 (trainee)


                                TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                  (faculty)
  (faculty)



Mathematical
               Life Scientist
  Scientist
                 (trainee)
 (trainee)




                                TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Mathematical                    Mathematical
               Life Scientist                  Life Scientist
  Scientist                       Scientist
                  (faculty)                       (faculty)
  (faculty)                       (faculty)



Mathematical                    Mathematical
               Life Scientist                  Life Scientist
  Scientist                       Scientist
                 (trainee)                       (trainee)
 (trainee)                       (trainee)




Mathematical                    Mathematical
               Life Scientist                  Life Scientist
  Scientist                       Scientist
                  (faculty)                       (faculty)
  (faculty)                       (faculty)



Mathematical                    Mathematical
               Life Scientist                  Life Scientist
  Scientist                       Scientist
                 (trainee)                       (trainee)
 (trainee)                       (trainee)


                                                          TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Example Topics

• tick physiology
• automatic gene annotation
• habitat suitability modeling
• computer assisted bat identification
• host-parasite environmental study
• shape variations in C. elegan’s 4-cell stage
• algebraic graph theoretic modeling of
  vascular network formation
• shape-based modeling of gravitropic
  sensitivity
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Accomplishments:




                   TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Accomplishments:
  Strong summer research community.




                                      TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Accomplishments:
  Strong summer research community.
  Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to
  MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational
  Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science




                                         TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Accomplishments:
  Strong summer research community.
  Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to
  MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational
  Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science
  Competancy-based minor in mathematical
  biology.




                                         TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Accomplishments:
  Strong summer research community.
  Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to
  MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational
  Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science
  Competancy-based minor in mathematical
  biology.
  Faculty embrace interdisciplinary approaches to
  research.




                                         TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Accomplishments:
  Strong summer research community.
  Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to
  MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational
  Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science
  Competancy-based minor in mathematical
  biology.
  Faculty embrace interdisciplinary approaches to
  research.
                      but...
                 low throughput
                                         TU-HHMI Conference 2012
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Composition (%) of U.S. college-age cohort: 1990–2020
     100

      90

      80

      70
                                                                  American Indian/Alaska N
      60                                                          Asian/Pacific Islander
      50                                                          Black
                                                                  Hispanic
      40
                                                                  White
      30

      20

      10

       0
           1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020

               NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2006, Figure O-37
                                                                          TU-HHMI Conference 2012
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
Jumpstart & support the highly-
 motivated but underprepared

(incl. community college STEM students)
                                   TU-HHMI Conference 2012
3x students, 1/2 cost
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
TU-HHMI Conference 2012
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Undergraduate Research and Interdisciplinary Training

  • 1.
    Undergradaute Research as Interdisciplinary Training Jason Miller, Ph.D. Truman State University For TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 2.
    • Institutional Context •Mathbio Program • Context • Structure • Outcomes • A Pivot • Partnerships
  • 3.
    Truman State University Public Liberal Arts Highly-selective Affordable Primarily Undergraduate ≈6000 students TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 4.
    Truman State University Public Liberal Arts Highly-selective Affordable Primarily Undergraduate ≈6000 students Values undergraduate research Values interdisciplinary experiences TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 5.
    2003 TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 6.
    2003 TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 7.
    2007 TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 8.
    R E POR T T O T H E PR E SI DEN T ENGAGE TO E XCEL: PRODUCI NG ONE M ILLION A DDI T IONA L COLLEGE GR A DUAT ES W I T H DEGR EES I N SCIENCE , T ECH NOLOGY, ENGI NEER I NG, A N D M AT HEM AT ICS Executive Office of the President President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology F E BRUA RY 2 01 2
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Life Scientist (faculty) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 14.
    Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (faculty) (faculty) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 15.
    Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (faculty) (faculty) Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (trainee) (trainee) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 16.
    Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (faculty) (faculty) Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (trainee) (trainee) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 17.
    Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (faculty) (faculty) Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (trainee) (trainee) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 19.
    Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (faculty) (faculty) Mathematical Life Scientist Scientist (trainee) (trainee) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 20.
    Mathematical Mathematical Life Scientist Life Scientist Scientist Scientist (faculty) (faculty) (faculty) (faculty) Mathematical Mathematical Life Scientist Life Scientist Scientist Scientist (trainee) (trainee) (trainee) (trainee) Mathematical Mathematical Life Scientist Life Scientist Scientist Scientist (faculty) (faculty) (faculty) (faculty) Mathematical Mathematical Life Scientist Life Scientist Scientist Scientist (trainee) (trainee) (trainee) (trainee) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 21.
    Example Topics • tickphysiology • automatic gene annotation • habitat suitability modeling • computer assisted bat identification • host-parasite environmental study • shape variations in C. elegan’s 4-cell stage • algebraic graph theoretic modeling of vascular network formation • shape-based modeling of gravitropic sensitivity
  • 22.
  • 23.
    Accomplishments: TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 24.
    Accomplishments: Strongsummer research community. TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 25.
    Accomplishments: Strongsummer research community. Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 26.
    Accomplishments: Strongsummer research community. Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science Competancy-based minor in mathematical biology. TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 27.
    Accomplishments: Strongsummer research community. Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science Competancy-based minor in mathematical biology. Faculty embrace interdisciplinary approaches to research. TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 28.
    Accomplishments: Strongsummer research community. Quality new courses: Bioinformatics, Intro to MathBio, Biostatistics, Intro to Computational Science, Calculus & Math Methods for Life Science Competancy-based minor in mathematical biology. Faculty embrace interdisciplinary approaches to research. but... low throughput TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 29.
  • 30.
    Composition (%) ofU.S. college-age cohort: 1990–2020 100 90 80 70 American Indian/Alaska N 60 Asian/Pacific Islander 50 Black Hispanic 40 White 30 20 10 0 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2006, Figure O-37 TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 31.
  • 32.
    Jumpstart & supportthe highly- motivated but underprepared (incl. community college STEM students) TU-HHMI Conference 2012
  • 34.
  • 35.
  • 37.
  • 54.
  • 55.

Editor's Notes