Mathematics Grants and Research

Mathematics Grant Writers Recognized the MTSU Research Publication

The Spring 2023 publication of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs features our very own Dr. Mary Martin and Dr. Dovie Kimmins.  

Dr. Martin is recognized as a gold medalist for her dedication to MTSU as a professor in the classroom and the contributions she has made through writing grants throughout her career.  Dr. Martin has been apart of bringing a total of $7.04 million of funding to MTSU’s mathematics program. Click here to read the full article “Weaving a Web“.

Dr. Kimmins, a graduate and faculty member since 1983, has helped to raise $2.5 million in grants during her career at MTSU. Dr. Kimmins has worked extensively with providing inservice for middle school math teachers helping them better serve the students that come into their classrooms.  Click here (page 50) to read the bronze medal winner exert on Dr. Kimmins.

The Mathematical Sciences Department received $3 million in grants last year in 2022 alone.  

Mentoring the Next Generation 

Together with industry friends, external and internal collaborators, Dr. Lu Xiong is mentoring a team of actuarial students participating in the 2022 CAS Hacktuary Challenge.   In this challenge participants will develop an application that can calculate risk based on time of day, location, or frequency of accidents and help determine deductibles.  The winner will receive $15,000.  Good luck guys! 

Dr. Xiong is also leading a group of 3 undergraduate students (Xingtong Cao, Minyuan Zhao, and Pengyu Zhu) participating in the MTSU URECA with a proposal of $3000 for machine learning application of E-commerce data analytics. 

Ding receives a new grant for the upcoming year 

Dr. Wandi Ding recently received a new NSF grant Shanks Workshop on Advances in Mathematical and Theoretical Biology (PI: X. Zhao, co-PIs: M. Horn, W. Ding, P. Hinow, and X. Huo), $27,000, 2023-2024. This conference will feature models and analysis of ordinary and partial differential equations from various aspects of biological applications, such as infectious diseases, cancer modeling and treatment, and population dynamics. 

Dr. Xiong assists in a $33,000 grant from the TN Board of Regents 

Dr. Lu Xiong is a part of a group that has been awarded a grant sponsored by Tennessee Board of Regents, “Increasing Success and Retention of Female Students in Computer Science by Enhancing Two Key factors: Math Proficiency and Programming Skills” State, $33,020.84. (August 22, 2022 – August 11, 2023). (PI: Y. Gu, Co-PI’s: L. Xiong, J. Ranganathan) 

Dr. Qiang Wu received an NSF grant: Collaborative Research: Mathematical Foundation of Learning with Information-Theoretic Criteria from Non-Gaussian Data, $114,999, 2021-24. 

Using Mathematical Models to Eradicate Diseases 

Dr. Wandi Ding led an NSF REU grant (REU Site: Computational Modeling and Simulation in Applied Sciences) (PI: W. Ding, co-PI’s: R. Leander, W. Robertson, and J. Phillips), $241,470, 2018-2023, using mathematical simulations to control and eradicate the spread of infectious diseases, such as malaria and West Nile virus. The findings were published in the article “Malaria modeling and optimal control using sterile insect technique and insecticide-treated net” in Applicable Analysis, 101:5, 1715-1734, 2022 and featured in Research Outreach: Malaria Modeling: An Optimal Control Problem  on May 17, 2022, for public interests.   

Collaborative Research: Preparing to Teach Mathematics with Technology Examining Student Practice 

PTMT-ESP is a collaborative project across four institutions that will build on the theoretical foundations of technological pedagogical content knowledge, video case pedagogies, and professional noticing, along with the success of previous PTMT projects (DUE 0442319, 0817253, 1123001) to engage students in meaningful mathematical tasks and capitalizing on available technological tools has been shown to improve attitudes towards mathematics and increase learning. This project is expected to run from October 2018 through September 2023 (Total – $1,741,485, MTSU – $594,112)( PI: Dr. Jennifer N. Lovett, Co-PI’s: A. McCulloch, C. Cayton, and H. Lee) 

MTSU hosts prestigious National Science Foundation grants undergrad research cohorts.  

NSF DMS #1757493: REU Site: Computational Modeling and Simulation in Applied Sciences (PI: W. Ding, co-PIs: R. Leander, W. Robertson and J. Phillips), $241,470, 2018-2022. https://mtsunews.com/mtsu-hosts-undergrad-research-cohorts/