Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences - PIMS

This ten-day workshop, held in early May each year, is designed to introduce approximately 20 undergraduates to the subject of mathematical biology and to give them the tools needed to continue research in mathematical biology. It is the only workshop of its kind in Canada and attracts students from across Canada and America. Many of the summer workshop alumni have continued in mathematical biology as graduate students.

The aim of the Workshop is to introduce students to mathematical modelling and analysis applied to real biological systems via:

- Lectures and exercises that introduce students to various techniques of mathematical modelling of biological systems.

- A self-guided tutorial, that teaches students computational techniques to simulate mathematical models and relate them to real biological data.

- Projects in which teams of two to three students experience the modelling process by working on an open-ended project. Projects are chosen from a wide variety of topics, including epidemiology, population biology, cell biology, and physiology.

Typically, participants have completed two to three years of undergraduate study in mathematics or a similar quantitative science. Undergraduates in their third year are especially encouraged to attend. Graduate students in the biological and medical sciences who are interested in mathematical modelling are also welcome.

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of calculus, linear algebra and differential equations. Programming experience is not necessary, but beneficial.

Application deadline: March 5, 2010.

See www.math.ualberta.ca/~mathbio/ for more information and to apply.

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