Mathematical Biology
| Faculty | Subject |
|---|---|
| Peter Taylor | Population dynamics, mathematical biology, math education |
| Troy Day | Evolutionary ecology, stability of dynamical systems, life history theory, inclusive fitness, structured populations, epidemiology |
| Postdoctoral Fellows | Subject |
|---|---|
| Rachel Bennett |
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Description of Activities
Peter Taylor and Troy Day are working in the rapidly growing research area of mathematical biology. Their work centers on evolutionary ecology, modeled using the mathematics of game theory and dynamical systems. Current interests include the modeling of behaviour in animals and plants (for example, sex allocation, dispersal, life-history tradeoffs, parasite-host dynamics, virulence, epidemiology, speciation) using techniques of population genetics, stability analysis and dynamic optimization.
At Queen's, we have a close working relationship between the Departments of Mathematics and Biology, and we are indeed fortunate to have one of the top Biology Departments in North America. Students studying mathematical biology live (and teach!) in the Math Department but take graduate courses in both Departments. To be admitted it is certainly not necessary to have a full undergraduate concentration in both disciplines. In fact, the best way for a student to learn either discipline is often in a focused way--with a good modelling problem as an incentive and a guide. When mathematics is well used, it gives stunning insights into the workings of the world, not only in the world of physics and engineering, but also in the less tidy world of biology.
Honours and Awards
P. D. Taylor, MAA Distinguished Teaching Award, Seaway Section (1992), 3M Teaching Fellowship (1994), OCUFA Teaching Award (2004).
Troy Day, NSERC Doctoral Prize (1998), CAIMS (Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society) Doctoral Dissertatation Award (1998), American Naturalist's Society Young Investigator's Award (1998), and Canada Research Chair. In 2006 Troy won the Steacie Prize.
