A Collection of Student Talks
Mathematics Department
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Probabilistic Anomaly Detection For Healthcare Robotics
Speaker: Zackory Erickson
Mobile manipulators, like the Personal Robot 2 (PR2), are capable of assisting motor impaired individuals
with a number of daily activities. However, many of these tasks, such as feeding, prove to be challenging as
the robot must operate within a human’s intimate space. We will explore how anomaly detection can improve
the safety of care provided by assistive robotic systems. I will describe the design of a probabilistic anomaly
detection approach and illustrate this approach being applied to a robotic feeding task. This talk will describe
my research in assistive robotics at Georgia Tech and will focus on how you, as an undergraduate, can be
invited to conduct research at prestigious universities around the nation.
Modeling and Analysis of Two Gene Regulatory Networks Using Finite Dynamical Systems
Speaker: Alexander Garza
Finite dynamical systems (FDSs) are an alternative way of modeling gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that
consider discrete, rather than continuous, values for the network’s collection of signaling molecules and transcription factors. FDSs can model interactions between objects and their effects on the dynamics of the
GRN without cumbersome parameter estimation and approximation schemes. Interplay between signaling
molecules and transcription factors leads to the activation of genes which encode for specific proteins to carry
out biological activity. We use FDS to model the formation of germ layers in axlotl and Xenopus laevis,
specifically mesoderm and anterior mesendoderm. We show that these FDSs can reproduce the bitstability
seen in laboratory experiments for both species, and highlight the most essential interactions necessary for the
system to form various germ layers.
Math Modelling and Market Forecasting for Fastenal Company
Speaker: Daniel Morrison
Math modelling is a powerful tool for making decisions within complex environments. This presentation
describes the process of creating sales forecasts for the company Fastenal, including developing forecasts, validating them, and running simulations to find the model that maximizes profit.
Friday, October 16th
Time:3:30-4:30pm
All Welcome to Attend
Cowley Hall 156