The Third R
Michigan Technological University • Department of Mathematical Sciences
January 2009
Michigan Tech Math Department Makes the
National Science Foundation’s Top 100
The Department of Mathematical Sciences
has seen a phenomenal boost in its research
program, as reflected in the National
Science Foundation’s annual report
on research expenditures. In its
breakdown of expenditures
by field, the NSF publishes
only the top 100, and in
fiscal year 2005, Michigan
Tech’s math department
did not make that list. But
in FY2006, it rocketed
up to 79th. The results were
announced in December 2007.
“They didn’t just cross over into
the top 100, they burst through,” said Vice
President for Research David Reed. “It’s an
amazing accomplishment.”
The department’s research program has
been building for a number of years, he said,
first under the leadership of former chair Al
Baartmans and more recently with the support
of the current chair, Mark Gockenbach.
“It’s primarily the result of our faculty in
statistical genetics,” Gockenbach said. “They
have received a lot of funding from the
National Institutes of Health to study
the genetic causes of disease using
statistical techniques. Additionally,
other faculty in discrete and
applied mathematics have been
doing important research that
is being supported by funding
agencies.”
Max Seel, who recently stepped
down as dean of sciences and arts, also
commended the department. “This is exciting
news for the Department of Mathematical
Sciences,” he said. “My congratulations and
compliments go to the faculty who made this
possible. I also would like to extend my thanks
and recognition to the former department chair,
Dr. Al Baartmans, who laid the foundation for
the statistical genetics group.”
The NSF report lists Michigan Tech
125th among public institutions, up from
127th, and 75th among institutions without
medical schools, up from 79th. At 9.7 percent,
the University is 19th in the nation in the
proportion of research supported by industry.
Michigan Tech has moved up six places
in the National Science Foundation’s annual
report, to 173rd from 179th. Eight other
Michigan Tech departments and areas of study
also maintained their standing among the NSF
study’s top 100.
Michigan Tech’s research program is
continuing to grow, Reed said. “Overall, we
increased from $43.1 million to $56.6 million
from FY2006 to FY2007,” he said. “Though
there is always some up and down, we should
be looking at further increases this year in most
disciplines, so the news should continue to be
good going forward.”
The NSF report is available at
www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf08300/.
Dear Friends of the Department of Mathematical Sciences,
The Third R is produced by
Michigan Tech’s Department of
Mathematical Sciences and edited
and designed by University Marketing
and Communications.
Mark Gockenbach
Chair of Mathematical Sciences
Jeanne Meyers
Administrative Assistant
Michigan Technological University
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1295
It has been some years since the department produced a
regular newsletter, but with this edition of The Third R I hope to
make it an annual event. The department has grown in many ways
in recent years: new faculty, more students studying mathematics at
both undergraduate and graduate levels, more research and external
funding. This newsletter will bring you up to date on some of these
changes and highlight recent departmental accomplishments.
We will be including profiles of faculty members, graduate
students, and alumni. If you earned a degree from the department,
we would love to hear from you and learn what you are doing now.
Send us an email to mathdept@mtu.edu; yours could be the next
alumni profile!
Best wishes,
Phone: 906-487-2068
Email: mathdept@mtu.edu
Michigan Technological University is an equal opportunity
educational institution/equal opportunity employer. 122008
The Third R • January 2009
Mark Gockenbach, chair
1
ALUMNI Profiles
FACULTY Profiles
Ted Ellickson
Hometown St. Johns, Michigan
Education BS in Mathematical Sciences, 1996
Why did you choose to study mathematics?
I found a professor that compelled me to learn,
so I switched from electrical engineering to
math so that I could continue taking his classes.
Why did you come to Michigan Tech?
The weather. The Norwegian in me is happiest
in the snow. Also, I was either going to the
University of Michigan or Michigan Tech,
and the quality of education for the price is
unbeatable at Tech.
What stands out to you from your years at
Michigan Tech? The Keweenaw. Every chance
I had I would go exploring, climbing, rapelling,
or just plain sightseeing in one of the most
beautiful places in country.
Describe your professional career since
you graduated. Right out of Tech, I took
a graduate assistant coaching position at
Melonie (McKenzie)
Stothers
Hometown I grew
up in Chesterfield,
Michigan, and now
live in Royal Oak.
Education BS in
Mathematical Sciences
from Tech, 1999;
and juris doctor
from Syracuse
University College of Law, 2002
Why did you choose to study mathematics? I
was an environmental engineering major
planning to go to law school, but found
engineering classes boring. My favorite classes
were in math. So, as I finished my last math
classes and grew despondent in having only
engineering classes, I met with Dr. [Konrad]
Huevers about jobs for math majors. He told
me of many opportunities, including law, so I
switched to math.
Why did you come to Michigan Tech? I
decided to attend after a campus tour before I
graduated from high school. I fell in love with
the campus.
What stands out to you from your years at
Michigan Tech? I made the best friends of my
life at Tech. When everyone is grounded in one
place like you are at Tech, people become the
central focus. You do not have the distraction of
superfluous entertainment options.
Describe your career. Upon graduation, I
went to law school. From there, I became an
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Michigan State University. At the end of my
two-year assistantship, Nick Saban offered me
a full-time position on his staff. I have now
served as video coordinator at Michigan State
since 1998.
How well did your education prepare you for
your career? You wouldn’t think that a degree
in mathematics would have any application in
the coaching/video world, but when I started,
the digital video workflow was in its infancy.
That means I have been a beta tester for the
past decade. The most important tool you can
have when beta testing software and hardware
is logic. The ability to rule out variables and get
to the source of the problem is invaluable.
What advice do you have for current
students? Being able to perform well on an
exam worth up to 50 percent of your grade is
as big of a skill as the material you are being
tested on. Also, try not to schedule 8:00 am
classes. You’re going to have to get up early the
rest of your life.
associate litigation attorney at Barris, Sott,
Denn & Driker, PLLC in Detroit, where I
have been since fall 2002. I work on myriad
business matters, from contract disputes to
construction disputes, with issues all over the
map, from trade secrets to attorney malpractice,
supplier problems, and manufacturing errors.
How well did your education prepare you for
your career? First, when I went to law school,
I was actually used to doing homework and
studying for my classes. That was not true for
my classmates that had a traditional liberal arts
undergraduate experience. Later, I landed my
current position because of my background
with math and science. The firm needed an
attorney who could intelligently talk with
statisticians and physicists. Since then, I have
been relied upon for dealing with technical
issues, which come up all of the time for our
clients. We have cases where engineering
quality comes into play or statistics or some
other scientific area. Further, my degree in math
helped me think analytically. I learned to take a
step-by-step approach in solving mathematical
proofs and attacking the various problems I was
given in my math courses, which is very helpful
in writing persuasive legal briefs.
What advice do you have for current
students? Study what you enjoy, but take into
serious consideration what you will do with the
degree when you graduate. If you are paying
for your education using student loans, make
sure you are preparing yourself for a job that
exists. Try to find a degree and area of study
that you enjoy and that can help you live your
life upon graduation. If you enjoy what you
are doing, then it will be easier to succeed. Too
What is your most significant
accomplishment so far in life?
My degree from Michigan Tech.
What’s the biggest challenge you have faced?
Keeping up with the growth of my industry.
What do you hope to be doing five years from
now? Developing the latest and greatest in
sports facilities and software.
Besides your work, what is near and dear to
you? My wife, Sarah, and skiing.
What do you consider your strongest trait?
Tenacity.
What trips you up? Working seven days a
week for six months straight through football
season gets old.
What are your hobbies/recreation? I serve
on two boards promoting cross-country skiing
to blind and mobility-impaired persons (love
that snow).
many times people choose a degree based upon
what they like to do, but can’t find a job and
end up with work they dislike. College is four
years, but the majority of us will be working
for the rest of our lives. Use these four years to
make the rest of your life enjoyable, even if that
means getting a degree in something that is not
your first choice, but you still enjoy it.
What is your most significant
accomplishment so far in life? Having two
wonderful children.
What’s the biggest challenge you have
faced? Balancing life. It is extremely difficult
to be a good parent, a good spouse, and work
full-time as an attorney. It has been especially
challenging the last couple of months with
the birth of my second child because she has
congenital heart defects. I have now added
“being a good nurse” to the list of my jobs.
What do you hope to be doing five years from
now? Working as a litigation attorney, but as a
partner of the firm, rather than an associate. I
anticipate the same type of work, but different
issues and cases. And for my clients’ sakes,
different clients. That is one of the reasons I
love litigation. You never do the same thing for
an extended period of time. There are always
new cases, new facts, new people.
Besides your work, what is near and dear to
you? My family is my highest priority.
What do you consider your strongest
trait? My organizational skills.
What trips you up? Spelling. I am a poor
speller. That is a hindrance when you write
for your livelihood like I do. Luckily, I have a
wonderful secretary who catches my errors.
The Third R • January 2009
John Phillip Beckwith,
Associate Professor
Hometown Hancock,
Michigan
Education Bachelor’s
degree from University
of Michigan, master’s
and PhD from Wayne
State University
Why did you choose
this discipline? I
started to enjoy studying math in high school.
Taking courses in physics and chemistry in
college reinforced my interest in mathematics.
I continued to study mathematics as a graduate
student and realized that I like working in
higher education. The opportunity to be a
member of a math faculty was and is very
appealing to me.
Why did you come to Michigan Tech? At
the time that I was finishing my PhD in 1969,
Michigan Tech’s math department was looking
for faculty with a PhD in the area of statistics. I
interviewed in the spring of 1970 and liked the
science- and engineering-oriented university.
Has Tech met your expectations? Michigan
Tech has been a great place to work over my
thirty-eight years here. As the University and
Fabrizio Zanello,
Assistant Professor
Hometown Genova, Italy
Education PhD
in Mathematics
(commutative
algebra) from Queen’s
University at Kingston,
Canada, in 2004
Why did you choose
this discipline? I have always had a sincere
love for mathematics, and it’s probably the only
discipline I have a real talent for.
Why did you come to Michigan Tech? At
some point I decided that becoming a professor
in the US was one of my main goals, and I saw
an important opportunity at Michigan Tech.
Has Tech met your expectations so far? My
first year was overall very positive.
What do students mean to you? In my daily
teaching, as well as in life, I enjoy helping
people do the best they can. Every once in a
while, I recognize a real talent in someone, and
those are the most precious experiences.
Describe your research and what you hope
The Third R • January 2009
the math department expanded, I have had
the opportunity to work on many interesting
research projects as well as to teach a lot of
different and interesting courses. Being at
Michigan Tech a rather long time, I have had
the opportunity to see some of my former
students and learn of their success in life. It is
very gratifying if they indicate I had a positive
effect in their learning and life.
Talk about teaching. I enjoy seeing students
learn fundamental concepts of math and
statistics. I feel that if one understands
the concepts, one should be able to do the
mechanics after some practice. My approach to
teaching has been to promote understanding
and downplay simply practicing the mechanics.
I believe that it is also very important to show
the theory relates to modeling in the real world.
What do students mean to you? Universities
produce two things: research and students.
Michigan Tech has had an emphasis on
producing students. They are Michigan Tech’s
“product on the market” and are on what
the University is judged. My job as a math
instructor has been to help the University
produce the most capable and competitive
students that it can. These students are
Michigan Tech’s product for the future.
Describe your research and what you hope
to achieve. I have studied adhesive strength
to achieve. Speaking in the most general
and least technical terms I know, I study sets
whose elements are related by two operations,
each enjoying some specific properties. These
algebraic objects are called rings, and the goal
of my research is to determine the abstract
consequences of those two operations on the
structure of such sets, regardless of what the
elements of the sets are.
There are a number of directions that one can
then take in this research. Mine addresses issues
at the border between two fields, commutative
algebra and algebraic combinatorics. What I
hope to achieve is a profound understanding of
how those two disciplines are related.
What is your most significant
accomplishment so far in life? Having a
beautiful life.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in your
work? Deciding what is beautiful mathematics
and what is not.
Do you have a mentor? I certainly have
to mention my former PhD advisor, Tony
Geramita. Not only did he substantially help
me grow as a mathematician, but also his advice
is still unusually important to me.
and durability using accelerated testing, wood
preservatives, weather and its effect on infrared
background, and anti-icing compounds for road
ice. As a statistician on such projects, my job
often involved analyzing large amounts of data.
The development of high-speed computers
and statistical software has made that job a lot
easier and more interesting. My goal has been
to apply statistical analysis that clearly reflected
the state of nature and the decisions that are to
be made about it.
Besides your education, what did it take for
you to get where you are now? I was fortunate
to have parents who provided me motivation
and discipline in my youth. I also have had
more than a few lucky breaks over the years.
What drives you? I like to see things
happening and get completed successfully.
How do you envision the world will be
different in ten years? I see the world
becoming ever more technically complicated.
Many students may well get their classwork
delivered over an iPod, and the classrooms of
today may be significantly changed. Students
will always want personal contact with an
instructor, but how those interactions occur
could be very different than it is today.
What are your hobbies/recreation? I enjoy
playing competitive sports such as hockey,
racquetball, and handball.
Determination, hard work, and luck also played
important roles.
Describe yourself in three words. Honest,
self-confident, positive.
What drives you? The pleasure of new
achievements, the ambition for new
achievements.
How do you envision the world will be
different in ten years? It will be either far
better or far worse, depending on how strong
and far-sighted our political leaders will be.
What do you hope to be doing five years from
now? What I’m doing now, just better. It
will mostly depend on whether or not I make
enough mistakes during the next five years.
What do consider your strongest trait? Selfconfidence.
What trips you up? Self-confidence.
What are your hobbies/recreation? Playing
sports (soccer, tennis, ping-pong), traveling,
collecting fine watches.
How do you define success? Doing something
positive of eternal value. I believe I haven’t
done it yet.
Besides your education, what did it take
for you to get where you are now? A
specific talent has been the decisive factor.
3
Fisher Hall Gets Extreme Makeover
FACULTY Profiles continued
Kathleen Feigl,
Professor
Hometown Chicago
Education PhD
in Mathematics,
Illinois Institute of
Technology
Why did you choose
this discipline? I
enjoyed and was
good at mathematics
throughout my schooling. I was also very
interested in science and engineering, and math
plays a central role in these disciplines.
Talk about teaching. Teaching is one of
my most important contributions to society.
Teaching is more than lecturing, testing, and
assigning grades. A good teacher tries to instill
in students qualities that help them in life:
discipline, strong work ethics, responsibility,
and, most importantly, the ability to learn.
What do students mean to you? I do not see
or treat students as customers. I see students
more as my partners in the sense that we must
both do our jobs in order for the learning
process to be successful. I get satisfaction
helping them understand material, and even
greater satisfaction when I see that our efforts
are producing positive results.
Describe your research and what you hope
to achieve. I develop and use computational
algorithms to simulate the flow behavior of
complex fluid systems, such as polymer melts
and solutions, emulsions, foams, and polymer
blends. These fluids are processed in many
scientific and industrial fields, such as foods,
plastics, and pharmaceuticals.
The main goal is to understand the coupling
and interplay between the processing flow,
the characteristics of the fluid system (e.g.,
its microstructure, rheology, and interfacial
properties), and the properties of the final
product. Once these relationships are known,
the process can be optimized to manufacture
products with desired properties. I collaborate
with engineering research groups at the
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH
Zurich) and the University of Tennessee, where
experiments and model developments are
performed that compliment my simulations.
Do you have a motto or philosophy of life
that guides you in your endeavors? It could be
worse, but it should be better.
What is your most significant
accomplishment so far in life? Getting a PhD,
since everything else has evolved from that.
What’s the biggest challenge you face in
your work? Biggest mathematical challenge:
Deriving realistic mathematical models that
incorporate the physics of the fluid systems
and processes, and developing accurate, stable,
efficient computational algorithms to simulate
related flow phenomena.
Biggest challenge to my research program:
Getting enough graduate students who are
both interested in and capable of doing this
work.
Besides your education, what did it take for
you to get where you are now? Hard work and
some luck.
Besides your work, what is near and dear to
you? My family and friends.
What do consider your strongest traits?
Strongest positive traits: conscientiousness,
objectivity, tolerance. Strongest negative traits:
impatience, impulsiveness.
What are your hobbies/recreation? Hiking,
ping-pong, traveling.
How do you define success? Accomplishing
one’s goals without compromising one’s values.
GRADUATE STUDENT Profile
Zhan Ye (Harold)
Hometown Nanjing
Jiangsu, China
Education BS in
Applied Mathematics
and Education,
Soochow University,
Soochow, China; MS
and PhD in Statistics,
Michigan Tech
Why did you choose this discipline? I have
loved mathematics since I was a child. My
dream has always been to serve people and
society, and mathematics and statistics give me
numerous chances to do that.
Why did you come to Michigan Tech?
Michigan Tech has given me such a good
opportunity to learn and to use my knowledge.
I give special thanks to my advisor, Dr.
Shuanglin Zhang, an expert in statistical
genetics. He has led me to a new world and
inspires me with his wisdom and hard work.
What has been most meaningful about your
experience at Michigan Tech? Being a foreign
student. I am proud of being a grad student
from China surviving both in my studies and in
life in the USA. I have become an independent
researcher and have shared my knowledge with
4
people all over the world. And I have the most
meaningful friends back in Michigan Tech.
Describe your dissertation research (in
layman’s terms, as much as possible). My
interest is statistical genetics, especially the
genetic underpinnings of human disease. We
develop methods of conducting genome-wide
association studies and other studies connected
to human genes and populations.
What are your career goals? To be a good
researcher and manager; to bring knowledge to
the real world; to work with other professionals.
What are your immediate plans upon
graduation? I work at Marshfield Clinic on
statistics-related projects. I found that there are
a million ways to do things. And as just one
member of a team, I am learning as well as
contributing to this big pot.
Do you have a motto or philosophy of life that
guides you in your endeavors? Never give up.
Be aware of what you are, where you go, and
how you perform.
What is your most significant
accomplishment so far in life? I survived,
learned, and gave of myself.
What is the biggest challenge you have
faced? To change from a student to a laborer.:)
Describe yourself in three words. Consistent,
hard-working, kind.
Complaining about Fisher Hall had been
a favorite pastime for Michigan Tech students
for decades, what with its antiquated wiring,
leaky roof, and an ambience roughly equivalent
to that of a minimum security prison.
But two years ago, the circa 1964 classroom
and office building went through a major
metamorphosis.
It needed it, says Jim Heikkinen, assistant
director of planning and engineering. “This
building was in bad shape,” he says. “It had
lot of obsolete stuff that we’ve wiped out and
replaced. Fortunately, it was a well-designed
building.
“It has good bones.”
That made the 2006 re-do easier. The lobby
is now dressed up in new colors and awash in
light, both from big windows opening onto an
outdoor seating area and from new lighting.
New classrooms are wired, lecture hall Fisher
135 is unrecognizable, and the roof doesn’t leak.
All this makes Heikkinen very happy.
“Quite often, we spend money on things
people never see, and this project is more heavy
on things people appreciate right away.”
Like, the seats. “Check this out,” he says,
settling into one. “It’s really comfortable.”
It’s no accident that the chair feels good.
Before buying, Facilities Management subjected
several sample chairs to the student fanny test.
This seat got over 550 votes out of 800.
Other changes in Fisher 135: A new
podium links the lecturer to all kinds of nifty
instructional gadgetry. The seating is staggered
to provide a better view of the stage. The
acoustics and lighting are better. A plasma
screen has been added.
Across the hall, Fisher 139 underwent a
parallel resurrection, with sliding blackboards
and an electronic podium. Students in the
back can see table-top experiments on a big
plasma screen. “We spruced up the lighting and
did some work on the acoustics,” Heikkinen
said. “Acoustically, 139 was OK, but overall, it
looked hideous.”
The reason 139 and the rest of Fisher are no
longer, well, hideous, is simple. “We had heavy
faculty involvement at the very beginning,”
he said. Faculty were asked what they wanted,
and the University solicited contracts based
on their preferences. “We were looking for the
best value for our students, faculty, and the
University,” says Heikkinen.
Heikkinen shows a typical classroom.
Again, the chairs are worth mentioning. “I
should see if I can get one for my office,” he
says. There are no bad seats: they all have a clear
view of the front of the class.
“We worked with faculty to come up with
the teaching wall,” he says. Each one has
screens, blackboards or whiteboards that move
up and down, and special lighting that the
teacher can control, plus a podium with built-in
electronics.
The University spent about $2.5 million
on the classroom renovation, which includes
twenty classrooms as well as three lecture halls.
“We also have a $300,000 life safety project
that added fire alarms, door hardware, and
other safety items to Chem Sci and Fisher,”
Heikkinen said.
The new lighting is part of a broader, $1.2million project that involved several buildings.
“It’s sometimes called full-spectrum lighting,”
he says. “It’s like the light of the noonday sun,
with all parts of the visible spectrum, and it
feels like a skylight.”
Aside from giving a sunshine lift to the
building occupants, the lighting boosts the
bottom line. “The University is saving gobs on
electricity.”
A number of faculty and staff worked long
and hard to figure out what could make Fisher
a better place for students and faculty. You can
see the results of their long hours, he says, with
a wave of his arm that encompasses the entire
building. “It’s been very gratifying.”
Fisher 135’s comfortable seating and cuttingedge multimedia capabilities typify the
improvements made to Fisher Hall, home of the
Department of Mathematical Sciences and one
of Michigan Tech’s primary classroom buildings.
What drives you? My family and my friends
hold me when I am sinking, encourage me
when I am sad, and lead me when I am lost. I
cannot disappoint them, so I became stronger
and fight harder to accomplish my goals.
How do you envision the world will be
different in ten years? With modern
technology, everything in people’s lives will be
changed: how they think, the places they live,
the relationships they depend on, the methods
they use to communicate. Most importantly,
people are getting more and more in control of
the world physically; however, we hopefully will
also find ways to balance our lives.
What do you hope to be doing five years
from now? Working hard, enjoying my life,
anticipating new challenges in my future.
What do you consider your strongest
traits? Consistency and dedication.
What are your hobbies/recreation? Cooking,
badminton, tennis, watching cartoons, helping
people out, and getting new ideas into my life.
How do you define success? Fifty percent of
success is your responsibility; you have to work
hard. The other 50 percent of your success
derives from your environment and the people
around you, so please be good to people around
you and to your environment.
The Third R • January 2009
The Third R • January 2009
5
Statistical Geneticist Zhang Receives 2008 Research Award
Mathematical
sciences professor
Shuanglin Zhang is
this year’s recipient
of Michigan Tech’s
prestigious Research
Award.
Zhang was selected
for his groundbreaking
work in statistical genetics, which has been
instrumental in raising the profile of his
department nationally and boosting it into the
top 100 in the US in terms of research funding.
This is the second time in a decade that a
mathematical sciences faculty member has been
honored with the Research Award. Professor
Vladimir Tonchev, an international leader in
coding and design theory, received the award
in 2003.
In an unusual move, the University
presented two Research Awards this year. The
other recipient is Professor Ravi Pandey, chair
of the Department of Physics.
Zhang’s research has had a phenomenal
impact on his department, said Chair Mark
Gockenbach. “It’s largely due to Shuanglin
that the department made it into the top 100
nationally in terms of research expenditures,”
he said. “He’s also helped set a new standard for
the department in terms of advising graduate
students and postdocs—he’s kicked that up to
a new level.”
Zhang is advising four of the twelve
doctoral students within the department’s
statistical genetics group, which includes
Zhang’s wife, Assistant Professor Qiuying
Sha. Because Zhang has amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease), the
group meets for a Sunday evening seminar
every week at the couple’s home.
Using his computer to communicate, Zhang
said he was “really excited” when he learned he
would receive the Research Award.
“Lots of Michigan Tech faculty do awesome
research,” said Sha. “We are honored, and
we really appreciate Mark for nominating
Shuanglin.” She also thanked the graduate
students and postdocs on their team for
contributing to the award-winning research.
Zhang and his team develop statistical
tools to isolate the genetic causes of
disease, a foundational effort to cure some
of humankind’s most intractable illnesses.
“Usually, a single gene doesn’t have much
effect,” said Gockenbach. “Combinations of
genes are behind these diseases. The human
genome has a large number of genes to begin
with, so the number of possible combinations is
astronomical.”
Zhang and his team have identified eleven
genes associated with type 2 diabetes using a
novel statistical method that first narrows the
field of potentially dangerous genes and then
determines which act on their own and which
act in combination. This test compares the
genomes of unrelated groups with and without
a specific disease; in this study, they analyzed
the genomes of over a thousand people, half
with type 2 diabetes and half without.
They have also developed a powerful new
statistical tool that can cast back through
generations of a family to determine which
genes are associated with inherited illnesses,
such as ALS and diabetes.
Zhang has authored or coauthored sixty
papers in refereed publications, many in the top
journals in his field. He has been the principal
or co-principal investigator on over $2 million
in research funding from the National Institutes
of Health and the National Science Foundation.
Zhang received the mathematical sciences
department’s Outstanding Research Award
in 2002, 2004, 2005, and 2006 and the
Outstanding Research Award three times at
Heilongjiang University, in Harbin, China.
He came to the US in 1999 as a postdoctoral
associate at the Yale University School of
Medicine and joined the Michigan Tech
faculty in 2001.
Daniel Schaid, a professor of genomics at
the Mayo Clinic, wrote in support of Zhang’s
nomination. “Throughout the years, I have
closely followed Dr. Zhang’s publications
on statistical genetics because of his
impressive insights into genetic problems and
sophisticated statistical skills,” he wrote. “When
I was editor of the journal Genetic Epidemiology,
Dr. Zhang’s submitted publications often
received highly favorable reviews, resulting in
important publications . . . He is well deserving
of the Research Award.”
Hongyu Zhao, a professor of biostatistics
and genetics at Yale, praised Zhang’s research
contributions. “He has established himself as
one of the leaders in a highly competitive field
that holds the promise of helping geneticists
identify targets to treat human diseases,”
Zhao said. “His work has been truly pathbreaking and highly influential, reflected by his
publications, the grants that have been awarded
to him, the presentations he has been invited
to give, and, most importantly, the highest
respect he commands among his peers in the
community.”
“It would be impossible to enumerate all the
contributions he has made,” Zhao added. “In
addition, he has demonstrated the highest level
of integrity, both in his interactions with people
and in the quality of his work.”
Graduates
BS
MS
PhD
30
25
20
Genome-Wide Association Study and
Microarray Analysis,” developed three
statistical techniques that are useful in mapping
complex genes. The results of his research could
be used to analyze complex genome sequences
and identify genetic causes of disease. Qin will
continue his research as a postdoctoral fellow
at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in
the Department of Biostatistics and Medical
Informatics.
Undergraduate Concentrations for
the BS in Mathematical Sciences
Actuarial Science
Applied and Computational Mathematics
Discrete Mathematics
General Mathematics
Secondary Education
Statistics
Recent Retirements
15
10
5
0
2005–06
2006–07
2007–08
Twenty-one students have earned the PhD
since our first student graduated in 2001.
University-wide enrollment in
mathematics courses
7000
6500
6250
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Recent grants
Vladimir Tonchev PI
“Research on Classical and Quantum Codes”
$45,824 (two years), National Security
Agency (NSA)
Tom Drummer PI
“Protocol Narrative and Standard Operating
Procedures for Monitoring Moose within
National Parks in Southwest Alaska”
$21,185 (one year), US Department of Interior
$600,000
540,000
FY07:
480,000
420,000
360,000
300,000
In the last four years, department faculty have
published at least 126 papers and three books.
Shuanglin Zhang PI, Huann-Sheng Chen
Co-PI
“Statistical Methods for Admixture Mapping”
$228,000 (three years), National Institutes of
Health (NIH)
6750
6000
Mangalam Gopal, August 2003
William Francis, June 2005
Michael Gilpin, 2006
Alphonse Baartmans, August 2006
Beverly Baartmans, August 2006
Stephen Roblee, May 2007
Barbara Bertram, August 2007
Konrad Heuvers, August 2007
John Hilgers, August 2007
Phil Beckwith, May 2008
FY06:
Research expenditures
(sponsored programs)
Math PhD Graduate to Represent Michigan Tech for
the 2008 Distinguished Dissertation Competition
Huaizhen Qin is Michigan Tech’s
nominee for the 2008 Council of Graduate
Schools/University Microfilms International
Distinguished Dissertation Award in
the Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and
Engineering division.
Qin was advised by Associate Professor
Shuanglin Zhang and received a PhD
in Mathematical Sciences in 2008. His
dissertation, “Statistical Approaches for
Department at a Glance
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
Shari Stockero PI
“Improving Teacher Quality:
Developing Algebraic Thinking”
$184,102 (two years), Michigan
Department of Education
FY08:
Shuaglin Zhang PI
“LD Mapping using Haplotype Block:
Methods and Application”
$54,656 (one year), Case Western Reserve
University
Vladimir Tonchev PI
“Research on Combinatorial Designs
and Codes”
$25,614 (one year), NSA
6
The Third R • January 2009
The Third R • January 2009
7
Departmental Award Winners for 2007–08
Faculty
Outstanding Research (Assistant Professor):
Fabrizio Zanello
Outstanding Research (Associate or Full
Professor): Vladimir Tonchev and
Shuanglin Zhang
Outstanding Teaching (Lecturer or
Assistant Professor): Ann Humes and
Melissa Keranen
Outstanding Teaching (Associate or Full
Professor): Todd King and Tami Olson
Graduate Students
Outstanding Teaching: Alex Schaefer,
Lisa Thimm
Outstanding Research: Huaizhen Qin
Undergraduate Students
Rathke Receives Norman E. Scholz Award
Norman Scholz received his bachelor’s
degree in mathematics in 1958 and later
earned a master’s degree from the University
of Michigan. Upon his untimely death on
October 13, 1977, his parents established
an award in his memory. The Norman E.
Scholz Award is given each year to the most
outstanding senior in mathematics. The winner
Michigan Technological University
Department of Mathematical Sciences
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton, MI 49931-1295
this year was Kristine Rathke.
Kristine graduated summa cum laude with
a GPA of 3.97, both overall and in her
math courses. She plays several musical
instruments and also knits. (This is not your
mother’s knitting; for instance, she crocheted
a hyperbolic plane.) She has concentrations in
statistics and actuarial science and minors in
German and economics.
Charles Knobloch Award Presented
to Ken Riedel
Charles Knobloch graduated from Michigan
Tech with a degree in geological sciences
and established an award to promote the use
of higher mathematics in industry and to
encourage future alumni contributions. This
award is given for outstanding performance in
upper-level math courses, especially Abstract
Algebra and Real Analysis. The winner of the
Charles Knobloch Award for 2007–08 was
Ken Riedel.
Ken graduated magna cum laude in December
2007 with a concentration in applied and
computational mathematics. He had an overall
GPA of 3.86, with a 3.92 GPA in his math
courses. He is now pursuing a master’s degree
in applied mathematics here at Michigan Tech.
Mathematics Achievement Awards
Department faculty established the
Mathematics Achievement Award to recognize
students who have demonstrated excellence
and/or creativity in mathematics courses,
projects, or activities.
This year we recognized four students:
Brett Fox: Brett has a 3.95 overall GPA,
with a perfect 4.0 GPA in his math courses.
He graduated summa cum laude with a
concentration in secondary education.
Jizhou Li: In his first two years at Michigan
Tech, Jizhou made a name for himself by his
outstanding performance in algebra and other
subjects. He has a 3.96 cumulative GPA, with a
perfect 4.0 GPA in his math courses.
Anthony Hegg: Tony graduated with a double
major in physics and mathematics. He had an
overall GPA of 3.93, with a GPA of 3.86 in his
math courses.
Melissa Petrelius: Missy graduated in
December 2007 with a concentration in
actuarial science. She was a magna cum laude
graduate with an overall GPA of 3.86 and a
GPA of 3.76 in her math courses.