The Applied Math - Biology concentration recognizes that mathematics is essential to address many modern biological problems in the post genomic era. Specifically, high throughput technologies have rendered vast new biological data sets that require novel analytical skills for the most basic analyses. These technologies are spawning a new "data-driven" paradigm in the biological sciences and the fields of bioinformatics and systems biology. The foundations of these new fields are inherently mathematical, with a focus on probability, statistical inference, and systems dynamics. These mathematical methods apply very broadly in many biological fields including some like population growth, spread of disease, that predate the genomics revolution. Nevertheless, the application of these methods in areas of biology from molecular genetics to evolutionary biology has grown very rapidly in with the availability of vast amounts of genomic sequence data. Required coursework in this program aims at ensuring expertise in mathematical and statistical sciences, and their application in biology. The students will focus in particular areas of biology. The program culminates in a senior capstone experience that pairs student and faculty in creative research collaborations.
Standard program for the Sc.B. degree
Required coursework in this program aims at ensuring expertise in mathematical and statistical sciences, and their application in biology. The students will focus in particular areas of biology. The program culminates in a senior capstone experience that pairs student and faculty in creative research collaborations. Applied Math – Biology concentrators are prepared for careers in medicine, public health, industry and academic research.
Required Courses:
Students are required to take all of the following courses.
| MATH 0090 | Single Variable Calculus, Part I | 1 |
| MATH 0100 | Single Variable Calculus, Part II | 1 |
| or MATH 0170 | Single Variable Calculus, Part II (Accelerated) | |
| MATH 0180 | Multivariable Calculus | 1 |
| MATH 0520 | Linear Algebra | 1 |
| or MATH 0540 | Linear Algebra With Theory | |
| CHEM 0330 | Equilibrium, Rate, and Structure | 1 |
| PHYS 0030 | Basic Physics A | 1 |
| or PHYS 0050 | Foundations of Mechanics | |
| Select one of the following sequences: | 2 | |
| Applied Ordinary Differential Equations | ||
or APMA 0360 | Applied Partial Differential Equations I | |
| Methods of Applied Mathematics I | ||
or APMA 0340 | Methods of Applied Mathematics II | |
| APMA 1650 | Statistical Inference I | 1 |
| or APMA 1655 | Honors Statistical Inference I | |
| APMA 1070 | Quantitative Models of Biological Systems | 1 |
| APMA 1080 | Inference in Genomics and Molecular Biology | 1 |
| or NEUR 2110 | Statistical Neuroscience | |
| BIOL 0200 | The Foundation of Living Systems | 1 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| One additional course in Applied Math or Biology | 1 | |
| We strongly recommend that Applied Mathematics-Biology concentrators take one of the programming courses on or before their first semester as a concentrator. Those who do can use it to satisfy this requirement: | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing | ||
| Introduction to Scientific Computing and Problem Solving | ||
| Computing Foundations: Data | ||
| Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Science | ||
| Computer Science: An Integrated Introduction | ||
| Accelerated Introduction to Computer Science | ||
| Introduction to programming | ||
| One research-related course in Applied Math or Biology. For example: | 1 | |
A senior seminar course from the APMA 193X, 194X series | ||
A directed research/independent study course in a related discipline (i.e. STEM disciplines, ENVS, PHP, etc.) if the project is relevant to the student's learning goals in the concentration and with approval from the concentration advisor. | ||
A non-research course related to the concentration along with a research experience equivalent in scope and scale to work the student would pursue in an Applied Math or Biology independent study course. Examples include UTRAs, LINK awards, research programs at other institutions, etc. This requires approval from the concentration advisor and appropriate documentation. | ||
Other equivalent opportunities not listed - with approval from the concentration advisor. | ||
| Four classes in the biological sciences agreed upon by the student and advisor. These four courses should form a cohesive grouping in a specific area of emphasis, at least two of which should be at the 1000-level. Some example groupings are below: | 4 | |
| Areas of Emphasis and Suggested Courses: | ||
| Some areas of possible emphasis for focusing of elective courses are listed below. Given the large number of course offerings in the biosciences and neuroscience, students are free to explore classes in these areas that are not listed below. However, all classes must be approved by the concentration advisor. APMA 1910 cannot be used as an elective. | ||
Biochemistry | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Advanced Biochemistry | ||
| Organic Chemistry I | ||
or CHEM 0360 | Organic Chemistry II | |
| Chemical Biology | ||
Biotechnology and Physiology | ||
| Principles of Physiology | ||
| Cell Physiology and Biophysics | ||
and/or appropriate bioengineering courses, such as: | ||
| Polymer Science for Biomaterials | ||
| Biomaterials | ||
| Tissue Engineering | ||
| Stem Cell Engineering | ||
| Synthetic Biological Systems | ||
Ecology, Evolution, and Genetics | ||
| Invertebrate Zoology | ||
or BIOL 0480 | Evolutionary Biology | |
| Principles of Ecology | ||
or BIOL 0430 | The Evolution of Plant Diversity | |
| Genetics | ||
| Experimental Design in Ecology | ||
| Foundations of Population Genetics | ||
| Human Population Genomics | ||
| Molecular Genetics | ||
Neuroscience | ||
| Mathematical Methods in the Brain Sciences | ||
Neurosciences courses: See https://www.brown.edu/academics/neuroscience/undergraduate/neuroscience-concentration-requirements | ||
| Cell Physiology and Biophysics | ||
| Topics in Signal Transduction | ||
| Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity | ||
| Total Credits | 18 | |
| 1 | Students whose independent study is expected to be in an experimental field are strongly encouraged to take APMA 1660, which covers experimental design and the analysis of variance (ANOVA), a method commonly used in the analysis of experimental data. |
Professional Tracks
The requirements for the professional tracks include all those of each of the standard tracks, as well as the following:
Students must complete full-time professional experiences doing work that is related to their concentration programs, totaling 2-6 months, whereby each internship must be at least one month in duration in cases where students choose to do more than one internship experience. Such work is normally done at a company, but may also be at a university under the supervision of a faculty member. Internships that take place between the end of the fall and the start of the spring semesters cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
On completion of each professional experience, the student must write and upload to ASK a reflective essay about the experience, to be approved by the student's concentration advisor, addressing these questions:
- Which courses were put to use in your summer's work? Which topics, in particular, were important?
- In retrospect, which courses should you have taken before embarking on your summer experience? What are the topics from these courses that would have helped you over the summer if you had been more familiar with them?
- Are there topics you should have been familiar with in preparation for your summer experience, but are not taught at Brown? What are these topics?
- What did you learn from the experience that probably could not have been picked up from course work?
- Is the sort of work you did over the summer something you would like to continue doing once you graduate? Explain.
- Would you recommend your summer experience to other Brown students? Explain.
Honors
Concentrators that demonstrate excellence in grades and in undergraduate research can be awarded departmental honors. Complete guidelines, requirements, and deadlines for honors are published on the APMA departmental website. The main requirements include:
- Earning grades of A or S-with-distinction in at least 70% of the courses used for concentration credit, excluding calculus and linear algebra, by the end of the penultimate semester.
- Completion of an in-depth, original research project in a STEM discipline carried out under the guidance of a Brown-affiliated faculty advisor and documented with the completion of two semesters of independent study courses under the advisor’s supervision.
- Completion of an honors thesis describing this research project that also demonstrates both the use of mathematical methodology in the project and the relevance to the biological sciences.