Propelled by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, students and faculty in the Mathematics Department are studying the rate of evolution in spatially structured populations using evolutionary graph theory.
In 2017, Associate Professors of Mathematics Benjamin Allen and Christine Sample were awarded nearly $300,000 over three years from the National Science Foundation to engage with students in the study of evolution as a mathematical process. In addition to collaborating with undergraduate students on this important project, the team hopes the research will aid in the understanding and treatment of cancer, which can be seen as unwanted evolution occurring inside the body.
“The award proved what we have long known—that the Emmanuel faculty engages students in the very highest levels of scientific research,” Dr. Sample said. “The skills and experience they gain in our labs set them apart in whatever field or career they choose.”
Their current group of student researchers, which includes Patricia Steinhagen ’20, Matthew King ’21, Julia Shapiro ’20, Timothy Hedspeth ’21 and Megan Goncalves ’20, work with Drs. Allen and Sample throughout the academic year and over the summer. This fall, they presented to the Emmanuel community their most current work on evolutionary dynamics and mathematical biology.
“Evolution occurs when there are genetic changes in a population over time,” the group explained in a project abstract. “These genetic changes, or mutations, impact an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce. We examined how the spatial structure of a population affects the rate at which mutations accumulate, as well as the balance of weak selection versus neutral drift.”
In fall 2019, the group traveled to present their work at an undergraduate research conference of the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis in Knoxville, TN. A previous cohort, which included Steinhagen, Robert Jencks ’19, James Withers ’16, Lori Brizuela ’20, Joshua Kolodny ’19 and Darren Parke ’16, also celebrated publication of an article in PLOS Computational Biology this spring.
When it came time to search for an internship, Philip decided to go big—and looked to the accounting industry’s Big 4 of Deloitte, EY, PwC and KPMG, each of which has a Boston-based office just a few miles from campus.
Katherine’s foray into biology might seem an unlikely one for a future dentist.
As a future educator, Jonathan understands there is a lesson to be learned in everything.
For career inspiration, Erin looked no further than her family of first responders and their calling to “help people on their worst days.”
During the Fall 2022 semester, MacDonald and her research team of psychology majors Madeline Bradley ’23 and Matthew Lemansky ’23 (pictured) investigated the lived experiences of participants in an 8-week mindfulness training program.
One transformative high school law class changed Alyssa’s college plans from STEM to political science.
Nick grew up in a family of medical professionals—his mother and grandmother are both nurses and his father is a paramedic. “I’ve always been surrounded with medical jargon and stories of health incidents, crises, and the rewarding benefits of providing care,” he said.
Emmanuel College is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through the Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program.
Counseling & health psychology major Christine came to Emmanuel knowing she wanted to pursue a career in health care, and the College’s opportunities and connections for students interested in the field—as well as a neuroscience course she attended at EC Incoming—made the decision an easy one.
When asking secondary education and biology double major Angela Girodier '22 if she’s more passionate about research or teaching, she quickly and emphatically says “both.”
From an early age, Campbell Shealy '22 was interested in two things—living in a big city and numbers.
One way that people’s body dissatisfaction is socially expressed is through engaging in negative conversations with friends regarding how unhappy they are with their bodies.
Emmanuel is a place where students broaden their sense of what’s possible and prepare for inspiring careers in an ever-changing world. Be here.
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