Introducing the Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science Special Edition Newsletter
Letter From The Department Chair Welcome to the first newsletter of the new Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science! My name is Hirotachi Abo and I am the chair for our new department. This August I took the baton from Dr. Chris Williams who served as chair for both the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Statistical Science for the past five years, and as the chair of the Department of Statistical Science for several years before that. The Mathematics and Statistical Science Departments had previously been two separate departments with two separate chairs. In 2015, the two departments came under the leadership of Dr. Williams. During the summer of 2020, we officially became a single department. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to Dean Ginger E. Carney who helped with this unification, Dr. Williams who had been the bridge between the two departments, and the staff who have worked tirelessly for both departments. Thanks to them, this transition was easy and smooth. Mathematics and Statistics are two different disciplines, yet they share a lot of commonality. Furthermore, Mathematics and Statistics are being applied to solving complex problems in the real world (see, for example, the website https://pandemic-modeling.uidaho.edu/ about the Covid-19 modeling project two of our faculty members, Drs. Jennifer Johnson-Leung and Ben Ridenhour, are involved with). As a result, the importance of their presence in many STEM areas has greatly increased over the past few decades. I thus anticipate that this merger would help us streamline our undergraduate and graduate programs, contribute to the development of new in-
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terdisciplinary research programs such as data science, where Mathematics and Statistics can play a major role, and encourage collaboration in teaching and research among faculty (see page 2 for the list of our faculty members). We will continue to offer all of the degree programs that existed in the Mathematics Department and the Statistical Science Department. With this merger, I hope the department can better help students thrive and excel academically, prepare them for a rapidly changing world, and assist the faulty by promoting excellence in teaching and research. Last spring, the surge of Covid-19 led to a rapidly changing world. We quickly pivoted our classes to be fully online for the remainder of spring semester. This fall we continue to adjust, and our courses will be delivered by a range of methods, from face-to-face to a hybrid of inperson and online to completely virtual. These adjustments allow us to meet students’ needs while maintaining a safe campus environment. During the summer, faculty and staff attended virtual trainings and discussions to prepare ourselves for an extremely flexible teaching environment. Students might not be able to enjoy the same pre-Covid-19 on-campus experience as in years past; however, we will continue to ensure that they have a learning experience that provides a high quality education. I would like to close this greeting by saying thank you for being part of the Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science. I look forward to getting to know you in my new role as department chair.
Hirotachi Abo, Department Chair Fall 2020
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Meet Our Department Members
Faculty
New Department Contact Information With the department merger comes new contact information! Our new main office department email address is mathstat@uidaho.edu. Our new department web address is www.uidaho.edu/sci/ mathstat.
Ann Abbott, Senior Instructor Hirotachi Abo, Professor and Chair Theresa Allen, Senior Instructor Lyudmyla Barannyk, Associate Professor Erkan Buzbas, Associate Professor Somantika Datta, Associate Professor Rob Ely, Professor Audrey Fu, Assistant Professor Frank Gao, Professor Paul Hohenlohe, Associate Professor Timothy Johnson, Professor Jennifer Johnson-Leung, Associate Professor Steve Krone, Professor Stephen Lee, Professor Linh Nguyen, Associate Professor Mark Nielsen, Professor and Associate Dean of College of Science Cynthia Piez, Senior Instructor Kylie Reich, Instructor Chris Remien, Associate Professor Ben Ridenhour, Assistant Professor Brooks Roberts, Research Associate Professor Renae Shrum, Senior Instructor Stefan Tohaneanu, Associate Professor Kirk Trigsted, Director of Polya Hong Wang, Professor Manuel Welhan, Senior Instructor Michelle Wiest, Associate Professor Chris Williams, Professor Alexander Woo, Associate Professor David Yopp, Professor
Affiliate Faculty Ray Dacey Berna Devezer Raymond Dezzani Luke Harmon Scott Nuismer Bill Price
Visiting Scholar Ricardo Burity Croccia Macedo, Assistant Professor at Universidade Federal de Paraiba, Brazil
Postdoctoral Fellows Andrew Basinski Tyler Meadows Boyu Zhang
Faculty Promotions We have several faculty promotions to celebrate in our department: Rob Ely was promoted to Full Professor. Chris Remien was tenured and promoted to Associate Professor. Ann Abbott was promoted to Senior Instructor. Theresa Allen was promoted to Senior Instructor. Manuel Welhan was promoted to Senior Instructor.
Congratulations! 22 Page 2
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Mathematics and Statistical Science
On-Campus Graduate Students Amanda Aydelotte Xihua “Jake” Chen Erin Clancey Austin Cramer Joshua Duran Matthew Fagnan Jordan Hardy Arthur Huey Garrett Huff Jon Isaacson Jazmine Juarez Alex Kagoda Jarred Kvamme Martyna Lukaszewicz Evan Martin Matthew Mills Tristan Moxley Annelise Nielsen Joshua Parker John Pawlina Jake Sapozhnikov Aakansha Solomon Brandi Torrevillas Logan Wendling Liliana Wilson Jiayu “Joye” Yang Yunfei Zhou
Degree Programs We offer several degree programs within our department, including undergraduate, graduate, and certificates. Undergraduate Degrees Mathematics—General Option Mathematics—Applied: Computation Option Mathematics—Applied: Quantitative Modeling Option Mathematics—Applied: Math Biology Option Statistics—General Option Statistics—Applied: Actuarial Science and Finance Option Undergraduate Minors Mathematics Minor Statistics Minor
We would like to hear from you! If you have some news/ information about yourself that you would like us to share in the next newsletter, please send your information to mathstat@uidaho.edu. Please include as much of the following as possible: • • • • • •
Graduate Degrees M.A.T. in Mathematics
Name Year you graduated from UI Degree and Major at UI Current Occupation News about yourself Comments, corrections, additions for the newsletter
M.S. Mathematics M.S. Statistics Ph.D. Mathematics
Staff Jessica DeWitt Jaclyn Gotch Melissa Gottschalk Samuel Johnson Jana Joyce 33 Mathematics and Statistical Science
Certificates Data Analytics Certificate Statistical Science Certificate
Fall 2020
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Student Clubs We hope to continue our fun student club activities this year, though they may look different than in previous years. Watch for announcements for upcoming activities!
Jon A. Wellner Lecture The Jon A. Wellner Lecture was established by Jon and Vera Wellner to provide educational experiences outside the classroom for students and faculty and to help raise the profile of the University of Idaho by bringing well-known experts in the fields of Statistics and Probability to Moscow. Due to the pandemic, we have chosen to postpone the 2020 Jon A. Wellner Lecture until 2021. Watch for more information next fall on this lecture!
Math Club This club is open to all students interested in mathematics. Meetings last year included a Mathematical Scavenger Hunt, Scary Math Illusions, trivia challenges, and our Pi Day Celebration. For more information, email us at mathstat@uidaho.edu or visit the Club’s webpage: https://webpages.uidaho.edu/ tohaneanu/MathClubUI.html.
Machine Learning Working Group In the Machine Learning Working Group we focus on machine learning algorithms and statistical modeling. At our group meetings we share research progress and discuss latest developments in machine learning, AI, computer science, math, and statistics. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Stat Club This club is open to all students interested in statistics. Meetings last year included Statistics History Day and Love of Statistics. If you are interested in learning more, email us at statclub@uidaho.edu.
Zoom link: (same as Python Club) https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/569486879 .
Pi Mu Epsilon The Idaho Alpha Chapter of the Pi Mu Epsilon Mathematical Honor Society inducts new members every spring. Students must meet certain minimum requirements to qualify for membership. Qualifying students are contacted in the spring.
These activities are possible because of the generous donations of alumni and friends to the department. If you would like to donate, visit: https://www.givecampus.com/ schools/UniversityOfIdaho
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This group meets via Zoom every other Thursday at 2:30-3:30pm.
Python for Data Science Club In the Python for Data Science Club we focus on Python programming. At the club meetings we go over tutorials of basic and advanced Python programming and explore applications of Python to data analysis. Everyone is welcome to attend! This club meets via Zoom every other Thursday at 3:30-4:30pm. Zoom link: (same as Machine Learning) https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/569486879 We have a Slack workspace for each group. If you would like to be added to the workspace for either group, please email Audrey Fu, audreyf@uidaho.edu .
Mathematics and Statistical Science
Statistical Assistance Center (SAC)
Polya Tutoring
The SAC provides drop-in assistance to students enrolled in Statistics 251, 301, and 431 at the University of Idaho.
The Polya Lab is closed for fall semester, except for Math 144 Testing. However, we are still offering Zoom tutoring for Math 108, Math 143, Math 144, Math 160, Math 170, and Math 175.
We can assist with lecture material, homework, quiz/exam preparation, and coding in SAS or R. The SAC is located on the 2nd floor of the library. Follow the "Drop-In Tutoring" signs. Go straight after entering the second floor of the library, the SAC tables will be in the Drop-In Tutoring area to the right. For Fall 2020, we are offering Virtual SAC Tutoring, available through Zoom. The schedule is posted on the SAC webpage, https:// www.uidaho.edu/sci/stat/about/sac/ tutoring-schedule .
Math 108 Zoom Tutoring Monday - Thursday: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday - Sunday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. 108 Math Tutoring Link: https:// uidaho.zoom.us/j/95812662205
Math 143 Zoom Tutoring Monday - Thursday: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday - Sunday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. 143 Math Tutoring Link: https:// uidaho.zoom.us/j/95812662205
Questions? stats-sac@uidaho.edu
Statistical Consulting Center (SCC) The SCC helps with statistical design
and analysis so researchers can produce high-quality, reproducible research. We provide assistance in the design of experiments and sample surveys, advice on statistical analyses, and expertise on recent developments in statistical research. Faculty members, staff, and graduate students from any discipline are welcome.
The SCC is located on the first floor of the Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC) in room 119. The SCC is temporarily closed for walk-in hours, but consultants are available via email and Zoom. Questions? stats-scc@uidaho.edu 55 Mathematics and Statistical Science
Math 144 Zoom Tutoring Wednesday & Thursday 3 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. 144 Math Tutoring Link: https:// uidaho.zoom.us/j/98593512880
Calculus Zoom Tutoring For Math 160, 170, & 175 Monday - Thursday: 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. Friday - Sunday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Calculus Tutoring Link: https:// uidaho.zoom.us/j/96008127588
Department of Mathematics and Statistical Science 875 Perimeter Dr. MS 1103 Moscow, ID 83844-1103 Main Office: Brink Hall 300 208-885-6742 mathstat@uidaho.edu
Annual Newsletter This is a special edition newsletter introducing our new department and welcoming everyone to the start of a new academic year. Watch for our regular annual newsletter to be sent out this spring!
Fall 2020
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Academic Advisors
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Freshman (Math & Stat) Lisa Belles 208-885-1218 Mines 310 lbelles@uidaho.edu
Summer Advising Contact the Department Office 208-885-6742 Brink Hall 300 mathstat@uidaho.edu
Sophomore (Math & Stat) Lisa Belles 208-885-1218 Mines 310 lbelles@uidaho.edu
Minor - Math Hong Wang 208-885-6550 Brink Hall 329 hwang@uidaho.edu
Junior (Math) Manuel Welhan 208-885-0528 Brink Hall B-11A mwelhan@uidaho.edu
Minor - Stat Renae Shrum 208-885-2901 Brink Hall 411 renaes@uidaho.edu
Junior (Stat) Stephen Lee 208-885-7701 Brink Hall 413 stevel@uidaho.edu
Statistics Internship Chris Williams 208-885-2802 Brink Hall 414 chrisw@uidaho.edu
Senior (Math) Lyudmyla Barannyk 208-885-6719 Brink Hall 317 Barannyk@uidaho.edu
Stat Certificates Audrey Fu 208-885-0132 Brink Hall 412 audreyf@uidaho.edu
Senior (Stat) Audrey Fu 208-885-0132 Brink Hall 412 audreyf@uidaho.edu
MAT Rob Ely 208-885-6740 Brink Hall 314 ely@uidaho.edu
Actuarial Science Renae Shrum 208-885-2901 Brink Hall 411 renaes@uidaho.edu
Graduate (Math) Alex Woo 208-885-6741 Brink Hall 312 awoo@uidaho.edu
Math Biology Chris Remien 208-885-5901 Brink Hall 420 cremien@uidaho.edu
Graduate (Stat) Chris Williams 208-885-2802 Brink Hall 414 chrisw@uidaho.edu Fall 2020
Cynthia Piez 208-885-5976 Brink Hall 321 cpiez@uidaho.edu
Mathematics and Statistical Science