Students
Biomathematics Ph.D. Program
Benjamin Chu
Entered program in 2016
benchu99@hotmail.com
I study optimization and statistical methods for human genetics. Some relevant areas include high dimensional statistics, GLMs, MM algorithms, and parallel computing.
Christine Craib
Entered program in 2019
ccraib@ucla.edu
I am specifically interested in the application of mathematics to human and medical problems. My background is in mathematics, with research on gonorrhea and population dynamics.
Mauricio Cruz Loya
Entered program in 2015
mcruzloya@ucla.edu
I study the way that multiple antibiotics interact with each other and with different stressors such as temperature from a theoretical and computational perspective under the supervision of Van Savage. I particularly enjoy collaborating with experimental biologists: some current projects include modeling of resistant cancer cells under different combinations of drugs, and modeling quiescent bacterial cells. My interests span microbial ecology, systems biology, cell biology, mathematical modeling, network theory, and applied statistics.
Paheli Desai-Chowdhry
Entered program in 2018
paheli@ucla.edu
I am interested in mathematical modeling in neuroscience. I am working with Professor Van Savage on developing a framework to analyze neuron morphology and scaling in single neurons and neuronal networks. I am testing theoretical predictions with 3D image data from neurons in a wide range of brain regions and species including humans, rodents, reptiles, chimpanzees, tigers, elephants, and whales.
Alexander Fisher
Entered program in 2016
alexanderfisher@g.ucla.edu
I work in Dr. Marc Suchard's group and I develop stochastic and statistical models for phylogeny reconstruction and implement them in the open-source Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis Sampling Trees (BEAST) software package. Broadly, I enjoy using mathematics to learn about genetics, epidemiology and evolution.
Mariana Harris
Entered program in 2019
mharris94@g.ucla.edu
Gabriel Hassler
Entered program in 2017
ghassler@g.ucla.edu
I work with Dr. Marc Suchard on models of phenotypic (trait) evolution. I develop new statistical methods for these models and implement them in the phylogenetic inference software BEAST. I use these methods to study patterns of evolution in primate brains, prokaryotes, HIV, and more.
Alfonso Landeros
Entered program in 2016
alanderos@ucla.edu
Tianyun (Jason) Lin
Entered program in 2016
tlin56@ucla.edu
I am working with Professor Van Savage on various projects that embark on exploring the dynamics, topological characteristics, and evolution of food webs using mechanistic models. I am also interested in Network Science, Theoretical Ecology, and Evolutionary Game Theory. Please check out my personal website.
Christian Mason
Entered program in 2014
ctmason@ucla.edu
I work on theoretical models of risk assessment for pathogen emergence in the Lloyd-Smith Lab. I use stochastic modeling frameworks and simulation-based inference. More info at ctmason.bol.ucla.edu.
Rachel Mester
Entered program in 2019
rmester@g.ucla.edu
Jianxiao Yang
Entered program in 2018
yangjx@ucla.edu
Xinzhe Zuo
Entered program in 2019
zuoxinzhe@g.ucla.edu
Recent Graduates
Julian Landaw | |
Grad Year: | 2019 |
Advisor: | Zhilin Qu |
Dissertation: | Cardiac Memory in the Genesis of Arrhythmias |
Post-grad Plans: | Completing MD at UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) |
Bhaven Mistry | |
Grad Year: | 2019 |
Advisor: | Tom Chou |
Dissertation: | Stochastic Physics of Biological Assays and Improved Inference |
Post-grad Plans: | Assistant Director, Quantitative and Computing Lab; Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematical Sciences, Claremont McKenna College |
Song Xu | |
Grad Year: | 2019 |
Advisor: | Tom Chou |
Dissertation: | Mathematical Modeling of Clonal Dynamics in Primate Hematopoiesis |
Post-grad Plans: | Data Scientist at Signifyd Inc. |
Lae Un Kim | |
Grad Year: | 2017 |
Advisor: | Tom Chou |
Dissertation: | Mathematical models of stress disorders: Neuroendocrine dynamics and response |
Post-grad Plans: | Postdoc at Northwestern |
Elif Tekin | |
Grad Year: | 2017 |
Advisor: | Van Savage |
Dissertation: | Emergent patterns in vascular networks and interaction networks: A network-centric approach for studying complex systems |
Post-grad Plans: | Postdoctoral Researcher at UCLA |
Kevin Keys | |
Grad Year: | 2016 |
Advisor: | Ken Lange |
Dissertation: | Projection algorithms for large scale optimization and genomic data analysis |
Post-grad Plans: | Postdoc at UCSF |
Trevor Shaddox | |
Grad Year: | 2016 |
Advisor: | Marc Suchard |
Dissertation: | Learning clinical outcomes from massive observational data |
Post-grad Plans: | Resident at UCLA Psychiatry Residency Training Program |
Wesley Kerr | |
Grad Year: | 2015 |
Advisor: | Mark Cohen |
Dissertation: | Developing and Integrating Computer-Aided Diagnostic Tools into Clinical Medicine |
Post-grad Plans: | Neurology Resident at UCLA |
Gabriela Cybis | |
Grad Year: | 2014 |
Advisor: | Marc Suchard |
Dissertation: | Phenotypic Bayesian phylodynamics: hierarchical graph models, antigenic clustering and latent liabilities |
Post-grad Plans: | Assistant Professor in the Department of Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil |