MATH 564: Mathematical Modeling (Spring 2015)

Tuesday/Thursday 2:00-3:15, Phillips Hall, Room 224

This is a first course on mathematical modeling and computer simulation in medicine and biology. Although
our primary focus will be on the development of dynamic, predictive models of physiological systems at the
level of tissues and organs, models of cellular and subcellular biological systems will also be discussed.
Instructor
Boyce Griffith, Department of Mathematics
Office: Phillips Hall, Room 306
Email: boyceg@email.unc.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15; Thursdays, 9:30-10:30; or by appointment
Teaching assistant
Jason Pearson, Department of Mathematics
Office: Phillips Hall, Room 404
Email: josephja@live.unc.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:00-3:00 or by appointment
Target audience
Upper-level undergraduate students as well as graduate students in applied mathematics and in other applied
science and engineering programs. Prior experience in biological modeling and simulation is not required, and
necessary biological background will be introduced throughout the course.
Course prerequisites
A first course on differential equations and some programming experience. Most course assignments will
require programming in MATLAB.
Course goals and key learning objectives
The primary aim of this course is to teach students why and how to model biological systems using dynamic,
predictive mathematical models, and how to compute approximate solutions to the model equations. It will
specifically introduce approaches to formulating mathematical models of biological systems using algebraic,
differential, and integral equations. Fundamental approaches to the numerical approximation of these
equations will also be introduced as needed.
Course requirements
This course will involve periodic homework assignments that will include both pencil and paper exercises as
well as computing projects. There will be at least one midterm exam as well as a final exam. Exams will not be
cumulative, although certain concepts will appear throughout the course.
Dates
The midterm exam is tentatively scheduled to take place in class on Thursday, March 5. The final exam is
scheduled by the registrars office to take place at 12:00 on Monday, May 4.
Grades
Grades will be based on homework assignments (50%) and performance on the midterm and final exams (25%
each).
Course policies
Late homework will not be accepted, but the lowest homework score will be dropped when computing the final
grade for the course.

Course resources
This course will primarily follow Modeling and Simulation in Medicine and the Life Sciences, Second Edition by
Hoppensteadt and Peskin (Springer, 2002). Additional material will be drawn from Mathematical Physiology,
Second Edition by Keener and Sneyd (Springer, 2009). Other resources include Dynamic Models in Biology by
Ellner and Guckenheimer (Princeton University Press, 2006) and Essential Mathematical Biology by Britton
(Springer, 2003).
Honor code
It is acceptable to work together on homework assignments. Each student must submit their own homework
assignments. It is not acceptable to copy directly either code or homework solutions.
Time table
This is a 15-week class. We shall aim to spend 3 weeks each on Chapters 1-5 of Hoppensteadt and Peskin.
Syllabus changes
The instructor reserves the right to make changes to the syllabus, including the date of the midterm exam and
the specific topics to be covered in the course. These changes will be announced as early as possible.