Dr. Jana Gevertz
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
The College of New Jersey
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Science Complex P212
Phone: 609-771-3314
Email: gevertz {at} tcnj {dot} edu

 
My Research

My primary research interest is mathematical biology, which means I use theoretical tools to answer questions about biological phenomenon.  Mathematical biologists aim to transform our understanding of biology in a similar way that mathematical physicists have transformed our understanding of physics.  The majority of my research focuses on applying tools from applied and computational mathematics to understand cancer progression.  In particular, I use multi-scale modeling techniques to explore various forms of intra-tumor and tumor-host feedback.  If you are interested in seeing an example of the results my models can produce, you can watch the following video.  The movie shows a simulation of a tumor growing as it evolves with its vasculature.  A more detailed description of my research can be found here.

My first experiences researching in the field of mathematical biology were during my undergraduate years.  There are some great summer research programs out there for undergraduates interested in mathematical biology.  The following link gives a noncomprehensive list of some opportunities undergraduates can consider: Summer Undergraduate Research Programs in Mathematical Biology (courtesy of Laura Sontag-Kleiman).

Undergraduate research does not have to be limited to summer programs outside of TCNJ.  TCNJ does offer a summer research experience called MUSE, and research can even be conducted during the academic year.  Students interested in potentially performing mathematical biology research should feel free to speak to me about this.

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Links for Students

  • Calculus A (MAT 127) - Fall 2009: The course website can be found on SOCS
  • Wondering what wonderfully cool and excting things you can do with a major in mathematics?  Click here!
  • Of if you're more the type that wonders how math could ever be useful to you, you may find the following site informative!

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Publications:

1.  J. Gevertz, H.H. Gan and T. Schlick, 2005.  In vitro RNA random pools are not structurally diverse: a computational analysis.  RNA 11(6): 853-863.

2.  J.L. Gevertz, S. Dunn and C.M. Roth, 2005. Mathematical models of real-time PCR kinetics.  Biotech. Bioeng. 92(3): 346-355.

3.  J.L. Gevertz and S. Torquato, 2006.  Modeling the effects of vasculature evolution on early brain tumor growth.  J. Theor. Biol. 243(4): 517-531.

4.  J.L. Gevertz and S. Torquato, 2008.  A novel three-phase model of brain tissue microstructure.  PLoS Comput. Biol. 4(8): e1000152.

5.  J.L. Gevertz, G. Gillies and S. Torquato, 2008.  Simulating tumor growth in confined heterogeneous environments.  Phys. Biol. 5: 036010.

6.  J.L. Gevertz and S. Torquato, 2009.  Mean survival times of absorbing triply periodic minimal surfaces.  Phys. Rev. E 80: 011102.
 

**My full Curriculum Vitae can be found here for those who are interested**

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Conferences I've attended or will be attending: