Mathematical Biology

Marcella Torres is Director of Mathematical Studies, co-coordinator of the URISE program, and serves as mathematics faculty for the SMART program at the University of Richmond.

Her areas of expertise include systems modeling and analysis, mathematical biology, and medical applications of math modeling. This summer, she will be leading incoming SMART students through workshops that apply mathematical tools to the study of racial disparities, criminal justice, and public health outcomes. Many of her examples focus on COVID-19. Her research focuses on mathematical modeling of human biological systems and applying statistical methods to connect these models to data.

Torres, alongside colleague Joanna Wares, associate professor of mathematics, has received a grant from the Associated Colleges of the South for a project focused on creating mathematics and data science resources to support socially relevant teaching in the time of COVID-19. The team will create mathematical modeling and data science activities, lessons, and projects that address social justice issues related to the pandemic.

“We will develop individual learning modules for courses across the curriculum and combine them for faculty at all ACS institutions to engage their own classes with authentic and socially relevant material,” added Torres.

Contact Director of Media & Public Relations Sunni Brown at sbrown5@richmond.edu to connect with Torres.