PhD in Applied Mathematics - Mathematical Biology in Ithaca United States | Cornell University

Graduate study options cover all specialization areas represented by our faculty, which currently exceeds one hundred members. These professors come from fourteen departments across the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. Students can further broaden their education through minor subject selections. The Applied Mathematics program admits graduate students from diverse academic backgrounds with strong mathematical foundations, typically accepting only those pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Approximately forty students participate in this four-to-five year program.

Renowned applied mathematician Lee Segel, a pioneer in modern mathematical biology, noted that while mathematical biology might seem like a narrow field, it actually spans all of biology and much of mathematics. Contemporary research is fueled by both massive datasets (like genomic sequencing and continuous environmental monitoring) and detailed observations (such as studying individual nerve cell channels or insect wing movements), enabling new quantitative modeling approaches and addressing critical challenges in biosphere sustainability.