Susan Rogowski | PhD Candidate
Contact
Socials
- Instagram: @susdoesmath
- Twitter: @susdoesmath
Overview
Hi there! My name is Susan Rogowski and I have just finished up the fourth year of my PhD studies in Biomathematics at Florida State University. Before this, I completed a Master's in Mathematics at Wake Forest University.
In the broadest of senses, my goal is to do research in Math that will help others. To accomplish this goal, I have mainly focused on research in mathematically modeling biological processes. You can learn more about some of my recent Research Projects below.
Research
- Dissertation Project: If foreign bacteria is being reported down stream in some water distribution network, is it possible to see find the source of this bacteria? This is the main goal of my dissertation project. Many times bacteria can grow within a water distribution system through biofilms that form along pipe walls. So, to begin this problem we will form a mathematical model for bacteria within a water distribtuion system that takes into account growth and proliferation through biofilms. Once we have established a good mathematical model, we will work on inversely solving for the source of bacteria.
- Parameter Estimation Using Nudging on the Logistic Growth Equation: It is a common problem in biomathematics that, given a noisy and sparse set of observations or data, one must estimate parameters for some mathematical model. Here, we consider the scenario of having noisy or sparse observation of a bacteria population that we would like to model using the logistic growth equation. In this project, we develop an algorithm to dynamically learn the growth rate of the given noisy data. Under proper assumptions, and in the case of noise free data, we will analytically proove the convergence of our algorithm to the correct rate of growth. We support this analysis with numerical simulations with both noise-free observations and noisy observations. (Paper In Preparation)
- Stable Estimation of Disease Parameters and Forecasting in Epidemiology: This work is a project I completed recently through the Women in Math Biology (WIMB) Workshop at the Institute for Math and it's Applications (IMA). The goal of our team project is to investigate and compare parameter estimation algorithms that do not require an explicit deterministic or stochastic trajectory of system evolution, and where the state variable(s) and the unknown disease parameters are reconstructed in a predictor-corrector manner in order to mitigate the excessive computational cost of a quasi-Newton step. We plan to look at uncertainty quantification and implications of parameter estimation on forecasting of future incidence cases. Theoretical study will be combined with numerical experiments using synthetic and real data for COVID-19 pandemic. (Paper Submitted) PDF
Teaching Resources
Within teaching, I strive to create an environment where students feel safe and excited to learn. One thing I've found most helpful in creating this environment is a community agreement made between my students and myself. Below our some links to information that I've found helpful for learning about and creating community agreements in the classroom.
- Federico Ardila-Mantilla Todxs cuentan: building community and welcoming humanity from the first day of class.
- University of Toronto page on Community Agreements
Circulum Vita
Updated January 2024
Outside of Math Activities
Here are some of the things I do when I'm not Mathing!
- I serve as a Representative for the Congress of Graduate Students at Florida State
- I also serve as the President for the Association for Women in Mathematics at Florida State
- But, most of all, I like to play with my rescue pup and help other rescue pups! @snifflesfosters