Undergraduate Researcher Profile:
Applying Mathematics to Prairie Dogs
David Elzinga, Mathematics & Dr. Kimberly Engber, Cohen Honors College Dean
David Elzinga, a mathematics major researching ways to maintain and promote biodiversity, understands the impact of interdisciplinary problem solving. David’s interest in applied mathematics and research led him to participate in a REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) at Valparaiso University where he met his co-researcher Shelby Stowe, a mathematics major at Sterling College. David and Shelby recently created a mathematical model to explore the timing of vaccinations in Black-tailed prairie dog populations. The pair hopes their research will assist wildlife biologists seeking to preserve a vital part of Kansas ecosystems. They presented their work in February at the 2018 Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. Dr. Leland Russell, Biological Sciences, served as faculty mentor for this project: Modeling Control Method Combinations to Manage the Sylvatic Plague in Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Towns. Dr. Russell points out that David and Shelby’s research “is directly relevant to one of the most high-profile endangered species conservation issues in the Great Plains region, the re-introduction of black-footed ferrets. The work that David and Shelby are doing is truly interdisciplinary, being at the interface of mathematics and ecology.” He adds that what has impressed him during his interactions with David has been “the high level of initiative that he and his collaborator have shown in identifying topical, incisive research objectives and figuring out creative approaches to achieve those objectives. This truly is student-driven research. It has been a pleasure to interact with David through this research.” David will be graduating this May and begin work on his doctorate in mathematics next year.