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Manderscheid Appointed to National Academies Committee

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The orange Power T Flag flies high against a cloudy blue sky.

Professor of Mathematics David Manderscheid has been chosen to be a part of an ad-hoc committee on modernizing mathematical sciences education for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

David Manderscheid, professor of mathematics and previous Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been appointed to a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) ad-hoc committee. NASEM is the collective scientific national academy of the United States created to provide independent advice and research to the government on science and technology issues. The Committee on Modernizing Mathematics Education in Grades 9–14 has been created to conduct a consensus study on mathematical sciences education. 

“Math education is at a critical juncture. We must prepare students for a world that runs on data and AI,” said Manderscheid. “How do we change curriculum to do that? What do we add, and perhaps most importantly, what do we jettison?” 

According to the NASEM website, the committee’s report will “address how US mathematics 

education for Grades 9–14 could be modernized to reflect the evolving role of the mathematical sciences and to provide all students with the mathematical tools to pursue their future goals.”

As the roles of mathematical science and research in today’s world grow, the institution believes that a student’s mathematical education in the grades 9–14 range can either advance or hinder a student’s experiences in their daily life, education, or career. The committee’s role is to find out what knowledge and practices would help all students be prepared to achieve future goals and if modernized mathematics education could overlap with a variety of pathways; what type of teaching approaches and experiences have shown to be effective; and what roles technology can have to empower learning.

At the end of the study, the committee will provide recommendations to K–12 and post-secondary education decision-makers on how they can use their curriculum, pedagogy, and standards to help advance students’ education in mathematics. 

“NASEM is the premier science organization in the country and thus it is an honor for me and UT to be selected to this committee that will have a substantial national impact,” said Manderscheid. “I am very interested in how we coordinate curriculum between high school and college so all students can thrive.”

by Sloan Docekal

2024 Professional Promise in Research and Creative Achievement

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Olivia Feldman receives Chancellor’s Honor.

Dr. Olivia Feldman (formerly Prosper) is an Associate Professor of Mathematics working at the interface of mathematics and biology, with a focus on infectious disease modeling. She earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Florida in 2012, which was followed by a postdoc at Dartmouth College. In 2021, Dr. Feldman received an NSF CAREER grant and Intercollegiate Biomathematics Alliance Excellence in Research award.

What does being a Volunteer mean to you? How has UT empowered you to make a difference in a way you might not have imagined elsewhere?

“I am grateful for the mentors throughout my life and career who have contributed to my success in unique ways. Being a Vol means passing that on to the next generation of students at the University of Tennessee, and using my skills to give back to my community. At UT, I’ve had the opportunity to engage non-STEM students in quantitative work outside the classroom. Observing the creativity spurred from that venture inspires me to continue seeking mathematical potential where it may be overlooked.”

See all the 2024 award recipients here.

Model Modern Mathematician

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Headshot photo of Kristina Wilson

by Randall Brown

Mathematics major Kristina Wilson of Athens, Tennessee, graduates this spring as an honors student who has excelled in her academic coursework and research projects, succeeding in both honors-level and graduate courses.

“My time as a Volunteer has been memorable because UT and the math department have provided me with opportunities to learn and develop as a mathematician in a supportive environment,” said Wilson. “The math professors at UT are encouraging of their students. They are so passionate, and they want students to learn math and share their passion too.”

Wilson engaged in multiple research experiences as an undergraduate Vol, including initiating a summer project mathematically modeling infectious disease with Associate Professor Olivia Feldman in summer 2022.

“Over the course of three semesters, Kristina far exceeded my expectations in my Junior Modelers Program, JuMP, both as a participant and a leader,” said Feldman. “She demonstrated the ability to collaborate and mentor effectively and work diligently on new and challenging quantitative problems related to mathematical epidemiology.”

After the first session of JuMP, Wilson and a student colleague in computer science proposed and co-authored a paper on modeling research as a summer research project—an impressive achievement for an undergraduate student.

“I was blown away by her ability, along with her partner, to advance this project from week to week through her own initiative and thirst to learn new skills,” said Feldman. “Kristina’s genuine passion for learning challenging things made her a joy to work with.”

During spring 2023, Wilson worked as an undergraduate research assistant with Assistant Professor Ioannis Sgouralis to develop specialized numerical integration schemes for machine learning and the analysis of biochemistry data.

“Kristina is an exceptionally bright student whose aptitude for addressing applied science problems truly stands out,” said Sgouralis. “Her proficiency extends beyond her impressive mathematical capabilities; she is also an accomplished computer scientist.” 

Wilson integrated her methodical mathematical background with her programming skills to link theoretical models with empirical observations and simulate the appearance of complex datasets. 

“Her work is also communicated with clarity, which underscores her deep passion for cross-disciplinary research,” said Sgouralis.

Wilson also worked on a summer research project implementing routines in a matrix algebra library. She collaborated with visiting students from the City University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong through UT’s National Institute for Computational Sciences.

“I’ve spent a lot of time on this project, and it has helped me improve my math and computer science skills further,” she said.

Throughout her time at Rocky Top, Wilson has enjoyed great camaraderie with her fellow math students. 

“We work together really well,” she said. “When we work in groups, it’s not a competition of who can look the smartest or have the best idea, it’s about getting the problem done together. This environment at UT has allowed me to learn and figure out what I’m passionate about and has allowed me to pursue my interests.”

After graduation Wilson is headed for Nashville to pursue her PhD in mathematics at Vanderbilt University. Her advice for future Vols is to maintain a Big Orange balance in their studies and campus life.

“College will be stressful, challenging, and gratifying,” said Wilson. “Don’t forget to enjoy the good parts too.”

The College of Arts and Sciences congratulates Kristina Wilson for graduating with her successful record of research projects and representing her Big Orange pride and confidence with her in future endeavors.

Salgado Recognized for Excellence in Research

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On behalf of Abner Salgado, Xiaobing Feng receives the award from Michael Blum at the 2023 Faculty Awards Convocation.
On behalf of Abner Salgado, Xiaobing Feng receives the award from Michael Blum at the 2023 Faculty Awards Convocation.

Abner Salgado, professor of mathematics, received the Excellence in Research & Creative Achievement Award for Mid-Career Faculty at the 2023 College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Convocation. 

Salgado received his PhD from Texas A&M University in 2010 and joined the faculty of UT in 2013 after finishing his postdoc at the University of Maryland with research in numerical analysis. He is a very talented numerical analyst, one of the best in the country in his generation.

During the past  10 years at UT, Salgado’s research has focused on the design and analysis of efficient yet accurate computational algorithms for solving PDEs which describe fractional diffusion and complex fluids. He is a world leader in these areas and has been invited to deliver plenary presentations in the country and around the world. Salgado has a phenomenal record of research productivity, with over 80 publications and many of them have appeared in the most prestigious journals in his research area. His research has been continuously supported by NSF in the past 10 years.

In 2022, Salgado and his UT colleague Steven Wise published a mammoth textbook—almost 1,000 pages—titled Classical Numerical Analysis: A Comprehensive Course, by Cambridge University Press. The book received very good reviews.