Wei Wei, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, CLI
Specialty: Mathematics and Statistics
Phone: 507-258-8211
Fax: 507-258-8066
Office: Broadway Hall
Email: wwei@umn.edu

Education

Ph.D., Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of Idaho, 2008
M.S., Statistics, University of Idaho, 2007
M.S., Mathematics, University of Idaho, 2005
B.A., Applied Mathematics, Hebei University of Technology, 2002

Background

I started my undergraduate study in applied mathematics in China. After seeing the beautiful applications of math in biology, I obtained my Ph.D. degree in bioinformatics and computational biology from University of Idaho. Along the way of obtaining my Ph.D. degree, I finished a master in mathematics and a master in statistics at University of Idaho. Before coming to UMR, I was an assistant professor at the department of mathematical sciences at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.

Teaching

Prior to arriving at UMR, I taught mostly undergraduate mathematics courses including survey of calculus, calculus I and calculus II. I also taught one graduate course, introduction to bioinformatics. Mathematics is beautiful because it is such a wonderful tool that can be applied to many areas. I would like to expose students to all aspects where mathematics can be applied, especially in health science.

My teaching philosophy is to convey knowledge in a simple, clear and precise manner, allow students to make mistakes, and educate students to think logically. The keys to success lie in efficient teaching methods, facilitating student learning, and interacting with students during and after class. The interactions with students can bring different insights of understanding not only of science but also of the world. Students will learn efficiently from interactions with each other at group work. Hands-on experiences help students to see how mathematics and statistics serve as tools for their career.

Here at UMR, I design and deliver mathematics and statistics courses across the health science curriculum. I also collaborate with other faculties on integrating these courses to the curriculum. 

Research

My research interests involve two broad topics: one is mathematical modeling of microbial population dynamics; and the other one is biostatistics. For the first topic, differential equations, probability theories, stochastic models, and computer simulations are employed to address questions in host-virus dynamics, virus evolution, control of infectious diseases, and effects of spatial structure on population dynamics. In the study of biostatistics, the focus is statistical genetics. Regression analysis and non-parametric statistical analysis are performed to explore the factors that are associated with the diseases.

My research focuses on learning are effects of classroom technologies on student learning and methods of clearing misconceptions. 

Select Publications

Coberly LC, Wei W, Sampson K, Millstein J, Krone S, and Wichman H, 2009. Spatial structure and host evolution facilitate coexistence of competing bacteriophages: Theory and Experiment. American Naturalist 173: E121-E138.

Wei W, 2008. Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases and host-virus dynamics with an emphasis on spatial models (Dissertation).

Wei W and Krone SM, 2005. Spatial invasion by a mutant pathogen. Journal of Theoretical Biology 236: 335-348.

Heredia T, Wei W and Hu B, Oil accumulation from waste via heterotrophic/mixotrophic Chlorella protothecoides (to appear).

Soto-Ramírez N, Wei W, Pérez E, Rosas S, Almodóvar K, Jiménez G, Cabrera C and Montalvo-Rodríguez R, Microbial diversity associated with the leaf surface of Avicennia germinans at the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico (In press).