UAH | College of Science | Mathematical Science News | ��ԭ��Ʒ

Brody Cates: From Self-Taught Calculus to Cutting-Edge Mathematical Research

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:40:55 -0500

UAH mathematical sciences major Brody Cates presented his research as part of the Research and Creative Experience for Undergraduates poster session.

Brody Cates, is a mathematical sciences major at ��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH). Growing up in the small town of Rogersville, Alabama, he always had a natural curiosity for numbers. But it wasn’t until high school that his passion truly took off - thanks to a borrowed calculus textbook.

“As a kid, I always knew I liked math, but never thought about it more deeply,” Cates explains. “In high school, we didn’t have a calculus course, so I borrowed a textbook from my teacher and taught myself. I got hooked right away and finished it in just a few weeks. After that I started buying more books on calculus, logic, and foundations of math, and I’ve kept going ever since.”

That early spark of curiosity evolved into serious academic and research pursuits at The College of Science at UAH, where Cates has been pushing the boundaries of mathematical modeling. His research project, Advancing Multiplex SIRS Models, dives into how diseases spread through social networks.

“My project looks at the SIRS epidemic model on networks,” he says. “The basic model is just three equations: Susceptible, Infected, and Recovered. We add to this by emphasizing the importance of social interactions in disease models, like when people tell each other about quarantining to help slow disease spread. I chose the project because it combined networks, programming, and differential equations in a way that felt both fun and realistic. Something I found interesting was how broad the field is. Some models add a lot of categories, while others (like ours) stay minimal and try to make as few assumptions as possible.”

Brody Cates, a mathematical sciences major in the College of Science, is an active student leader on campus.

Collaboration has been a key part of Cates’ research experience. Working alongside fellow students and faculty has not only deepened his understanding, but also built lasting connections.

“Working with my peers Coleen Corvalan and Nolan Stuessy has definitely been a highlight,” he shares. “Working with Dr. Summer Atkins and my mentor, Dr. Satyaki Roy, has given me a lot of direction and confidence in my math education.”

Balancing research and academics is no small feat, but Brody has found a rhythm that works for him. “It can be tricky, but the research is more creative and varied than regular coursework, so switching between the two when needed helps keep me fresh.”

Outside the classroom and lab, Cates is involved on campus as a member of Sigma Nu, Mu Beta chapter. “It has given me balance, along with opportunities to connect with members, alumni, and people in the community through outreach.”

His decision to attend UAH was driven by both academic ambition and a desire to stay close to home. “I chose UAH for its strong STEM reputation and because I wanted to be close to my family.”

To prospective math students, Cates offers some simple but powerful advice: “I’d say don’t just stick to the classroom. Once you apply math in research or a project, it feels completely new and a lot more understandable, because you start to see the motivations behind it.”

Looking ahead, Cates plans to continue his academic journey. “I hope to pursue graduate studies in either Mathematics or Computer Science, and I want to keep building on my research while working with more professors.”

From teaching himself calculus to researching real-world epidemic models, Brody Cates is a clear example of where curiosity, discipline, and a passion for learning can lead.

From Sweden to STEM: Evelina Gustafsson Blends Math, Soccer, and Global Exploration

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:11:44 -0500

Evelina Gustafsson, a junior at ��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH), exemplifies the strong connection between academics, athletics, and international adventure. A Mathematical Sciences major, Gustafsson has built a college experience that bridges research, sport, and international exploration.

Originally from Sweden, Gustafsson was drawn to the United States by the unique opportunity to combine collegiate athletics with higher education. “After graduating high school, I wanted to travel, study, AND play soccer, so going to college in the U.S. as an athlete seemed like the perfect mix,” she says. “My twin sister went abroad in high school, so she was also a big inspiration for me.”

Evelina Gustafsson has presented her reserach on Lie algebra at multiple conferences.

Though she arrived at UAH without knowing much about the campus or the city of Huntsville, she quickly found her stride, both on and off the field. “I have now been here for two years and I am very happy with my choice!” Gustafsson says.

Gustafsson’s journey into mathematics began with an early love for the subject. “Throughout school, mathematics has always been one of my favorite subjects since it is hard and requires a lot of thinking,” she explains. “I have also been lucky to have had great math teachers throughout school who have inspired, challenged, and encouraged me.”

Initially, she considered majoring in engineering, but a deeper reflection led her to choose mathematical sciences major instead. “I realized that math is what I actually like about engineering, so being a math major was an easy choice that I am still very happy about.”

At UAH, Gustafsson has taken full advantage of undergraduate research opportunities to broaden her academic experience. She has contributed to two research projects, with her primary focus on a study under Dr. Alejandro Ginory, a part-time lecturer in the Mathematical Sciences department, examining the representation theory of Lie algebras.

“A Lie Algebra is a vector space equipped with a binary operation called the Lie bracket, which also satisfies certain other properties such as the Jacobi Identity,” Gustafsson explains. “This project has been great and we have been able to derive a new recursive formula that calculates the characters of Lie Algebras.”

She also participated in UAH’s Research and Creative Experience for Undergraduates (RCEU) program, where she worked with Dr. Summer Atkins and Dr. Satyaki Roy, both Assistant Professors in the Mathematical Sciences department, collaborating on a public health project. “I worked with Dr. Atkins and Dr. Roy on Mathematical Epidemiology. We created and analyzed a model of Hepatitis B to provide insights about how we can implement vaccination to reduce the spread of the virus.”

“Doing research has always been a dream of mine, and I am really happy for the opportunities here at UAH,” she says.

Gustafsson’s work has taken her far beyond Huntsville. “I have presented my research at the 2025 Joint Mathematics Meeting in Seattle, the 2025 MAA MathFest in Sacramento, and at the 2025 Horizon Research Week here at UAH,” she shares. “These opportunities have been super valuable to me, both for practicing presenting, but also for creating connections and learning more about the field of mathematics. It has also been fun to see other parts of the country!”

She attributes much of her success to the supportive faculty at UAH. “Working with faculty or research mentors here at UAH has been very inspiring and rewarding. They truly want us students to succeed and it really shows. They are also super friendly so do not be scared to reach out to them!”

As a student-athlete, Gustafsson acknowledges the challenges of taking on multiple roles. “Balancing academics, athletics, and being a student leader requires a lot of planning and communication, but it always works out (so far),” she says. “I just have to stay on top of my school work and make sure to get enough sleep/food/recovery since being an athlete requires very early mornings and traveling.”

Despite the demands, she says her time with the UAH soccer team has sharpened essential life skills. “Being a part of the UAH soccer team is very fun, but also very demanding,” Gustafsson says. “You cannot only do everything that is required of you, but you also have to do it as best as you can. As a team, we have to support each other, hold each other accountable, and work on ourselves in order to have a successful season. Naturally, we develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills.”

Adapting to life in Alabama hasn’t always been easy, but Gustafsson views the cultural transition as a learning opportunity. “Transitioning to Alabama has taken time, but it has really allowed me to gain new perspectives and learn a lot,” she shares. “Culturally, Alabama is very different from Sweden, and even though there are certain aspects I really miss from home, I especially enjoy how friendly and welcoming people are here!”

Academically, the shift was also significant. “The biggest change was the language,” she says. “I have only learned English in English class before, so English everywhere was a challenge in the beginning, especially with subject specific words in for example math.”

To students considering a similar path, Gustafsson offers encouragement: “I truly think everyone would benefit from studying abroad. Even though it is difficult at times, it is also pretty life changing,” she says. “UAH is a very welcoming and friendly community, and both faculty and other students are super helpful and understanding.”

“My biggest advice would be to not have any expectations and to be open to new cultures. It is easy to judge things you are not used to, but try not to! I also very much recommend getting involved in stuff, whether it is through sports, clubs, or some off-campus organization.”

From international student to emerging researcher, Gustafsson’s journey reflects the possibilities that open when curiosity, courage, and community come together. At UAH, she’s not only diving deep into complex mathematics, she’s also building a path shaped by ambition and a global perspective.

UAH student group set to launch new instrument payload on NASA rocket to study harnessing reentry heat and converting it to electrical energy

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 08:08:21 -0500

The Terminus Spaceflight Research Group at ��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH) is set to send a new payload into space, a follow-up to the successful launch and retrieval of a previous Terminus payload in Aug. 2024.

UAH announces promotion, tenure awards for 2025-26, past year’s grants of emeritus status

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 09:08:21 -0500

��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH) announced awards of tenure and/or promotion for 22 faculty members and recognized eight who were granted emeritus status over the past year at the University Awards for Excellence.

From Sweden to UAH: Evelina Gustafsson’s Journey to Becoming a Mathematics Major and Researcher

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:15:56 -0600

Evelina Gustafsson is a Mathematical Sciences major in the College of Science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She has written the below blog that reflects on her journey from growing up in Sweden to traveling 4,700 miles to study at UAH.

Growing up in Sweden, I enjoyed so many different things: mathematics, chemistry, physics, soccer, creative writing, hiking, biology, social sciences, traveling, weightlifting.... The list goes on and on. During my last years of high school, I struggled to figure out what to do next. I knew I wanted to continue playing soccer on a high level and start working towards a degree, but I also wanted to explore the world. So, when I discovered the opportunity to go to college on the other side of the world and still play soccer, I got excited. Eventually, I was recruited to play soccer here at UAH, and even though the decision to leave my family and everything I ever knew was very hard, it has been an amazing journey.

So, did I want to study math? Physics? Engineering? Biology? Something totally different? The question answered itself after my first math class here at UAH. It was a late class, and since I was not really used to the new time zone yet, it felt like 2 AM. To top it all off, I never had a math class in English before, and it was tough to understand even the most basic terms and definitions. Nonetheless, after that class, I knew I was going to major in math. An upper-level math course is a strange place where no competition exists, only support and community. The material always seems very challenging and overwhelming at first, but after hours of listening, trying, and helping each other out, it all starts to make sense. I am currently in my fourth semester, and I know the material will only get harder, but instead of feeling scared and anxious, I am beyond excited.

As a kid, I dreamed about being a researcher, probably in a white lab coat and lab glasses, which rarely is the case in math research. However, one of my highlights during these four semesters has been the opportunity to do undergraduate research! Doing research is all about thinking, realising you are wrong, rethinking, rethinking, rethinking, and eventually getting somewhere. But it is also extremely rewarding. Doing research is all about exploring the unknown and challenging yourself. I have really enjoyed my research experience and early this semester I had the chance to travel to Seattle to present my results. The trip made me realize that I am exactly where I want to be. - Evelina Gustafsson

UAH celebrates Research Week with 11th Research Horizons Poster Session highlighting undergraduate student innovation

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 09:17:28 -0600

To celebrate Research Week, Undergraduate Research at ��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH) is highlighting the 11th UAH Research Horizons Poster Session, March 4.

UAH to partner with Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD)

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:17:28 -0500

��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH), part of The University of Alabama System, announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, Senegal.

As fall 2024 semester begins, UAH welcomes 25 new faculty members to Charger community

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 07:53:07 -0500

As the 2024-2025 academic year begins, ��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH) welcomes 25 new faculty members who joined the Charger community in 2024.

UAH TERMINUS student group set to launch biggest, most advanced spacecraft with NASA

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 08:53:07 -0500

This August, a student team at ��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, is set to launch its biggest payload yet into the upper atmosphere from the NASA Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va.

UAH junior Caroline Bendickson honored as Goldwater Scholar for work in plant genomics

Wed, 08 May 2024 07:53:07 -0500

Caroline Bendickson, a junior at ��ԭ��Ʒ (UAH), has been selected as a Goldwater Scholar for her work in plant genomics.

UAH | College of Science | Mathematical Science News | ����ԭ����Ʒ