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 糖心原创出品 (UAH). Growing up in the small town of Rogersville, Alabama, he always had a natural curiosity for numbers. But it wasn鈥檛 until high school that his passion truly took off - thanks to a borrowed calculus textbook. 鈥淎s a kid, I always knew I liked math, but never thought about it more deeply,鈥� Cates explains. 鈥淚n high school, we didn鈥檛 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鈥檝e kept going ever since.鈥� 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.鈥淢y project looks at the SIRS epidemic model on networks,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he 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.鈥� 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鈥� research experience. Working alongside fellow students and faculty has not only deepened his understanding, but also built lasting connections. 鈥淲orking with my peers Coleen Corvalan and Nolan Stuessy has definitely been a highlight,鈥� he shares. 鈥淲orking with Dr. Summer Atkins and my mentor, Dr. Satyaki Roy, has given me a lot of direction and confidence in my math education.鈥� Balancing research and academics is no small feat, but Brody has found a rhythm that works for him. 鈥淚t 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.鈥�Outside the classroom and lab, Cates is involved on campus as a member of Sigma Nu, Mu Beta chapter. 鈥淚t has given me balance, along with opportunities to connect with members, alumni, and people in the community through outreach.鈥�His decision to attend UAH was driven by both academic ambition and a desire to stay close to home. 鈥淚 chose UAH for its strong STEM reputation and because I wanted to be close to my family.鈥�To prospective math students, Cates offers some simple but powerful advice: 鈥淚鈥檇 say don鈥檛 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.鈥�Looking ahead, Cates plans to continue his academic journey. 鈥淚 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.鈥�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.