Heather Zinnbrooks

Department of Mathematics, University of Utah155 South 1400 East, Room 233

Salt Lake City, UT 84112heather@math.utah.edu

www.math.utah.edu/∼heather

RESEARCHINTERESTS

Applied mathematics, partial differential equations, pattern formation, stochastic pro-cesses, mathematical biology, intracellular transport

EDUCATION University of UtahPh.D., Mathematics (expected May 2018) 2018

Concentration: Mathematical BiologyAdvisor: Paul BressloffDissertation: Mechanisms for Turing pattern formation with activeand passive transport

Higher Education Teaching Specialist designation (in progress) 2017Coursework: Teaching in Higher Education, Cyber Pedagogy

B.S., Applied Mathematics 2012Advisor: Alla BorisyukProject: Influence of intrinsic and synaptic properties on transmissionof spike timing precisionUndergraduate Research ScholarCollege of Science Research Award finalist

PUBLICATIONS& PREPRINTS

N. D. Williams, M. E. Hohn, C. R. Price, A. E. Radunskaya, S. S. Sindi, Shelby N.Wilson, H. Zinnbrooks, and N. H. Fefferman: How Disease Risks Can Impact theEvolution of Social Behaviors and Emergent Population Organization. In preparation.

H. A. Brooks and P. C. Bressloff: Turing mechanism for homeostatic control ofsynaptic density during C. elegans growth. Physical Review E, 96.1: 012413, 2017.

H. A. Brooks and P. C. Bressloff: A mechanism for Turing pattern formation withactive and passive transport. SIAM Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems 15(4):1823-1843, 2016.

S. D. Lawley, M. Tuft, and H. A. Brooks: Coarse-graining intermittent intracel-lular transport: two and three-dimensional models. Physical Review E, 92(4), 2015.

H. A. Brooks and P. C. Bressloff: Quasicycles in the stochastic hybrid Morris-Lecarneural model. Physical Review E, 92(1), 2015.

INVITEDTALKS

Turing mechanism for homeostatic control of synaptic density during C. elegans growthSociety for Mathematical Biology July 2017Salt Lake City, UT

How movement creates pattern: Turing mechanisms for intracellular transportHoward Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Program July 2017Claremont, CA

A mechanism for Turing pattern formation with active and passive transport (poster)Society for Industrial and Applied Math, Life Sciences July 2016Boston, MA

Quasicycles in the stochastic hybrid Morris-Lecar neural modelOrganization for Computational Neuroscience July 2015Stochastic Neural Dynamics WorkshopPrague, Czech Republic

Quasicycles in the stochastic hybrid Morris-Lecar neural model (poster)International Conference on Mathematical Neuroscience June 2015Juan-Les-Pins, France

Quasicycles in the stochastic hybrid Morris-Lecar neural model (poster)Society for Industrial and Applied Math, Dynamical Systems May 2015Snowbird, UT

Influence of intrinsic and synaptic properties on transmission of spike timing preci-sion (poster)Organization for Computational Neuroscience July 2013Paris, France

Mathematical modeling of the precision of spike timing in synaptic transmission (poster)Society for Industrial and Applied Math, Life Sciences August 2012San Diego, CA

WORKSHOPS Women Advancing Mathematical Biology Workshop April 2017Invited participantMathematical Biosciences InstituteThe Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

AWARDS T. Benny and Gail T. Rushing Fellowship Award 2017$5,000One award is given in the math department in an academic year.

Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence Graduate Fellowship 2016$15,000CTLE supports four fellows in an academic year.

NSF Research Training Grant Fellowship RTG-1148230 2014-2016$20,457 per yearApproximately three awards are given in the math department in an academic year.

RTG Lab Rotation, Neuronal Dynamics Laboratory (PI: John White) 2014$5,000Approximately five lab rotation awards are offered in an academic year.

Travel Awards:Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Travel Grant-$600 2016NSF-RTG Travel Grant-$1000 2015Organization for Computational Neurosciences Travel Grant-$800 2013

TEACHING &MENTORSHIP

Graduate Student Instructor 2012-presentTaught a range of undergraduate math courses with full responsibility for lectures,assessment, and grades. Courses include:

• Fall 2017: Calculus I, online course [Math 1210]

• Spring 2017: Linear Algebra [Math 2270]

• Fall 2016: Partial Differential Equations for Engineers [Math 3150]

• Summer 2016: Partial Differential Equations for Engineers [Math 3150]

• Spring 2016: Calculus II Lab for Biologists [Math 1180]

• Fall 2015: Calculus I Lab for Biologists [Math 1170]

• Spring 2014: Intermediate Algebra [Math 1010]

• Fall 2013: Differential Equations and Linear Algebra Lab [Math 2250]

• Summer 2013: College Algebra [Math 1050]

• Spring 2013: Intermediate Algebra [Math 1010]

• Fall 2012: Intro to Quantitative Reasoning [Math 1030]

Co-Principal Investigator, Research Project on Calculus Persistence 2016-2018Ongoing research project involving implementation of formative assessment interven-tions intended to increase calculus persistence in the University of Utah engineeringcalculus sequence. Project includes gathering and analysis of data on student confi-dence surveys before and after interventions. (Joint work with Anna Romanov)

Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence Graduate Fellow 2016-2017Conducted classroom observations, student focus groups, and consultations with in-structors to improve pedagogy. Aided in the preparation of teaching workshops andmaterials development.

Mathematics TA Training Workshop Facilitator 2016, 2017Facilitated annual workshop for new teaching assistants in the mathematics depart-ment.

Research Mentor for Undergraduates• Marie Tuft (University of Utah, class of 2015) 2014-2015

Honors thesis project modeling virus trafficking. (Co-mentor Sean Lawley)

• Oliver Richardson (University of Utah, class of 2017) 2014-2015Modeling learning on neural networks. (Co-mentor Sean Lawley)

• Braden Schaer (University of Utah, class of 2015) 2014-2015and Anand Singh (University of Utah, class of 2016)Group project modeling diffusion of neurotransmitters. (Co-mentor Sean Lawley)

ACCESS program TA 2012Teaching assistant for codes and cryptography course for young women in science andmathematics.

SERVICE &OUTREACH

Association for Women in Mathematics, active member• Workshop on Implicit Bias and Gendered Language 2016-2017

Organized two-part workshop to help graduate students and faculty to recognizeimplicit bias and develop strategies to eliminate gendered language when writingrecommendation letters.

• “What is Math?” Day 2013-2016Invited speakers and created activities to introduce advanced high school andearly undergraduate students to a variety of areas in mathematical research.

Graduate Student Advisory Committee, active member• Recruitment Committee 2014-2016

Coordinate prospective graduate recruitment scheduling and activities.Committee chair 2015-2016.

• Retention, Promotion, and Tenure Committee 2013-2014Review teaching evaluations for faculty promotions.

Graduate student counselor, high school summer math program 2013Provide support and mentoring to high school students participating in the university’smath summer camp program.

OUTREACHTALKS

Using student-created videos to promote engagement and achieve learning outcomesAnnual Teaching Symposium, University of Utah August 2017Salt Lake City, UT

How do animals get their spots?Girls Math Night, Zaniac after-school program October 2016Salt Lake City, UT

Parrondo’s paradox: hope for losersGraduate Student Colloquium, University of Utah September 2015Salt Lake City, UT

What is math biology?“What is Math?” Day, University of Utah April 2014Salt Lake City, UT

The mathematics of synchronyGraduate Student Colloquium, University of Utah November 2013Salt Lake City, UT