Carlos Castillo-Chavez


Carlos Castillo-Chavez is the Emeritus and Founding Director of the Mathematical and Computational Modeling Sciences Center at Arizona State University. He is a Regents Professor and Joaquín Bustoz Jr. Professor of Mathematical Biology at Arizona State University. Professor Castillo-Chavez was the Executive Director of the Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute and the Institute for Strengthening the Understanding of Mathematics and Science. He also worked as rector of Yachay Tech University in Ecuador during 2016 to 2018. For 2019, Castillo-Chavez is Provost Visiting Professor in the Applied Mathematics Division and Data Science Initiative at Brown University.

Biography

Castillo-Chavez came to the United States from Mexico in 1974, at the age of 22. He began working at a cheese factory in Wisconsin to support himself. He then returned to his mathematics studies by applying to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where he graduated in 1976, with dual degrees in Math and Spanish literature. He continued his MS in Mathematics at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He holds a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Prior to moving to Arizona State University in 2004, he spent 18 years as a professor at Cornell University. He has published scientific articles and books, and served on panels and committees for organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the American Mathematical Society.
His research interests, as a mathematical epidemiologist, relate to the mechanisms underlying the spread of disease, and their containment, prevention of spread and elimination. In 2006, Arizona State University described him as one of the most prominent mathematicians in the country, an expert in epidemiological modeling, and among the top research contributors to literature on the progression of diseases.
His 50 PhD students include 20 women, 29 from US underrepresented groups and 7 from Latin America. He has been a research co-mentor to over 500 undergraduates-most though the Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute or MTBI that he founded in 1996. Recognized by his mentoring and motivational skills, Prof. Carlos Castillo-Chavez has inspired hundred of students to become also mentors and dedicate efforts for service to others. He has received recognitions for his work on enhancing prospects for academic success and providing research opportunities for underrepresented groups in mathematics and biology. An inspiring letter mentions Carlos Castillo-Chavez as a rockstar researcher and a selfless mentor.

Awards & recognition

Primary
External
Books
Scientific articles
Carlos Castillo-Chavez' research program lives at the interface of the mathematical and natural and social sciences with emphasis on
Models for the spread of scientific concepts, ideas, or media driven information have been introduced. Research on gun dynamics and their relationship with recurrent “mass” shootings is being conducted primarily under the leadership of Sherry Towers.
Castillo-Chavez has co-authored over 250 publications and a dozen books, textbooks, research monographs and edited volumes. Castillo-Chavez and collaborators carry out research on the role of behavior and mobility on the dynamics of emergent and re-emergent diseases including Ebola, Influenza, Tuberculosis, and Zika. Finally, the dynamics of collaborative and active learning inspired and supported by the deep mentoring efforts carried out via the Mathematical Biology Institute or MTBI, founded in 1996, have resulted in publications that highlight models and frameworks for collaborative learning through user-inspired research.

Founder of the Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute or MTBI (1996)

MTBI was originally established in 1996 at Cornell University by Dr. Carlos Castillo-Chavez, before it was moved to Arizona State University in the spring of 2004. MTBI funding was provided by Cornell University and Los Alamos National Laboratory from 1996-2004. Currently, MTBI is funded in part by the National Science Foundation, the National Security Agency, Arizona State University and the Office of the Executive Vice-President and Provost of the University. The high level of financial and administrative support provided by ASU to MTBI is a reflection of the serious commitment to recruitment and retention efforts within the fields of mathematics and science.
MTBI is an intensive summer research experience that prepares undergraduate students for the rigors of graduate level research at the interface of mathematics, statistics, and the natural and social sciences. Select students are invited to Arizona State University for eight weeks, where their time is split between classroom instruction on research methods and hands-on research projects.
MTBI has recruited and enrolled a total of 507 regular first-time undergraduate students and 78 advanced students. Of these regular students 420 are U.S. citizens or permanent residents; 290 are underrepresented minorities and/or members of the Sloan Pipeline Program. have been provided mentoring. Through July 2017, 281 out of 420 of U.S. MTBI student participants had enrolled in graduate or professional school programs. Two hundred five are underrepresented minorities. To date 129 US MTBI student participants have completed their Ph.Ds, 97 of whom are URMs; 75% of US MTBI Ph.D. recipients are URMs.
Further, taking into consideration gender the results are even more dramatic. Of the 129 US MTBI student participants who have earned Ph.Ds. 117 belong to an underrepresented minority and/or underrepresented group.

Director of Institute for Strengthening and The Joaquin Bustoz Math-Science Honors Program (JBMSHP)

The Joaquin Bustoz Jr. Math-Science Honors Program is a summer residential mathematics program intended for mature and motivated students who are interested in academic careers requiring mathematics, science, or engineering-based coursework and who are typically underrepresented in those fields of study. Selected participants include first-generation college bound students and students representing diverse backgrounds from high schools throughout the State of Arizona, including rural communities and the Navajo Nation.
Participants live on the Arizona State University Tempe campus while enrolled in a university level mathematics course for college credit such as College Algebra, Pre-Calculus, Calculus I, Calculus II, or Applied Mathematics in the Life and Social Sciences. In addition to the coursework, students work in groups to conduct applied mathematics research involving real-life mathematics problems to help deepen their understanding of the class material. Students present their findings in an oral presentation to their class peers and JBMSHP staff as well as at a poster symposium for faculty, staff, and family members. Tutoring and problem-solving sessions are provided as well as a variety of academic presentations and activities. Tuition, room and board, textbooks, and classroom expenses are provided at no cost to the student.
Since 1985, 2,820 students have participated in the JBMSHP. 58% of the participants have been female. 50% are Hispanic, 16% are Native American, 13% are Asian, 13% are Caucasian, and 8% are African American. 35% of the students who attend the JBMSHP attend for multiple summers, earning as many as 11 university credits before enrolling at a university as a first-time freshman.
Since 1985, 59% of all JBMSHP alumni students have attended ASU after their high school graduation. 71% of all JBMSHP alumni currently attending ASU are majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics field. JBMSHP alumni consistently earn higher grade point averages when compared to non-JBMSHP students at Arizona State University within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Ira A. School of Engineering, and the W.P. Carey School of Business. As of fall 2018, JBMSHP alumni grade point average compared to those non-JBMSHP alumni currently at Arizona State University is 13% higher within the College of Liberal Arts, 11% higher within the Ira A. School of Engineering, and 14% higher within the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. As of the fall of 2018, JBMSHP alumni have earned 1,244 degrees from ASU, with 1,079 undergraduate degrees and 165 graduate degrees earned from ASU. 59% of JBMSHP alumni who have earned a degree from ASU are female, 52% are Hispanic, 18% are Asian, 11% are Native American, 12% are Caucasian, and 7% are African American. 159 JBMSHP students have graduated from ASU as part of Barrett, The Honors College. Since 1985, 73% of all JBMSHP alumni who attended ASU earned a degree from ASU.

Carlos Castillo-Chavez' students and The Math Genealogy Project

The Mathematics Genealogy Project is an initiative to compile all possible information about the mathematicians in the world, who receive a doctorate degree in mathematics. The project also intends to keep track of the intellectual history of individual and record advisors, universities and areas of study. MGP started in 1996 by Harry Coonce, a mathematician at Mankato State University in Minnesota. The data base considers mathematicians in the most inclusive manner, including people with degrees in mathematics education, statistics, computer science, operations research. The project currently has 239,144 records of mathematicians as of Feb, 2019. The distribution of the number of students is presented in figure below. According to the MGP, 172,959 mathematicians do not have students under their supervision, corresponding to 75,7% of the entire list. 23.5% of mathematicians have had less up to 20 students under their supervision. The page under the name of “Extrema” lists up to the Top 250 Advisors. Prof. Carlos Castillo-Chavez has currently 50 PhD students, being the only Latino-heritage mathematician listed in the top 250 positions. The probability of having 48 students or more under supervision is just 0,08%, that is, less that 1 per 1.000 mathematicians. Professor Castillo-Chavez’s name is included in this top 250 list which, includes names like Ronold Wyeth Percival, Rudiger W. Dornbusch, Andrei Kolmogorov, Daron Acemoglu, Robert Solow, Simon A. Levin, Marvin Fisher, C. R. Rao, Jerome Arthur Feldman, Edward Prescott, among others.

Founder of the Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center or SAL-MCMSC (2008)

Applied Mathematics for the Life and Social Sciences investigates and integrates complex areas of the physical, life and social sciences while preparing a new generation of students in mathematics. The objective of these programs is to develop critical thinking skills and purposeful competencies in mathematics, as well as an appreciation for the contributions of mathematics to the fields of science, engineering, business, government and economics. The Levin Center members have a history of stimulating synergistic cross-disciplinary activities, and initiating biological, environmental and sociological research that involves a significant use of quantitative methods—mathematics, modeling, statistics and simulations. The center's name was motivated by the work conducted by Simon A. Levin, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution and the Director of the Center for BioComplexity at Princeton University. Research areas include:
The Ph.D. program at the Applied Mathematics in the Life and Social Sciences at Arizona State University produces a new generation of scientists with an understanding of global issues and vigorous training in quantitative theory and methods. The graduates come from a wide range of backgrounds and will be able to quickly adapt to the changing employment demands we are already seeing in areas such as homeland security, sustainability and conservation biology, urban system dynamics, public health, disease evolution and addiction, infrastructure and technological research.”
The Applied Mathematics for the Life and Social Sciences doctoral degree is designed especially for students who want to make innovative and far-reaching scientific contributions to the global challenges of our time. The program's faculty includes mathematicians, statisticians, theoretical biologists and social scientists from five different schools at Arizona State University. The curriculum—with dynamic and statistical approaches as critical and unifying components— is aimed at producing first-rate scientists whose skills will always be in high demand both within and outside of academia. AMLSS graduate students are supported in their work by the members of the MCMSC.
AMLSS was established in 2008 and is supported by the Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center. Its notable accomplishments include graduating 38 doctoral students since its inception. Additionally, ASU’s first ever PhD degree in mathematics to an African American student, Edme Soho, was realized in 2012; the second, to Kehinde Salau, was awarded in 2013. The first to a Native American, Adrian Smith, all were AMLSS students. Within the AMLSS program alone, we have awarded 38 Ph.Ds. since 2008, 25 to URM students, and anticipate an additional three graduates this year. Of these 38 doctorates, 19 were awarded to Hispanic/Latino students, five to African American males, and one to a Native American male. Two were awarded to White females, and two to international females. Finally, five international males and three white males have attained their doctoral degrees within AMLSS.