April V. Alston

Email: avalston@unity.ncsu.edu

Department of Mathematics

North Carolina State University

Office: 2806 Hillsborough Street Building Room 206

Teaching Information:

Currently Teaching:

Spring 2008: MA242-004

Previously Taught:

Fall 2007: MA242-003

Fall 2006: MA241-004 Spring 2007: MA241-005

Fall 2005: MA131 Spring 2006: MA241-005

Fall 2004: MA241 Spring 2005: MA131

Useful Calculus Websites:

www.calculus.org

archives.math.uk.edu/visual.calculus

Research Interests:

Currently, I am interested in modeling heart rate regulation during postural change. In particular, I am interested in understanding why some groups of people exhibit syncope while others do not. To better understand this I am using data obtained from two orthostatic stress tests: Sit-to-Stand and Head-Up Tilt. The model that has been developed has allowed us to model some of the internal regulation dynamics that otherwise cannot be measured. With the current model I am working with we have been using the Nelder-Meade algorithm for our optimization. However, the model has many local minimum, therefore possibly requiring us to use a global optimization algorithm.

As far as general areas of mathematics, I am interested in biomathematics, mathematical modeling, ordinary differential equations, and control theory. Although I have no experience with this, I would like to learn more on modeling infectious diseases (in particular HIV/AIDS) from an epidemiology standpoint.

Some Interesting Sites:

www.gborocollege.edu (my Alma Mater)