About iibbs/BioMath

William and Mary's Institute for Integrative Bird Behavior Studies (iibbs) is a newly formed initiative bringing together researchers from Biology, Mathematics, School of Marine Sciences, and our Center for Conservation to study the behavioral ecology and conservation of populations and communities. Formed by Professors Dan Cristol, John Swaddle and Sebastian Schreiber, the goals of iibbs/BioMath are to:

• Formalize and strengthen William and Mary's expertise in behavior and ecology, particularly in relation to mathematical applications and modeling of populations and behaviors
• Provide strong, personalized mentorship for undergraduate and graduate students at the interface of biology and mathematics
• Provide inspiring educational and research opportunities for students
• Support active collaboration among Faculty and students from different disciplines and departments, particularly in BioMath areas

We recently received $647,000 from NSF to initiate a formal BioMath initiative. This will center on both a mathematical and biological understanding of how habitat quality effects the long term stability of animal populations. But these ideas are expandable to any area in which math, biology, and ecology overlap with each other. Many of the current projects are based on local bird populations, but we also have students working on invertebrate, reptile, and mammal systems! (We are not just about birds!) We have funding available for undergraduate projects, including semester and summer grants. Please contact either Dan Cristol, John Swaddle or Sebstian Schreiber for further information.