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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE NSF SUCCESS Scholar presents at MathFest

Jessica White is the first UNE student to present at MathFest
Jessica White is the first UNE student to present at MathFest

Jessica White (Biochemistry/Applied Mathematics, ’19) recently traveled to the annual MathFest conference, held in Denver, Colorado, where she gave a talk on her research project, “Exploring patterns and characteristics of the Fibonacci sequence, modulo m."

MathFest is a national mathematics conference hosted by the Mathematical Association of America. It is known for its dual focus on teaching and research in mathematics, as well as student participation.

The Fibonacci numbers have long interested mathematicians. Research in the Fibonacci numbers is now prevalent, with patterns and characteristics of subsequences identified and an entire journal dedicated to the field. The patterns and characteristics of subsequences of Fibonacci sequences modulo m, however, remain largely uncharacterized.

In her project, White is hoping to be able to characterize patterns and properties in those modulo m sequences.

In addition to giving a talk, White attended other student presentations as well as sessions with academic and industry professionals.

She says her experience at MathFest gave her a clearer understanding of how she can blend her two fields of interest in the future.

“My major is Applied Mathematics, with a second major in Biochemistry,” White says. “A lot of the lectures that I attended at the conference related to mathematical modeling in biological systems, so I was able to see more clearly the interface between the two topics.”

White was also selected to be the recipient of an undergraduate student travel grant to support her presentation at the conference.

She is conducting the work under the guidance of her research mentor James Quinlan, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences with funding from NSF Award #1259896.

Jessica White learned more about blending her two majors while at MathFest in Denver, Colorado
Jessica White learned more about blending her two majors while at MathFest in Denver, Colorado

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.