Mathematics

Dr. Heidi Berger

Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Carver Science 332

515-961-1837

heidi.berger@simpson.edu

Teaching Interests:  I think mathematics is a drop dead gorgeous subject and therefore, I enjoy teaching just about every course our department has to offer.  My specialties include courses in the calculus sequence and differential equations.  I enjoy working with majors and non-majors alike.  I get a lot of satisfaction helping students gain confidence in their mathematical ability, whatever level that ability might be.  My office door is always open for students, and I keep my office well stocked with candy and dried fruit as extra incentives.

Research Interests:  I love doing research with undergraduates.  My current research interests are in the field of differential equations/difference equations/time scales calculus.  More specifically, I am interested in exploring how time scales calculus can be used to model biological lifecycles of invasive insects.  As a result of a CURM mini-grant and an Iowa Science Foundation grant, I have two groups of students currently working with me.  One group is looking at how to modify the time scales logistic equation to model a hypothetical emerald ash borer investation.  My second group is investigating how sampling frequency affects predicted population parameters for houseflies.  To learn more about this research, please see the following website put together by students:  House fly project.  For more information on research occurring in our department, see the pages on senior seminar and MUMS (Midwest Undergraduate Mathematics Symposium.)

Other Interests:  I enjoy traveling and cooking.  My goal is to see all 50 states (I am 36/50 of the way there) and to visit every continent (I am 4/7 of the way to this goal).  If you take my classes, you will have the privelege of trying some "exotic" food that I will bring to class or to my office.  I am also a sloth enthusiast - my office is littered with various sloth paraphernalia, including a magnet from Costa Rica and the certificate of my sloth adoption at the Lincoln Children's Zoo in Nebraska.  

Last Updated: 11/18/11