Research Interests
Applied & Computational Mathematics
Mathematical Biology & Mathematical Modeling
Optimal Control Theory
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Experience
Graduate Research Assistant, NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences grant, Modeling Environmental Transmission of Pathogens (2018 - 2019).
Current Projects
In collaboration with Kelly Buch (Austin Peay State University) & David Elzinga (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse): BAA-ttling Disease: A Model for Managing Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (EAE) in Sheep
In collaboration with Bert Baumgaertner (University of Idaho), Dilshani Sarathchandra (University of Idaho), Boyu Zhang (University of Idaho), & Lihong Zhao (Kennesaw State University): Models for Understanding Complex Interactions Between Prophylactic Fatigue and Disease Dynamics
Dissertation work advised by Judy Day & Suzanne Lenhart (University of Tennessee, Knoxville)
Mathematically Modeling the Immune Response of Celiac Disease
Quantifying the Contribution of Touch Frequency on Environmental Transmission of Clostridioides difficile in Healthcare Settings
Publications
Priscilla Doran*, Natsuka Hayashida*, Kristen Joyner*, Grace Moberg*, Austin Kind, Matthew Senese, Brittany Stephenson, and Cara Jill Sulyok. "A Mathematical Model of Clostridioides difficile Transmission in Long-Term Care Facilities," to appear in Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering.
Cara Jill Sulyok, Lindsey Fox, Hannah Ritchie, Cristina Lanzas, Suzanne Lenhart, and Judy Day. “Mathematically Modeling the Effect of Touch Frequency on the Environmental Transmission of Clostridioides difficile in Healthcare Settings,” Mathematical Biosciences, 340, 2021.
Mohammed Yahdi, Cara Sulyok, Karissa Smith, and Alison Bugenis. “Modeling and Sensitivity Analysis of the Role of Biodiversity to Control Pest Damage in Agroecosystems,” Letters in Biomathematics, 1(1): 41-50, 2014.
Mohammed Yahdi and Cara Sulyok. “Integration of Mathematical Modeling and Analysis with Biodiversity Approaches to Control Damage in Alfalfa Agroecosystems,” Proceedings of the International Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology: Education and Research, McGraw Hill, 2014.
* Indicates undergraduate student researcher.
Research Awards & Grants
Summer@ICERM, Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics, "Pure and Applied Mathematical Models" with Amanda Harsy, Adam Schultze, and Brittany Stephenson (2026).
Brother Bernard Rapp Research Focus Award, Lewis Univeristy, "Integrating Behavioral, Opinions-Based, and Environmental Factors into Mathematical Models of Disease Transmission" (2025-26).
Summer@ICERM, Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics, "Mathematical Models to Predict, Prepare, and Prevent" with Amanda Harsy, Adam Schultze, and Brittany Stephenson (2024).
Brother Bernard Rapp Research Focus Award, Lewis Univeristy, "Mathematical Models of Environmental Disease Transmission and Control" (2024-25).
Caterpillar Scholar Award, Lewis University, "Mathematically Modeling Celiac to Identify Practical Treatments" (2024).
Doherty Center for Aviation and Health Research, Lewis University
"Mathematical Models of Disease Transmission and Control in Local Communities" with Brittany Stephenson (2025).
"Development of Agent-Based Models for Evaluation of Precision Nutrition Interventions Through a Socioeconomic Lens" with Brittany Stephenson (2024).
"Stochastic Simulations of Nosocomial Clostridioides difficile Infections" with Brittany Stephenson (2023).
"Agent-Based Models of Environmental Pathways in Disease Transmission" with Brittany Stephenson (2022).
Dr. James Girard Summer Undergraduate Research Program, Lewis University
"A Comparison of Mathematical Modeling Techniques to Describe Disease Spread in Healthcare Settings" (2025).
"Mathematically Modeling Recurrent C. difficile Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities" (2024).
"Mathematical Modeling and Optimal Control of Disease Spread in Healthcare Settings" (2023).
"Mathematical Modeling and Control of Disease Spread in Healthcare Settings" (2022).
PUMA-STEM Summer Research Program, Promotion of Underrepresented Minorities in Academic STEM
"Development of Agent-Based Models for Evaluation of Precision Nutrition Interventions Through a Socioeconomic Lens" with Brittany Stephenson (2024).
"Modeling Disease Transmission and Control in Long-Term Care Facilities" (2023).
"Mathematically Modeling the Interactions of Community- and Hospital-Acquired C. difficile Infections" (2022).
Project Completion Award, Lewis University (2023).
Lasallian Research Award, Lewis University, "Analyzing the Impact of Alternative Assessment on Growth Mindset in Mathematics Courses" with Amanda Harsy, Marie Meyer, Michael Smith, and Brittany Stephenson
Colloquium Presentations
(upcoming) Millersville University, "Mathematics Meets Medicine: Modeling Disease Transmission and Control in Healthcare Settings," Millersville, PA (November 2025).
Kennesaw State University, "Mathematical Models of Disease Transmission and Control in Healthcare Settings," Marietta, GA (September 2025).
Selected Recent & Upcoming Presentations
(upcoming) Eighteenth International Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology: Education and Research, "Mathematical Models of Disease Transmission in Long-Term Care Facilities," George Mason University, Fairfax, VA (November 2025).
MAA MathFest, Invited Lecture Presentation in MAA Invited Paper Session on Trends in Mathematical and Computational Biology with Brittany Stephenson, "Mathematical Models of Disease Transmission in Long-Term Care Facilities," Sacramento, CA (August 2025).
Joint Mathematics Meetings, Invited Lecture Presentation in SIGMAA Special Session on Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology with Brittany Stephenson, “Quantifying the Transmission of Clostridioides difficile: Mathematical Models of Transmission and Control in Hospitals,” Seattle,WA (January 2025).
MAA MathFest, Invited Lecture Presentation in MAA Invited Paper Session on Trends in Mathematical and Computational Biology with Brittany Stephenson, "Agent-Based Modeling of Environmental Disease Transmission in a Multi-Ward Hospital," Indianapolis, IN (August 2024).
Annual Meeting of the Illinois Section of the MAA, "A Mathematical Framework to Augment the Q-MARSH Score in the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease," Bradley University, Peoria, IL (March 2024).
Joint Mathematics Meetings, Invited Lecture Presentation in AMS Special Session on Dynamics and Management in Disease or Ecological Models (associated with Gibbs Lecture by Suzanne Lenhart), “Quantifying the Transmission of Clostridioides difficile: Mathematical Models of Transmission and Control in Healthcare Settings,” San Francisco, CA (January 2024).
Joint Mathematics Meetings, Invited Lecture Presentation in SIGMAA on Mathematical and Computational Biology Special Session on Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology, “Making the MBRG: Engaging Undergraduate Students in Mathematical Biology Research,” San Francisco, CA (January 2024).
MAA MathFest, Invited Lecture Presentation in Recent Advances in Mathematical and Computational Biology, Highlighting Contributions from Undergraduate Researchers, "Undergraduate Research Aimed at Solving Clostridioides difficile: Mathematical Models of Transmission and Control in Healthcare Settings," Tampa, FL (August 2023).
Annual Meeting of the Illinois Section of the MAA, "Undergraduate Research Aimed at Solving Clostridioides difficile: Mathematical Models of Transmission and Control in Healthcare Settings," College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, IL (March 2023).
Joint Mathematics Meetings, Invited Lecture Presentation in AMS-SIGMAA BIO Special Session on Undergraduate Research Activities in Mathematical and Computational Biology, "Undergraduate Research Aimed at Quantifying the Transmission of Clostridioides difficile: Mathematical Models of Transmission and Control in Healthcare Settings," Boston, MA (January 2023).
Fifteenth International Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology: Education and Research, "Solving Clostridioides difficile: Mathematical Models of Transmission and Control in Healthcare Settings," Illinois State University, Normal, IL (November 2022).
MAA MathFest, Invited Lecture Presentation in Trends in Mathematical and Computational Biology, "Effects of Optimally-Performed Healthcare Measures on Clostridioides difficile Infection Rates," Philadelphia, PA (August 2022).
Joint Mathematics Meetings, Invited Lecture Presentation in AMS Special Session on Recent Advances in Mathematical Biology, Ecology, and Epidemiology, “A Mathematical Framework to Augment the Q-MARSH Score in the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease,” Online (April 2022).
Annual Meeting of the Illinois Section of the MAA, “A Mathematical Framework to Augment the Q-MARSH Score in the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease," Millikin Univeristy, Decatur, IL (March 2022).
Joint Mathematics Meetings, Invited Lecture Presentation in AMS Special Session on Women Advancing Mathematical Biology Through Computational and Analytical Techniques, “A Mathematical Framework to Augment the Q-MARSH Score in the Diagnosis of Celiac Disease,” Online (January 2021).
Workshop Participation
The Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM) - Patterns, Dynamics, and Data in Complex Systems (Invited Participant), Providence, RI (January 2025).
American Mathematical Society - Mathematics Research Communities - Complex Social Systems (Invited Participant), Java Center, NY (June 2023).
Tutorial Workshop on Parameter Estimation for Biological Models (Invited Participant), North Carolina State University, Raleigh (July 2018).
Ecological and Biological Systems (Invited Participant), Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, Minneapolis, MN (June 2018).
Workshop for Women in Mathematical Biology (Invited Participant), Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, Minneapolis, MN (May 2018).