Intuitive Mathematics for Physicians and Bioscientists I

This course is the first in a two-course sequence exploring of the utility and beauty of mathematics in medicine and the biosciences, intended to be approachable for MD students and bioscience PhD students. No mathematics background is expected beyond familiarity with the core concepts from a two-semester college calculus sequence (recollection of the details is not needed), and the focus will be on providing intuitive and visual explanations of mathematical concepts through discussions of sampled applications. Topics will be discussed both in a way which showcases their wide applicability and also by zooming in to specific problems drawn from across basic bioscience and medicine, both research and clinical. Examples will be drawn from chemical, cellular, and physiological processes across multiple scales, machine learning and algorithms for basic bioscience and medical problems, and additional topics as time permits. The 1-unit version functions as a lecture series seminar, while the 3-unit version also includes a term project, for which mentorship will be offered across the quarter.