Bonnie Jacob

Dr. Bonnie Jacob is an Associate Professor in the Department of Science and Mathematics at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), part of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Her research focuses on graph theory, combinatorial matrix theory, and promoting undergraduate research in STEM, particularly for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. She founded and directed the NSF-funded NTID Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (2017–2021) and is currently the MPI for the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate program.

Education: BA from Smith College, MS and Ph.D. from Clemson University.

Research interests include zero forcing, power domination, and inverse eigenvalue problems for graphs. She has published extensively in journals like Graphs and Combinatorics, Australasian Journal of Combinatorics, and Journal of Humanistic Mathematics, and is a co-author of a landmark book chapter on inclusive undergraduate research practices. Her work often bridges theoretical mathematics with pedagogical innovations for diverse student populations.

Grants include NIH/NIGMS funding for the Rochester Bridges to the Doctorate program and multiple NSF grants for undergraduate research initiatives. She has presented at conferences such as the Joint Mathematics Meetings and the Southeastern International Conference on Combinatorics.

Awards: MATCH Fellow (2022).

Teaching: Advanced Mathematics and Integrated Algebra courses at RIT. Active mentor of over 15 undergraduate researchers, many of whom contributed to her publications.

Labs/Teams: Core member of the American Institute for Mathematics' Inverse Eigenvalue Problems research group and lead of RIT's efforts to support deaf students in STEM.