Kathleen Hoffman

Kathleen Hoffman is a Professor of Mathematics and Statistics and an Affiliate Professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics with an interdisciplinary focus in Physics from the University of New Hampshire.

Her research focuses on mathematical modeling of biological systems, including elastic rod models for DNA, neuromechanical locomotion in lampreys, epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases, vertebrate vision (melanopsin phototransduction), and thalamic reticular nucleus dynamics. Collaborations span disciplines with researchers like Drs. Tom Seidman, Eric Tytell, and Asaf Keller, integrating computational, experimental, and theoretical approaches.

Dr. Hoffman teaches advanced courses such as Calculus of Variations, Dynamical Systems, and Partial Differential Equations. Her work bridges applied mathematics with biological applications, emphasizing interdisciplinary problem-solving.

Her recent research explores neural oscillations in the thalamus, sustainability in ecological food chains, and GABA-mediated signaling in brain activity. She actively mentors students and contributes to undergraduate research initiatives like UBM@UMBC.