Manda Riehl

Manda Riehl serves as Professor of Mathematics at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology within the Department of Mathematics, contributing to both research and undergraduate education in discrete mathematical sciences.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D. in Mathematics, University of California, San Diego (2008)
• M.A. in Mathematics, University of California, San Diego (2004)
• B.Sc. in Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003)

Research focuses on discrete mathematical biology, particularly evolutionary fitness landscapes and nucleic acids modeling. Her work integrates combinatorial mathematics with biological theory to analyze epistasis and evolutionary pathways, revealing fundamental principles in theoretical biology and population dynamics. This interdisciplinary approach bridges abstract mathematics with real-world biological complexity.

Her 2022 publication on reciprocal sign epistasis—cited in Science and coauthored with a Rose-Hulman undergraduate—exemplifies her impactful contributions to understanding multi-peaked fitness landscapes. This research trend highlights her specialization in theoretical evolutionary models with implications for genetic adaptation studies.

Key recognitions include:

• Fulbright Scholar (2022-2023) for international research collaboration
• Council on Undergraduate Research Mid-Career Mentor Award (2019)

Dr. Riehl actively mentors undergraduate researchers, evidenced by student coauthorship in high-impact publications and her national mentorship award. Her teaching philosophy extends to cognitive aspects of learning, emphasizing executive function and student motivation in mathematical education to foster deep conceptual understanding.