VCU and math have long been part of the equation for systems modeling student Milan Marsh

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Milan Marsh's introduction to Virginia Commonwealth University came during high school, when the American Chemical Society's Project SEED Program, in partnership with VCU's Department of Chemistry, offered her a two-month summer research internship.

"That experience had a major impact on me," Marsh said of the program that provided hands-on laboratory work, as well as college readiness and financial support. "It sparked my interest in scientific research and gave me very positive experiences with the university, its faculty and its community. Because of that, VCU was always a place I held in high regard, so when I was looking at Ph.D. programs, it felt like a natural choice."

Marsh, who grew up in Church Hill in Richmond's East End, is now studying for her Ph.D. in systems modeling and analysis in VCU's College of Humanities and Sciences. And while Project SEED focused on chemistry, it helped intensify a lifelong interest in math that is at the heart of her doctoral studies, which touch on human biology and disease progression.

Since age 8, Marsh said, she has been drawn to math and its problem-solving aspect.

"There was something satisfying about working hard on a challenging problem and then being able to look back through my work and see exactly how I arrived at the answer," she said. "That process of reasoning through a problem is what first sparked my interest in math and is still one of the things I enjoy most about it today."

Marsh envisioned becoming a math professor, in part for the chance to instill confidence in the subject to new generations of students.

Project SEED boosted her own confidence. She was drawn to it by the prospect of lab work, attending professional seminars, presenting research and being mentored by faculty, including from VCU program coordinators and chemistry professors Michael Hunnicutt, Ph.D., and Sally Hunnicutt, Ph.D., who are now retired.

"They were incredibly supportive and instrumental in helping me build the confidence I needed to succeed," Marsh said.

She completed her undergraduate degree in math at the University of Virginia before returning to VCU for graduate school. Marsh earned her master's in applied mathematics as part of the progression of the doctoral program, which is a joint offering of VCU's Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics and the Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research.

Marsh is currently working with her advisor, Rebecca Segal, Ph.D., on developing a mechanistic mathematical model of vaso-occlusive crises, which are a painful complication of sickle cell disease.

"Our work uses systems of differential equations to investigate how biological processes, such as inflammation, adhesion, pain and sleep, interact during a crisis," Marsh said. "The goal is to better understand the underlying mechanisms driving disease progression and to ultimately use the model to inform treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes."

In addition to her Ph.D. research at VCU, Marsh earned a summer internship at Sandia National Laboratories through its Computer Science Research Institute.

"In my research, I build mathematical models of biological systems, and Bayesian methods can help improve how those models are calibrated and validated using data," she said. "I think the skills I gain during this internship will be very valuable both for my dissertation work and for my long-term career goals."

After completing her Ph.D., Marsh hopes to begin a career in industry, applying mathematical modeling to real-word problems. She is particularly interested in opportunities at national laboratories, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, or consulting firms.

"Recently, I have become interested in quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), which combines mathematics, biology and pharmacology to model disease processes and drug responses," she said. "I would love to work in a role where I can develop mathematical models that help guide drug development and treatment decisions."

As far as her childhood goal of teaching, Marsh has not abandoned the thought.

"I still hope to teach and potentially become a mathematics professor someday," she said.