Undergraduate Mathematical Research & its Application

The Smart Cities-Smart Futures Competition encourages open-ended design thinking and concept-generation in order to bring forward the widest range of innovative concepts for enhancing the lives of Wisconsin residents. This initiative is designed to create an avenue for bringing innovative concepts of all types forward and to be a catalyst that helps energize a “smart future.”

It is an opportunity for college students, faculty and staff to bring their innovative ideas to life. This competition offers a platform where people throughout Wisconsin can submit technology-based inventions, software, applications, and ideas and compete for cash prizes, national recognization, employment opportunities and more.

For more information, please see www.wismartcities-smartfutures.com/

Enhanced Safety Traffic Sign, 2019-2020

Student participants: Owen Xu, Haiyuan Yu, Selina Sun, Gabrielle Hull

Semifinalist, prize award $500

E- Home, 2019-2020

Student participants: Andy Mo, Anna Dong, Colin Zhou, Harry Li, Kylie VanDyke

Semifinalist, prize award $500

Student participants: Owen Xu, Haiyuan Yu, Selina Sun, Gabrielle Hull

Grand Prize Finalists (first place) , cash prize award $5,000

Student participants: Andy Mo, Anna Dong, Colin Zhou, Harry Li, Kylie VanDyke

Top 10 Finalists, cash prize award $2,500

Picture from left to right: Dr. Alan Yeung (Foxconn Director of U.S. Strategic Initiatives) Harry Li (student), Kylie VanDyke (student) Shawn J. McComb, Director of business development and commercial management at Foxconn.

Top 10 finalists

Picture from left to right: Dr. Alan Yeung (Foxconn Director of U.S. Strategic Initiatives) Dr. Wufeng Tian, Haoyu Xu (student), Shawn J. McComb

Grand prize winner

Final round award ceremony picture: Finalist Winners + Foxconn team, etc

The IMPACT Program (Innovative Minds Partnering to Advance Curative Therapies) challenges undergraduate students and faculty collaborators to discover creative solutions to critical health questions. This unique competition brings together students from a wide variety of academic backgrounds and provides them the opportunity to help solve real-world health problems alongside Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Health System scientists and physicians.

Innovative Minds Partnering to Advance Curative Therapies (IMPACT) Program 2018-2019

Premature closure of the foramen ovale during the fetal period may cause the hypoplastic leftheart syndrome.


Student participants: Carson Derousseau, Warren Williams, Dongjie Tu, Andy Mo


Picture from left to right: Andy Mo, Dongjie Tu, Dr. James C. Schmidt (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Chancellor), Carson Derousseau, Warren Williams and Dr. Wufeng Tian

Innovative Minds Partnering to Advance Curative Therapies (IMPACT) Program 2019-2020

The mechanistic link between binge alcohol drinking, addiction, and the function of the neuroimmune system

Student participants: Kylie VanDyke, Zhaoxin xuyang, Meilin Tang


Picture from left to right: Meilin Tang, Kylie VanDyke, Zhaoxin xuyang, Dr. James C. Schmidt (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Chancellor), and Dr. Wufeng Tian

Mathematical Contest in Modeling:

Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM), an international contest for high school students and college undergraduates. It challenges teams of students to clarify, analyze, and propose solutions to open-ended problems. The contest attracts diverse students and faculty advisors from over 900 institutions around the world.

The Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM), is an extension of the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM). It is designed to develop and advance interdisciplinary problem-solving skills as well as competence in written communication.

Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) 2018-2019

Mathematically and Biologically Raising ’Game of Thrones’ Dragons,

Student participants: Eric Anderson,Vincent Biever, Jinxuan Cong

Honorable Mention Winner


Developing an Aerial Disaster Relief Response System,

Student participants: Carson Derousseau,Warren Williams,Junan Yue

Successful Participant


Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) 2019-2020

What makes a helpful online review?

Student participants: Ouwen Xu, Yujia Jiang, Alex Swor

Honorable Mention Winner


Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) 2020-2021


Application of the Entropy Weight and TOPSIS Method in Health and Sustainability Evaluation of a Higher Education System

Student participants: Ruishen Yang, Ike Minh Nguyen, Pinzhe Chen



Picture from left to right: Dr. Wufeng Tian, Jinxuan Cong, Eric Anderson


Student Research League (March-April)

The Student Research League (SRL) is a partnership between college students and Faculty Mentors who are seeking STEM knowledge through an AMATYC approved research program. The Student Research League (SRL) will require AMATYC Faculty Mentors to sponsor a team of one to three mathematics students from their college to participate in addressing a designed research STEM Challenge Problem.

The Student Research League's main goals are:

A) To encourage research problem solving and to motivate an interest in extracurricular mathematics activities, and

B) To reward outstanding student research problem-solvers through a scholarship and prizes to be given to the top participants, both individual and team, in League competition, and to recognize colleges with outstanding mathematics students through national awards.


Student Research League, 2019

Student participants: LeMoine Hannah, Yuchi Dong, and Sicheng Mo

Mathematical Analysis of Alternative Power Systems in a Northern Wisconsin Home

Regional Award: Middle West Regional Finalist

National Award: 2nd place, National Award, cash prize $1,500





Student Research League, 2020

Student participants: Haiyuan Yu, Selina Sun

Forgive and Forget or Forever in Student Loan Debt ?

Regional Award: Middle West Regional Finalist







Student Research League, 2021

Student participants: Payton Mae Sevals, Ruishen Yang


Optimization of settlers and food supply for Mars mission

Regional Award: Middle West Regional Finalist




Picture from left to right: Dr. Wufeng Tian, Anna Dong, LeMoine Hannah, Andy Mo

Picture from left to right: Dr. Wufeng Tian, Selina Sun, Haiyuan Yu

Celebration of Excellence in Research + Creative Activity, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (April-May)

UW-Eau Claire's Celebration of Excellence in Research and Creative Activity (CERCA) is designed to give UW-Eau Claire students the opportunity to present the results of their research and scholarly creative activity. The event highlights student research accomplishments and contributions to the academic community.

Picture from left to right: Anna Dong, LeMoine Hannah, Andy Mo, Dr. Wufeng Tian

LeMoine Hannah presented at UW-EC-CERCA

Andy Mo presented at UW-EC CERCA

Anna Dong presented at UW-EC CERCA

Student-Faculty Research Collaboration

The Student-Faculty Research Collaboration program, supported by Blugold Commitment Differential Tuition, supports student research during the academic year. Research collaboration is understood to include in-depth faculty-mentored undergraduate scholarly projects in any discipline.

Student participant: Owen Xu

Student Owen Xu Presented at the 17th UW System Research in the Rotunda

Picture from left to right: Owen Xu and Dr. Ray Cross, University Wisconsin System President

Student Owen Xu Presented at the 17th UW System Research in the Rotunda

Picture from left to right: Owen Xu and Dr. James C. Schmidt (University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Chancellor)

UW System Administration, in collaboration with WiSys offers funding for prototype development. Ignite funding for prototype development is offered as short term awards (e.g. 6-12 months) to support research and development intended to advance the commercial potential of technologies.

Project participants: UW-Platteville Senior Design Teams

Corporate sponsor: Wisys, WI

Project Liaison: Wufeng Tian

Funding support: $ 2,000

Timeline: 01/2020-07/2020

As part of senior design, the senior design teams would work on the sensor box and the heating and illumination of the sign:

Team 1: Sensor box to detect vehicles and speed to be displayed on an LCD screen.

Student participants: Matthew Boland, Steven Gerek, Jacob Slowey and Bailey Tran

Team 2: A sign face that has and illuminated layer that can also be heated to clear snow

Student participants: Brendon Belongia, Caleb Hobson, Chris Hund, Nicholas Stevens


The Innovation Sprint is designed to encourage collaborative innovation at Mayo Clinic. IT experts, clinicians, business users and others will form interdisciplinary teams, share ideas, pitch problems, develop solutions, and advance innovation. Participants will work on ideas related to Platform’s Advanced Care at Home initiative.

Student participants: Yongxin Cai, Nuo Xu

Human Centered Real-time Stroke Monitoring System, 02/13-02/14, 2021