5Q: Tucker Joyce Continues Research Using Math to Explore Chronic Wound Healing

Since 2010, the Gatton Academy has offered students the ability to pursue summer research experiences through the Gatton Research Internships Grants (RIG) program.  Made possible through the generous support of Mr. Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, the program offers competitive grants to Gatton Academy students between their junior and senior years to support summertime research internships across the Commonwealth and the world.  By providing a funding mechanism, the program directly creates new avenues for growth and exploration.  Throughout the summer, we’ll share insights from students who are the recipients of our 2011 grants.

Tennessee “Tucker” Joyce (’12) of Harrodsburg is working with Dr. Richard Schugart of the WKU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, continuing his research that started at the beginning of his Academy experience.

1. What does research mean to you as a young person interested in STEM?

Research to me means that I can work creatively on a new, unsolved problem. It means that the work I am doing here can have an impact on the world and help people.

2. Tell us a little about the research experience in which you are participating this summer that the Research Internship Grant is funding.

This Summer I am doing research under Dr. Richard Schugart in the WKU Mathematics Department. I am working on part of an ongoing project involving a new model of the process of wound healing for chronic wounds. I am working mostly with the mathematical aspect of the problem, gaining qualitative results and estimating parameter values.

3. Will you be using this research experience as a launching point for any particular applications, competitions, or scholarships?

Yes, definitely. I plan on applying to the Siemens Competition, Intel Competition, and probably some others too. The research experience here lends itself naturally to such competitions and this is one of the great benefits of doing research.

4. How does the Gatton Academy help Kentucky from your point of view?

I feel that the Gatton Academy’s main benefit to Kentucky is to allow young people with potential to better use it. Graduates of the Gatton Academy are prepared to succeed in college more than they ever would be otherwise and will probably go on to improve Kentucky after college more than ever thanks to the opportunities they received at the Gatton Academy.

5. What do you love most about the Gatton Academy?

The thing I love most about the Gatton Academy is the idea that 128 of the most gifted students in the state are able to live and work together in one place. I feel that students as talented as those at the Gatton Academy can achieve much more when they can communicate with each other. The Gatton Academy creates a unique community in which this is possible and the opportunities that this provides are what I love about the Academy.