Maria-Veronica Ciocanel
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
My research is in mathematical biology, in particular related to questions about protein transport in cells. Understanding how proteins move and organize inside cells is a fundamental question in cell biology, with implications to our knowledge of healthy cell function and proper organism development. I use mathematical modeling, analysis, and simulation to address questions about molecular-motor driven transport and protein filament organization. I use tools drawing from dynamical systems and partial differential equations, stochastic processes, and data analysis. I collaborate with experimental researchers on problems related to messenger RNA localization in oocytes, neurofilament transport in axons, actin-myosin protein interactions, and organization of filaments in neuronal dendrites.
Up-to-date information about my research can be found here: https://services.math.duke.edu/~ciocanel/ .
Up-to-date information about my research can be found here: https://services.math.duke.edu/~ciocanel/ .
Current Research Interests
I am currently interested in understanding how different motor proteins may lead to different filament organization inside cells, and in further developing agent-based models and topological data analysis techniques for complex time-series data from cell biology experiments and simulations. I am also developing models for understanding microtubule polarity mechanisms in neuronal development and data analysis measures for describing approximate symmetries in biological data.
I also support leveraging mathematics and computation to give insights into social justice issues, and work on projects related to transparent federal sentencing.
I also support leveraging mathematics and computation to give insights into social justice issues, and work on projects related to transparent federal sentencing.
Office Hours
Spring 2022: Mon 5-6:15pm (in-person), Fri 9-10:30am (online).
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Mathematics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2020
- Assistant Professor of Biology, Biology, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2020
Contact Information
- 120 Science Drive Physics 117, Box 90320, Durham, NC 27708
- 120 Science Drive Physics 117, Box 90320, Durham, NC 27708-0320
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ciocanel@math.duke.edu
(919) 660-2800
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Personal website
- Background
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Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Brown University 2017
- M.S., Brown University 2013
- B.S., Duke University 2012
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Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Scholar In Residence of Mathematics, Mathematics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2020
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Academic Positions Outside Duke
- OSU President’s Postdoctoral Scholar, The Ohio State University. 2018 - 2020
- Postdoctoral Fellow, The Ohio State University, Mathematical Biosciences Institute. 2017 - 2018
- Recognition
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In the News
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APR 1, 2022 SIAM News -
MAR 21, 2022 Duke Chronicle -
JUL 23, 2020 reason.com (Coverage of JUSTFAIR project)
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- Expertise
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Subject Headings
- Research
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Selected Grants
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Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
- Tuition sponsorship for the Faculty Success Program, awarded by Duke University 2021
- President’s Postdoctoral Scholars Award awarded by The Ohio State University 2018 - 2020
- Publications & Artistic Works
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Selected Publications
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Academic Articles
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica. “Applications of PDEs and Stochastic Modeling to Protein Transport in Cell Biology.” Notices of the American Mathematical Society, December 1, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1090/noti2577.Full Text Link to Item
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Aravind Chandrasekaran, Carli Mager, Qin Ni, Garegin A. Papoian, and Adriana Dawes. “Simulated actin reorganization mediated by motor proteins.” Plos Computational Biology 18, no. 4 (April 2022): e1010026. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010026.Full Text
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Dawson, Madeleine, Carson Dudley, Sasamon Omoma, Hwai-Ray Tung, and Maria-Veronica Ciocanel. “Characterizing emerging features in cell dynamics using topological data analysis methods.” Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering 20, no. 2 (2022): 3023–46. https://doi.org/10.3934/mbe.2023143.Full Text
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Gandhi, Punit, Maria-Veronica Ciocanel, Karl Niklas, and Adriana T. Dawes. “Identification of approximate symmetries in biological development.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 379, no. 2213 (December 27, 2021). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2020.0273.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Aravind Chandrasekaran, Carli Mager, Qin Ni, Garegin Papoian, and Adriana Dawes. “Actin reorganization throughout the cell cycle mediated by motor proteins,” July 30, 2021.Link to Item
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Riley Juenemann, Adriana T. Dawes, and Scott A. McKinley. “Topological Data Analysis Approaches to Uncovering the Timing of Ring Structure Onset in Filamentous Networks.” Bulletin of Mathematical Biology 83, no. 3 (March 2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-020-00847-3.Full Text
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Mallory, Kristina, Joshua Rubin Abrams, Anne Schwartz, Maria-Veronica Ciocanel, Alexandria Volkening, and Björn Sandstede. “Influenza spread on context-specific networks lifted from interaction-based diary data.” Royal Society Open Science 8, no. 1 (January 2021): 191876. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.191876.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Chad M. Topaz, Rebecca Santorella, Shilad Sen, Christian Michael Smith, and Adam Hufstetler. “JUSTFAIR: Judicial System Transparency through Federal Archive Inferred Records.” Plos One 15, no. 10 (October 26, 2020): e0241381–e0241381. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241381.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, John Fricks, Peter R. Kramer, and Scott A. McKinley. “Renewal Reward Perspective on Linear Switching Diffusion Systems in Models of Intracellular Transport.” Bulletin of Mathematical Biology 82, no. 10 (September 2020): 126. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-020-00797-w.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Peter Jung, and Anthony Brown. “A Mechanism for Neurofilament Transport Acceleration through Nodes of Ranvier.” Molecular Biology of the Cell 31, no. 7 (January 27, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1101/806786.Full Text
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Panaggio, Mark J., Maria-Veronica Ciocanel, Lauren Lazarus, Chad M. Topaz, and Bin Xu. “Model reconstruction from temporal data for coupled oscillator networks.” Chaos (Woodbury, N.Y.) 29, no. 10 (October 2019): 103116. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5120784.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Steffen S. Docken, Rebecca E. Gasper, Caron Dean, Brian E. Carlson, and Mette S. Olufsen. “Cardiovascular regulation in response to multiple hemorrhages: analysis and parameter estimation.” Biological Cybernetics 113, no. 1–2 (April 2019): 105–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00422-018-0781-y.Full Text
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Ciocanel, M. V., T. L. Stepien, I. Sgouralis, and A. T. Layton. “A multicellular vascular model of the renal myogenic response.” Processes 6, no. 7 (July 1, 2018). https://doi.org/10.3390/PR6070089.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Bjorn Sandstede, Samantha P. Jeschonek, and Kimberly L. Mowry. “Modeling Microtubule-Based Transport and Anchoring of mRNA.” Siam Journal on Applied Dynamical Systems 17, no. 4 (January 2018): 2855–81. https://doi.org/10.1137/18m1186083.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Tracy Stepien, Aurelie Edwards, and Anita Layton. “Modeling Autoregulation of the Afferent Arteriole of the Rat Kidney.” Edited by Laura Miller. Association for Women in Mathematics Series 8 (August 31, 2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60304-9_5.Full Text Link to Item
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, Jill A. Kreiling, James A. Gagnon, Kimberly L. Mowry, and Björn Sandstede. “Analysis of Active Transport by Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching.” Biophysical Journal 112, no. 8 (April 2017): 1714–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpj.2017.02.042.Full Text
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Powrie, Erin A., Veronica Ciocanel, Jill A. Kreiling, James A. Gagnon, Bjӧrn Sandstede, and Kimberly L. Mowry. “Using in vivo imaging to measure RNA mobility in Xenopus laevis oocytes.” Methods 98 (April 2016): 60–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.11.003.Full Text
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Ciocanel, Veronica. “Modeling and Numerical Simulation of the Nonlinear Dynamics of the Parametrically Forced String Pendulum.” Siam Undergraduate Research Online 5 (2012): 95–115. https://doi.org/10.1137/11s011444.Full Text
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Other Articles
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, and John Nardini. “Online and In-Person Interviewing for Tenure-Track Positions.” Notices of the American Mathematical Society, August 1, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1090/noti2516.Full Text Link to Item
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica, and John Nardini. “Online and In-Person Interviewing for Tenure-Track Positions.” Notices of the American Mathematical Society, August 1, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1090/noti2516.Full Text Link to Item
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Topaz, Chad, Maria-Veronica Ciocanel, Phoebe Cohen, Miles Ott, and Nancy Rodriguez. “Institute for the Quantitative Study of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (QSIDE).” Notices of the American Mathematical Society. American Mathematical Society, February 2020. https://doi.org/10.1090/noti2019.Full Text Link to Item
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Adams, Henry, Maria-Veronica Ciocanel, Chad Topaz, and Lori Ziegelmeier. “Topological Data Analysis of Collective Motion.” Siam News. SIAM News, January 27, 2020.Link to Item
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Reports
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Smith, Christian Michael, Nicholas Goldrosen, Maria-Veronica Ciocanel, Rebecca Santorella, Chad M. Topaz, and Shilad Sen. “Racial Disparities in Criminal Sentencing Vary Considerably across Federal Judges.” SOCARXIV, August 17, 2021.Link to Item
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Datasets
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Ciocanel, Maria-Veronica. “Data and scripts from: Actin reorganization throughout the cell cycle mediated by motor proteins,” July 14, 2021. https://doi.org/10.7924/r4zp43t43.Data Access
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Preprints
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Benson, Joseph, Mariya Bessonov, Korana Burke, Simone Cassani, Maria-Veronica Ciocanel, Daniel B. Cooney, and Alexandria Volkening. “How do classroom-turnover times depend on lecture-hall size?,” June 13, 2022.Link to Item
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- Teaching & Mentoring
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Recent Courses
- MATH 221: Linear Algebra and Applications 2023
- MATH 721: Linear Algebra and Applications 2023
- MATH 361S: Mathematical Numerical Analysis 2022
- BIOLOGY 218: Biological Clocks: How Organisms Keep Time 2021
- MATH 183: Biological Clocks: How Organisms Keep Time 2021
- MATH 282S: Mathematical and interdisciplinary modeling seminar 2021
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Advising & Mentoring
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- Academic advisor for 4 math majors and 1 inter-departmental major (Biology-Statistical Science).
- Advisor for one Math PhD student.
- Mentor for one Math postdoctoral fellow.
- Mentored 3 Duke University undergraduate students in a DOMath research project on "Characterizing emerging features in cell dynamics" (Summer 2021 - present)
- Mentored 3 Brown University undergraduate students in a research project on "Parameter identifiability for fluorescence microscopy data" (Summer 2020 - present).
- Mentored two Duke University undergraduate students in Muser research project on "The impact of microtubule polarity on models of cargo transport in neurons".
- Mentored one OSU undergraduate student in a research project on "Modeling and analysis of actin cytoskeleton organization" (Fall 2020).
- Mentored one Duke undergraduate student in a research project on "Identifying disparities in federal sentencing data" remotely through the Phoenix Project (Summer 2020).
- Mentored one undergraduate student in a research project on "Modeling actin-myosin interactions in the worm C. elegans" in the DOSU (Destination Ohio State University) Bridge Program for underrepresented minority students transferring from community college to OSU (Fall 2018 - Spring 2019).
- Mentored one undergraduate student at Tulane University in a research project on developing topological data analysis methods for intracellular transport data (Summer 2018).
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- Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
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Presentations & Appearances
- Parameter identifiability for PDE models of fluorescence microscopy experiments. 40th Southeastern-Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations (SEARCDE). NC State University. November 2022 2022
- Mathematical modeling of protein transport in cells. Computational Biophysics course. Duke University. October 2022 2022
- Modeling microtubule dynamics and polarity in neurons. Minisymposium on Mathematical Modeling of Intracellular Environment . SIAM Life Sciences Meeting. July 2022 2022
- Quantifying Federal Sentence Disparities Through Inferred Sentencing Records. Minisymposium on Quantitative Justice: Intersections between Quantitative Sciences and Social Justice. SIAM Annual Meeting. July 2022 2022
- A mathematical journey in cell biology. Girls Exploring Math summer program. Duke University. June 2022 2022
- Applications of persistent homology to spatial dynamics in cell biology. Special Session on Women in Computational Topology. AWM Research Symposium . June 2022 2022
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channel dynamics. Systems Medicine Seminar. University of Florida. June 2022 2022
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channel dynamics. Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology Seminar Series. University of Nottingham. May 2022 2022
- PDEs modeling for protein transport in cells. Middlebury College. May 2022 2022
- Topological data analysis and significance: Applications to cell biology. AMS Special Session on Computational Topology and Applications. AMS Spring Western Sectional Meeting. May 2022 2022
- Modeling microtubule polarity and organization in fruit fly neurons. AMS Special Session on Mathematical Models for Biomolecular and Cellular Interactions. Joint Mathematics Meetings. April 2022 2022
- Topological data analysis for biological ring channel dynamics. Topology, Geometry, and Data Analysis Seminar . The Ohio State University. April 2022 2022
- Establishing interdisciplinary collaborations in teaching and research. Session on Establishing Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Teaching and Research. MAA. March 2022 2022
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channel dynamics. Mathematical Biology Seminar. University of Pennsylvania. March 2022 2022
- Modeling complex systems in intracellular transport. AMS Special Session on Mathematics of Complex Systems in Biology. AMS Spring Central Sectional Meeting. March 2022 2022
- A mathematical journey in cell biology. Applied Math Student Seminar Series . UNC Chapel Hill. February 2022 2022
- Tracking Symmetry in Simulated Biological Development and Connection to Polarity. AAAS Annual Meeting. AAAS. February 2022 2022
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channel dynamics. Applied Mathematics Seminar. West Virginia University. December 2021 2021
- Applications of topological data analysis to intracellular organization dynamics. AMS Fall Southeastern Sectional Meeting. American Mathematical Society. November 2021 2021
- Analyzing Federal sentence disparities through Inferred Sentencing Records. Datathon4Justice. QSIDE Institute. October 2021 2021
- Mathematical modeling of intracellular transport and organization. DCMB Seminar. Duke Biology. October 2021 2021
- Mechanisms and modeling of neuronal microtubule dynamics and polarity. Workshop on Mathematics of the Cell: Integrating Signaling, Transport and Mechanics. BIRS. October 2021 2021
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. Mathematical Biology Seminar. Washington State University. October 2021 2021
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology Seminar. Oxford University. October 2021 2021
- Topological data analysis for the dynamics of biological ring channels. Topology and Data Science Seminar. University of Ocklahoma. October 2021 2021
- Analyzing sentencing equity of Federal Judges using Inferred Sentencing Records. Data Dialogue Seminar. Duke University. September 2021 2021
- Modeling and data analysis for filament organization in cells. SIAM Southeastern Atlantic Section Conference (SEAS). SIAM. September 2021 2021
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. Mathematical Biology Seminar. University of Melbourne. September 2021 2021
- Modeling protein transport in cells. PDE Course. Brown University. July 2021 2021
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. SCMB Seminar. Southeast Center for Mathematics and Biology. June 2021 2021
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. TDA Seminar. Michigan State University. June 2021 2021
- Analyzing sentencing equity of Federal Judges using Inferred Sentencing Records. Mathematics of Social Justice Course. Bates College. May 2021 2021
- Analyzing Federal sentence disparities through Inferred Sentencing Records. Annual Conference. UPSTAT. April 2021 2021
- Evaluation of pharmacologic mechanisms to overcome rituximab resistance via quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) modeling of antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity. AACR Annual Meeting. American Association of Cancer Research. April 2021 2021
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. Mathematical Biology Seminar. Brandeis University. April 2021 2021
- Topological data analysis for intracellular transport. Mathematical Biology Seminar. UC Davis. April 2021 2021
- Analyzing Racial Equity and Bias of Federal Judges through Inferred Sentencing Records. Hot Topics Workshop on Mathematical and Computational Approaches to Social Justice. ICERM. March 2021 2021
- Intracellular transport and topological data analysis. SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering. SIAM. March 2021 2021
- Topological data analysis for intracellular transport. Dynamical Systems Seminar. University of Minnesota. March 2021 2021
- Modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. Mathematical Biology Seminar. University of British Columbia. February 2021 2021
- Topological Data Analysis for Ring Channels in Intracellular Transport. Applied Mathematics Seminar. UNC Greensboro. February 2021 2021
- Modeling the dynamics and organization of intracellular proteins. Joint Mathematics Meeting, AMS Special Session on Agent-Based Dynamics and Self-Organization in Biology. American Mathematical Society. January 2021 2021
- Modeling and data analysis for intracellular protein organization. Mathematical and Computational Biology Seminar Series. November 2020 2020
- Modeling and data analysis for intracellular protein organization. Math-Bio Seminar. Virginia Tech. October 2020 2020
- Stochastic and continuum dynamics in intracellular transport. Graduate-Faculty Seminar. Duke Mathematics Department. October 2020 2020
- The mathematical journey of protein cargoes along cellular roads. Mathematics Colloquium. Cal State Fullerton. September 2020 2020
- Ring channel analysis using topological data analysis. SMB 2020 Annual Meeting. Society of Mathematical Biology. August 2020 2020
- The mathematical journey of protein cargoes along cellular roads. Guest lecture. Duke Mathematical Biology course. July 2020 2020
- Topological Data Analysis for Ring Channels in Cell Biology. SIAM Conference on Mathematics of Data Science. SIAM. June 2020 2020
- Computational modeling and topological data analysis for biological ring channels. Conference on Mathematical and Computational Methods in Biology. Mathematical Biosciences Institute. May 2020 2020
- Topological Data Analysis for Describing Ring Channel Dynamics. Quantitative Biology Institute Seminar. Ohio University. April 2020 2020
- Stochastic and continuum dynamics in cellular transport. SIAM Minisymposium on Mathematical modeling and simulation of complex biological systems. Joint Mathematics Meetings. January 2020 2020
- Topological Data Analysis for Ring Channels in Intracellular Trasport. AMS-AWM Special Session on Women in Mathematical Biology. Joint Mathematics Meetings. January 2020 2020
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Outreach & Engaged Scholarship
- Committee member. Graduate Research Opportunities for Women 2022. Duke University. October 2022 2022
- Bass Connections Team Leader. Effects of Climate Change on Microbial Food Webs . 2022 - 2023 2022 - 2023
- Instructor. Math Circles. Duke University. January 2022 - April 2022 2022
- Presenter. Mathematics Seminar Series. Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society Chapter . December 2021 2021
- Organizer. Triangle Competition in Mathematical Modeling (TriCoMM). November 2021 2021
- Volunteer. Beyond the Classroom Summer Camp. Mathematics Department, The Ohio State University. July 2020 2020
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Service to the Profession
- Co-organizer. DEI Panel Discussion on Building inclusive graduate programs in mathematical biology . SMB Annual Meeting. September 2022 2022
- Nominating Committee Member. SIAG on Life Sciences Election. SIAM. August 2022 - September 2022 2022
- Co-organizer. Minisymposium on Combining Topological, Data-Driven, and Modeling Perspectives for Complex Biological Systems . SIAM Conference on the Life Sciences. July 2022 2022
- Co-organizer. Special Session on Topological Data Analysis and its Applications in Biological Systems. AMS, Fall Southeastern Sectional Meeting. November 2021 2021
- Co-organizer. Workshop on Mathematics of the Cell: Integrating Signaling, Transport and Mechanics. BIRS. October 2021 2021
- Committee Member-at-large. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Society for Mathematical Biology. July 2021 - December 2022 2021 - 2022
- Co-organizer. Session on Combining modeling and inference in cell biology. Society for Mathematical Biology. June 2021 2021
- Co-organizer. Math Biology Education & REU Workshop 2021. Society for Mathematical Biology. April 2021 - April 2021 2021
- Co-organizer. Hot Topics Workshop on Mathematical and Computational Approaches to Social Justice. ICERM. March 2021 2021
- Committee Member. Alice T. Schafer Prize Selection Committee. Association of Women in Mathematics. February 2021 - January 2024 2021 - 2024
- Co-organizer. Special Session on Modeling and Data Analytic Techniques for Biological Systems. AMS, Joint Mathematics Meetings. January 2021 2021
- Participant. Faculty Success Program. National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD). 2021 2021
- Chair. SMB Subgroup on Cell and Developmental Biology. Society of Mathematical Biology. September 2020 - September 2022 2020 - 2022
- Co-organizer. Session on Topological and network analyses for data. SMB Annual Meeting. August 2020 2020
- Co-organizer. Minisymposium on Probabilistic and Topological Methods for Biological Data. SIAM Conference on Mathematics of Data Science. June 2020 2020
- Co-organizer. Minisymposium on Multiscale modeling of cytoskeleton-mediated cellular transport and aggregation. SMB Annual Meeting. July 2019 2019
- Co-organizer. Minisymposium on Topological Data Analysis and Applications in Dynamical Systems. SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems. May 2019 2019
- Organizer. Minisymposium on Modeling Cell Motility and Cytoskeleton Interactions. SIAM Conference on the Life Sciences. August 2018 2018
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Service to Duke
- Panelist. Panel on collaborations for grad students and postdocs. Duke Math. July 2022 2022
- Duke Math DST Search. Member. November 2021 - February 2022 2021 - 2022
- Panelist. New Connections in Math Undergraduate Research Conference. Duke Math RTG. October 2021 2021
- Duke Math DEI Committee. Member. May 2021 - May 2022 2021 - 2022
- Duke Math. Undergraduate prize committee. April 2021 - May 2022 2021 - 2022
- Team Advisor. MCM/ICM Math Modeling Contest. February 2021 - February 2023 2021 - 2023
- Duke Math. Elliot Assistant Research Professor hiring committee. January 2021 2021
- Team leader. Association of Women in Mathematics Mentorship Program. Duke Mathematics, AWM Student Chapter. October 2020 - December 2020 2020
- Organizer. Mathematical Biology Seminar. Duke Mathematics. September 2020 - May 2022 2020 - 2022
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