MERG
Mathematical Epidemiology Research Group
The Mathematical Epidemiology Group (MERG) is an undergraduate research team that meets during the academic year to work on challenging problems in public health and epidemiology affecting the society and our local community using techniques from the mathematical sciences. Students in this group come from many majors including mathematics, applied mathematics, data science, statistics, biology, and biochemistry.
Some past MERG projects
Cabrera, S, Camarena, A, Hedge, N, Ochoa Zavalza, S, Tolson III, D, Williams, ME, Ortega, O.
“Using Linear Regression to Examine Bias in Home Valuation” Sonoma State McNair Scholars Research Journal. Rohnert Park, CA: Sonoma State University. 2023
Cabrera, S, Camarena, A, Hedge, N, Ochoa Zavalza, S, Tolson III, D, Williams, ME, Ortega, O.
“Homelessness in Sonoma County” Technical Report – Work conducted with student research group Fall 2022
Cabrera, S, Hedge, Knoll, G, Ochoa Zavalza, S, Sailor, J, Tolson III, D, Williams, ME, Ortega, O.
“Sonoma State University Covid-19 Model” Sonoma State McNair Scholars Research Journal. Rohnert
Park, CA: Sonoma State University. 2022
Ramirez, F and Ortega, O.
“Using Mathematical Modeling to Predict the Spread of Measles.” Sonoma State McNair Scholars Research Journal. Rohnert Park, CA: Sonoma State University. 2019
Lloyd, B, Ortega, O. “Human Papillomavirus Infection: A Stochastic Approach” Technical Report – 2011.
Ortega, O., Ortiz, J., Johnson, E., “A Stochastic Model of Rotavirus Infection: Paving the Way to
Mitigating Epidemics” Technical Report – 2010.
Meet The Team
Fall 2024
(l to r) Alex Boyle, Nicolina Sandoval, Dr. Ortega, Cristobal Zuniga, Bryce Iversen, and Geoffrey Knoll (past MERG member). Andres Castellanos and Emma Hall (not pictured).
Spring 2023
(top row l to r) Nathan Hedge (past MERG member), Salvador Ochoa Zavalza, Sydney Hernandez, Joseph Immel, (bottom row l to r) Dirk Tolson III, Anabel Camerena, Serina Cabrera, Dr. Ortega,
and Madelyn Elena Williams (not pictured).
Fall 2023
(l to r) Dirk Tolson III, Anabel Camarena, Salvador Ochoa Zavalza, Dr. Ortega, Serina Cabrera, Madelyn Elena Williams; Sydney Hernandez and Joseph Immel (not yet MERG members in F'22). Nathan Hedge (not pictured.)
Spring 2022
(top row l to r) Dirk Tolson III, Geoffrey Knoll, Salvador Ochoa Zavalaza, Nathan Hedge,
(bottom l to r) Jeremiah Sailor, Serina Cabrera, Madelyn Elena Williams, and Dr. Ortega
Fall 2021
(l to r) Dustin Yan, Geoffrey Knoll, Dr. Ortega, Serina Cabrera, Dirk Tolson III
2020 - 2021 Academic Year
(l to r) Beverly Lincoln (MERG alum), Dr. Ortega, Alexander Carter,
Fabian Ramirez (MERG alum), Serina Cabrera, Kelsey Centurino,
Dirk Tolson III
2019-2020 Academic Year
(l to r) Dr. Ortega, Kelsey Centurino, Christina Lynch, Monica Morales, Ana Tongilava, and Therese Acevedo. -photo by Bruce Rhodewalt