Biography

Koch, Gretchen
Department: Mathematics and Computer Science
Office: Hoffberger 132
Assistant Professor
B.S. in Mathematics, St. Lawrence University; M.S. in Applied Mathematics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Ph.D. in Mathematics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Phone: 410-337-6541
Email: gretchen.koch@goucher.edu

Research Interests:

I have enjoyed mathematics for as long as I can remember.  My parenets made math a part of our everyday lives.  Everyone can relate to having a parent count to three if you are doing something wrong.  For most, not stopping whatever you were doing before Mom or Dad got to three meant you were in trouble.  In our house, if Mom got to 2 3/4, you were in trouble.  If she made it to 2 7/8, forget about it.  All of these things taught me that math has applications in the real world; as an applied mathematician, I use math to model real phenomena.  As a teacher, I try to relate the topics in lecture to things that happen in our world.

My research can be categorized as biomathematics.  I created two computer models of cell division in E. coli  depicting the system that decides where the middle of the cell lies.  This system, the MinCDE system, is a fascinating interplay of oscillating polymers.  One of the aspects of my research that I enjoy the most is that it is interdisciplinary, since I have the opportunity to work with biochemists and see my work come to life in the laboratory.