UPLB is now the home of the country’s first and only PhD in Applied Mathematics (AMAT) program.

On Sept. 2, the UP Board of Regents (BOR) approved the doctorate program during at its 1353^rd meeting.

PhD AMAT is an interdisciplinary program that focuses on the study and creation of mathematical and computational methods to solve complex problems in various fields and industries.

The program requires 40 units of academic coursework to finish: 6 units of core courses, Dynamic Systems Modeling and Advanced Numerical Analysis; 6 units of major courses; and 12 units of electives from application areas.

Twelve units of the PhD curriculum is allotted for dissertation; one unit for a graduate seminar; and the remaining three units is for an experiential course called Research and Development Internship, the first of its kind in a mathematical doctorate program in the Philippines.

“The internship will provide an opportunity for the students to work closely with an experienced researcher or practitioner and join a team. They are involved as collaborators in research and development projects defined in the place of internship,” the curriculum proposal further states.

Applicants to the program must have a master’s degree in mathematics, applied mathematics, or related fields with background in analysis and linear algebra; must submit a research plan; and must pass a panel oral examination. They should also satisfy the admission requirements set by the UPLB Graduate School (GS).

According to Dr. Editha C. Jose, director of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics (IMSP), their team at IMSP and GS started to develop and polish the curriculum in 2015.

Joining Dr. Jose among its proponents are Dr. Crisanto A. Dorado, Prof. Rolando G. Panopio, Dr. Chrysline Margus N. Piñol, Dr. Jomar F. Rabajante, and Dr. Jerrold M. Tubay.

PhD AMAT is the second new graduate program offering of IMSP approved this year, the other being MS Physics. Its existing MS Mathematics was also revised this year.

Prior to the approval of UPLB’s PhD AMAT, the UP System has been offering PhD Mathematics in UP Diliman and UP Baguio.

Interested applicants who wish to become a part of PhD AMAT’s pioneering batch in Second Semester, AY 2020-2021 may contact Dr. Jose at [email protected].

The deadline of submission of applications at GS is on Oct. 30, 2020. (Juan Paolo A. Aquino)