Faculty Spotlight: Michael Cortez

Michael Cortez is an associate professor in Florida State University’s Department of Biological Science, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. Cortez conducts theoretical ecology research by developing mathematical models to explain ecological, evolutionary and epidemiological patterns, including patterns related to the distribution and control of diseases. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from Hope College in Holland, Michigan in 2005 before going on to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees in applied mathematics from Cornell University in 2008 and 2011, respectively.

Tell us a little about your background, where you’re from and what brought you to FSU.

I am originally from Michigan, and after completing my doctoral degree, I was a postdoctoral researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia from 2012-2014. Following this, I was an assistant professor for five years in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, before joining FSU’s Department of Biological Science in 2019.

While my degrees are in mathematics, my research is motivated by biological questions. I came to FSU because I wanted to be in a department where I could train, interact and collaborate with experimental biologists.

Can you break down your areas of research for us?

I develop and analyze mathematical models describing how the abundance of organisms changes over time. This includes models of disease spread — such as the prediction of disease outbreak size — and how prey species adapt to predation, such as predicting how a prey’s defense mechanisms will affect the populations of predators and prey.

What makes you passionate about theoretical ecology?

Theoretical ecology is a perfect blend of two things I love learning about: mathematics and the interactions between populations and their environment. These mathematical models can help us gain new insights from data, like how interactions between species can shape the dynamics of ecological communities.

What inspired you to research and develop mathematical models explaining ecological, evolutionary and epidemiological patterns?

Everything started with a summer research project alongside Janet Andersen, a professor of mathematics at Hope College, during my undergraduate studies. We developed a mathematical model of how fungal infections in grass harm both the caterpillars that eat the grass and the wasps that parasitize, or lay eggs in, the caterpillars. We used this model to understand how the interactions between organisms caused their abundances to increase and decrease over time. From that point on, I was hooked.

In general, I am fascinated by the patterns we see in nature; some populations increase as others decrease, while some populations experience large outbreaks and others do not. I love developing mathematical models to help explain these patterns and gain new biological insights.

What do you want the public to know about the importance of your research?

Predicting changes in species abundance and disease outbreaks is important for human health, recreation, agriculture and conservation. My research focuses on developing mathematical models that will allow us to better predict those changes and understand what causes them.

Tell us about your time as a National Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

I was a postdoctoral research fellow at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the Weitz Group, led by Joshua Weitz, who is now a professor of biology and the Clark Leadership Chair in Data Analytics at the University of Maryland. This was a big step because I transitioned from an applied mathematics graduate program to a biology department. Importantly, it provided many opportunities to collaborate with experimental biologists. The fellowship demonstrated my ability to develop independent research projects and acquire funding for that research, which are necessary skills for a professor in a research program. During that time, I also gained invaluable experience in mentoring undergraduate and graduate student researchers.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is doing collaborative research with my students and colleagues. Every project is an exciting opportunity to learn something new about the natural world and solve a challenging problem using interesting modeling and mathematics.

Who are your role models?

My career has been greatly influenced by my research mentors. My undergraduate mentors at Hope College — Andersen, Iowa State University Department of Mathematics advisory council member Tim Pennings, and Hope College Edward and Elizabeth Hofma Professor of Chemistry William Polik — nurtured my interest in scientific research and encouraged me to attend graduate school. My graduate mentors at Cornell University — Horace White Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Stephen Ellner, Abram R. Bullis Professor Emeritus of Mathematics John Guckenheimer, and Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science Nelson Hairston Jr. — were instrumental in shaping my approach to science and providing guidance for mentoring young scientists. I greatly appreciate their unwavering support, time and guidance.

Do you have any exciting upcoming projects or goals you’re working toward?

I am excited to start working on a new project about the evolution of diseases. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, pathogens evolve over time, and this can potentially lead to repeated outbreaks of disease. This is an especially important concern in biological communities where pathogens can infect multiple host species; bird flu, for example, can infect both birds and livestock. This new project will develop mathematical models to describe how pathogen evolution affects outbreak patterns in communities with multiple host species. Ultimately, this work will help us develop better strategies for managing and mitigating disease outbreaks.

If your students only learned one thing from you (of course, hopefully they learn much more than that), what would you hope it to be?

The key skill I hope my students learn from me is quantitative reasoning. The world is a complex place in which organisms interact with and respond to many, many other organisms. The consequences of these interactions and responses can be understood quantitatively through both mathematical models and the analysis of data. This makes quantitative reasoning an invaluable skill that students can use to understand the world around them.