Rafiul Islam, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Mathematics

Dr Rafiul Islam headshotDr. Md Rafiul Islam is an Assistant Professor of Data Science at the University of the Incarnate Word. He teaches courses on data science and mathematics while conducting research on infectious diseases and public health. Dr. Islam received his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Texas Tech University, where he specialized in developing data-driven mathematical models of infectious disease transmission. His work has been published in many high-impact journals and has significant implications for public health policy, particularly in the context of emerging infectious diseases.

In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Islam enjoys traveling, fishing, cooking and spending quality time with his family. He also has a deep passion for community service, believing that it has the power to make a positive impact on the world.

Dr. Islam is always excited to collaborate with students and colleagues who share his research interests. He strongly believes in the power of teamwork and collaboration to address some of the world's most pressing challenges and make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

Contact Information

  • Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, Texas Tech University, 2020
  • M.S. in Mathematical Sciences, Clemson University, 2015
  • M.S. in Applied Mathematics, University of Dhaka, 2012
  • B.S. in Mathematics, University of Dhaka, 2010
  • 2022 - present, Assistant Professor, University of the Incarnate Word
  • 2020 - 2022, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Iowa State University
  • Epidemiology
  • Mathematical Modeling
  • Machine Learning
  • Social Network Modeling
  • Autonomous Driver Behavior Models
  • Introduction to Probability and Statistics
  • Linear Algebra
  • Introduction to Data Science

Publications

Kadelda, C., Islam, M., McCombs, A., Alston, J., and Morton, N., “Ethnic homophily a_ects vaccine prioritization strategies", Journal of Theoretical Biology, 2022.

Islam, M., Bulut, U., Feria-Arroyo, T. , Tyshenko, M., and Oraby, T., “The Dynamics of Chronic Wasting

Disease Spread between Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer in South Texas", Frontiers in Epidemiology, 2022.

Rahman, M., Islam, M., Chowdhury, M., and Khan, T., “A Physics-based Longitudinal Driver Model for Auto-mated Vehicles", IEEE Access, 2022.

Kamrujjaman, M., Keya, K., Bulut, U., Islam, M., and Mohebujjaman, M., “Time-periodic and Spatial Solutions of a Di_usive Directed Dynamics Model with Harvesting", Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computing,2022.

Chowdhury, M., Islam, M., Hossain, M., Tabassum, N., and Peace, A., “Incorporating the mutational landscape of SARS-COV-2 variants and case-dependent vaccination rates into epidemic models", Infectious Disease Modelling, 2022.

Islam, M., Oraby, T., McCombs, A., Chowdhury, M., Mamun, A., Tyshenko, M., and Kadelda, C., “Evaluation of the United States COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy", PLoS ONE, 2021.

Kamrujjaman, M., Mahmud, M., Ahmed, S., Qayum, M., Alam, M., Hassan,M., Islam, M., Nipa, K., and Bulut, U., “SARS-CoV-2 and Rohingya Refugee Camp, Bangladesh: Uncertainty and How the Government Took Over the Situation." Biology, 2021.

Islam, M., Gray M., and Peace, A., “Identifying the Dominant transmission pathway in a multi-stage infection model of the Emerging Fungal Pathogen Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans on the Eastern Newt", Infectious Diseases and our Planet, Mathematics of Planet Earth Series, 2020.

Islam, M., Peace, A., Medina, D., and Oraby, T., “Integer Versus Fractional Order SEIR Deterministic and Stochastic Models of Measles", International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020.

Rahman, M., Chowdhury, M., Dey, K., Islam, M., and Khan, T., “Evaluation of Driver Car-Following Behavior Models for Corporative Adaptive Cruise Control Systems", Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2622, 2017.

Rahman, M., Chowdhury, M., Dey, K., Islam, M., and Khan, T., “An Evaluation Strategy for Driver Car-Following Behavior Models for CACC Controllers", 96th Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting compendium of papers, Washington D.C, January 2017.

Invited Talks

AWM Research Symposium, June 2022
Institute for Mathematics and its Applications, Minneapolis, MN
Talk title: Evaluation of the United States COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy

Joint Mathematics Meetings, April 2022
American Mathematical Society, Virtual
Talk title: Evaluation of the United States COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy

Annual Meeting of the SIAM Texas-Louisiana Section, November 2021
School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, South Padre Island, TX
Talk title: Evaluation of the United States COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy

Cardinal Math Talks, October 2021
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of the Incarnate Word, Virtual
Talk title: Mathematical model of COVID-19 transmission with vaccination and optimal vaccine allocation strategy with limited supply

SIAM Conference on Application of Dynamical Systems (DS21), May 2021
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Virtual
Talk title: Modeling Measles using Fractional Methods

Computational and Mathematical Population Dynamics, May 2019
Department of Mathematical Sciences, Florida Atlantic University Fort Laudardale, FL
Talk title: Identifying the Dominant transmission pathway in a multi-stage infection model of the Emerging Fungal Pathogen Batrachochytrium Salamandrivorans on the Eastern Newt

SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems (DS19), May 2019
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Snowbird Ski and Summer Resorts Snowbird, UT
Talk title: Mathematical Modeling of Chikungunya Dynamics with Seasonality

Annual Meeting of SIAM Texas-Louisiana Section, October 2018
SIAM Texas-Louisiana Section, Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA
Talk title: Mathematical Modeling of an Infectious Disease and Identification of its Dominant Transmission Pathways

  • Journal Reviewer:
  • PLOS ONE
  • Journal of the Royal Society Interface
  • Ecological Modelling
  • Applied Mathematical Modelling
  • Springer Nature
  • Bangladesh Ganit Journal
  • Aerosol Science and Engineering
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Associate Guest Editor of Frontier Infectious Disease Epidemiology