James Peirce is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. He received his Ph.D. in Mathematics from U.C. Davis in 2004.  As an applied mathematician, he loves incorporating problems from mathematical biology into his courses. His research focuses on host-parasite models in the field of Mathematical Ecology.  He enjoys sampling host populations with his biology collaborators from sites within the Upper Mississippi River and the sandy beaches of California.  Since 2004, he has directed numerous undergraduate research projects (often pairing  mathematics and biology students) in the hope of developing the next generation of mathematical ecologists.