Experience
James A. Vance
Work Experience
Department Chair, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Wise, VA, Summer 2022-present
Full Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Wise, VA, Fall 2018-present
Tenured Associate Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Wise, VA, Fall 2012-present
Ecological Society of America Education Scholar, Quantitative Undergraduate Biology Education and Synthesis (QUBES) Data Discovery Faculty Mentoring Network, Wise, VA, Spring 2016
Research Associate, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, The University of Virginia's College at Wise, Wise, VA, Fall 2006-Summer 2012
Guest Lecturer, School of Computing and Mathematics, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, Wales, United Kingdom, March 2008
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics (ICAM), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, Summer 2002-Summer 2003
Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Mathematics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, Summer 2000-Spring 2002 and Fall 2003-Spring 2006
Courses Taught
Mathematics and Engineering
Mathematics Seminar (MTH 4990 UVAWise), 2008-2011
Applied Numerical Methods (Math 4404/AOE 4404 Virginia Tech), 2004
Special Topics: Advanced Applications of Mathematics (MTH 3950 UVAWise), 2018
Multivariable Calculus (MTH 3400 UVAWise), 2009-present
Introduction to Numerical Methods (MTH 3380/CSC 3380 UVAWise), 2007-present
Linear Algebra (MTH 3130 UVAWise), 2007-present
Ordinary Differential Equations (MTH 3110 UVAWise), 2006-present
Calculus III (MTH 3060 UVAWise), 2008-2011
Calculus II (Math 1206 Virginia Tech & MTH 2050 UVAWise), 2003-2007
Calculus I (MTH 2040 UVAWise), 2008-2010
Engineering Analysis Using Numerical Methods (Math 2004/ME 2004 Virginia Tech), 2004
Calculus with Matrices II (Math 1526 Virginia Tech), 2001
Calculus with Matrices I (Math 1525 Virginia Tech), 2001
Precalculus II (MTH 1210 UVAWise), 2008-2010
Precalculus I (MTH 1110 UVAWise), 2007-2011
Finite Mathematics (MTH 1020 UVAWise), 2006
College Algebra (MTH 1010 UVAWise), 2006
Statistics
Quantitative and Research Methods (BUSA 5030 King University), 2014-2019
Probability and Statistics II (MTH 4260 UVAWise), 2020-present
Statistics and Business Research Methods (BUSA 3260 King University), 2014-2017
Probability and Statistics I (MTH 3250 UVAWise), 2019-present
Applied Probability and Statistics (MTH 2180 UVAWise), 2021-present
Elementary Probability and Statistics (MTH 1180 UVAWise), 2011-present
Biology
Special Topics: Wildlife Field Techniques (BIO 4952 UVAWise), 2012
Special Topics: Mathematical Modeling in Ecology (MTH 395/BIO 495 UVAWise), 2007
Co-taught: Introduction to Biological Diversity Laboratory (BIO 1021 UVAWise), 2016
Graduate Committee Member
p>Derek Fields, Sensitivity Analysis of Wolf Restoration in Yellowstone National Park Using Omnivory Models, Master of Arts in Mathematics, Marshall University, Fall 2015-Spring 2017Undergraduate Research Mentor
Tyler Harvoth, Principal Component Analysis with Application to Trail Camera Photos, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2021
Georgia Smith, Utilizing Artificial Neural Networks to Identify Latent Network Pathways in Psychiatric Comorbidity, Mathematics and Computer Science Major, UVAWise, Spring 2021
Raychel Lapallo, Statistical Classification of Wildlife Vehicle Collision Sites, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2020
Mallory Shell, Hotspot Analysis of Wildlife Vehicle Collision in Southwest Virginia, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Spring 2020
Jesse Harris, High Speed Photography of Praying Mantis Strikes, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2018-Spring 2019. Presented at NCUR
Dustin Smith, High Speed Photography of Praying Mantis Strikes, Biology Major, UVAWise, Fall 2018-Spring 2019. Presented at NCUR, UVAWise Research Blitz, and UVAWise Research Day
Shannon Bennett, Stability Theory and Sensitivity Analysis of a SCIRS Cyber-Security Model, Mathematics and Software Engineering Double Major, UVAWise, Spring 2018-Spring 2019. Honorary student speaker for 2019 UVAWise Commencement. Presented at UVAWise Research Day 2018, UVAWise Research Blitz 2019, and UVAWise Research Day 2019
Parker Robertson, Exploring Bias of Estimators Produced by Two Methods of Estimation: Maximum Likelihood and Method of Moments, Mathematics and Chemistry Double Major, UVAWise, Fall 2017
Daria Blach, Logistic Regression and Predictors of Wildlife Vehicle Collisions, Mathematics and Chemistry Double Major, UVAWise, Spring 2017
Joshua Townsend, Least Squares Regression with Application to GPS Telemetry, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Spring 2017
Gabrielle Smith, Species Composition and Spatial Distribution of Wildlife Vehicle Collisions in Southwest Virginia, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2016. Honorary student speaker for 2017 UVAWise Commencement. Presented at The Wildlife Society's 2016 Annual Conference, the 77th Annual Meeting of the Association of Southeastern Biologists, the 2015 National Conference of Undergraduate Research, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the 2015 Southeast Regional Undergraduate Research Conference, and The University of Virginia's College at Wise's Council of Undergraduate Research. Co-author of journal article, Public geospatial datasets as an approach to maximizing efficiency in the collection of site covariates in wildlife-vehicle collision studies, Human-Wildlife Interactions 11(1), Spring 2017
Michelle Guzman, The Lorenz Attractor and Stability of Nonlinear Equations, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2016
Maya Hamlett, The Effectiveness of Elk Reintroduction in Virginia, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2015
Jessica Hensley, A Comparison of Home Range Methods for Reintroduced Elk in Virginia, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Spring 2015
Parvati Gopalan, Calculating the Homerange of Elk: A Statistical Approach, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Spring 2013. Presented at the 2013 International Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology: Education and Research and published paper in the Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium on Biomathematics and Ecology: Education and Research
Christina Eads, Sensitivity Analysis of a Three-Species Nonlinear Response Omnivory Model with Predator Stage Structure, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2012. Presented at the 37th annual meeting of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics Southeastern Atlantic Section at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and published paper in the COPLAC Metamorphosis Journal and Letters in Biomathematics
Jennifer Ryan, A Statistical Analysis of Real Estate Data in Denver, Colorado, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2012
Kevin Wilson, Sensitivity Analysis of a Three-Species Nonlinear Response Omnivory Model, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2011. Published paper in the International Journal of Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences
Zachary Martin, Creating a Mutual Understanding of Competition and Predator-Prey Models for Mathematicians and Scientists, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Spring 2011
Derek Fields, Sensitivity Analysis of a Linear Response Omnivory Model, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2009. Published paper in the International Journal of Arts and Sciences
Tuan Pham, Evaluation of Downing Population Reconstruction using Sensitivity Analysis and Computer Model Simulations, Mathematics and Computer Science Major, UVAWise, Spring 2009. Presented at Celebrating Student Excellence: The Third Annual Student Research Symposium and at the COPLAC 2009 Regional Undergraduate Research Conference.
Josh Lawson, Whitetail Deer Population Reconstruction Modeling, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2008
Victor Maciel, Population Dynamics of Loggerhead Sea Turtles, Mathematics Major, UVAWise, Fall 2007
Research Experience
Research Associate, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Virginia Tech Black Bear Research Center, analyze remote sensing images, help with black bear immobilization, body measurements, blood sampling, and ultrasound, help with elk sightability study using helicopter survey, Fall 2013-Spring 2014
Principal Investigator, Spatial Ecology and Management of Elk in Virginia, elk relocation, GPS collaring of elk, GPS collar performance in mountainous terrain, home range analysis, resource selection, spatial distribution, Spring 2013-Fall 2017
Research Volunteer, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Complementary Workforce Program, nuisance black bear and deer relocation, elk restoration, canadian geese banding, deer management hunts, CWD sampling, Spring 2012-Fall 2017
Research Volunteer, University of Kentucky, Black Bear Ecology Project and Bull Elk Ecology Project, helped with working up tranquilized black bears and bull elk, May-June 2012
Research Volunteer, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Black Bear Population Study using Hair Snares, helped set up hair snare bait stations, May 2012
Co-Principal Investigator, Southwest Virginia Outdoor Classroom and Dominion Higher Educational Partnership, camera trapping, meso-mammal trapping, small mammal trapping and ear tagging, electroshocking and fish survey, fish DNA collection from fin clip, cover board survey, visual implant elastomer and PIT tagging, frog pipe refuge survey, bat survey, bird survey with mist netting, UVA Wise, Fall 2011-Summer 2012
Research Consultant, NASA Applied Sciences DEVELOP Program, mathematical and statistical modeling, Wise, VA, Spring 2011
Field Research Technician, Felid Conservation Project in Belize, Central America, camera trapping, habitat evaluation, and predator ecology, Virginia Tech and UVA Wise, July 2007
Research Consultant, Freshwater Mussel Restoration in the Clinch River, mussel survey, river survey, snorkeling, and ecological modeling, Virginia Tech, Summer 2005
Wildlife Field Techniques Class, radio telemetry, animal capture and marking, habitat selection, small mammal trapping and ear tagging, salamander counts, track counts, camera trapping, mist netting for birds and bats, Virginia Tech, Spring 2005
Graduate Research Assistant, Mathematics Department and Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics (ICAM), heat equation, mathematical modeling, sensitivity analysis, control theory, Virginia Tech, Summer 2002-Summer 2003
Research Grants
Co-Principal Investigator, UVAWise / Micronic Technologies Research and Development Grant to Pilot and Commercialize MicroDesal™ Water Treatment Technology, Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, 2015-2017, $2,000,000
Principal Investigator, Spatial Ecology and Management of Elk in Virginia, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, L & D Well Service, Forestland Group, Consol Energy, 2013, $2,000
UVA Wise Faculty Development Summer Research Grant, 2012, $1,500
Co-Principal Investigator, Dominion Higher Educational Partnership Grant, 2011, $30,000
UVAWise Faculty Development Summer Research Grant, 2009, $1,000
UVAWise Faculty Development Summer Research Grant, 2007, $2,265
Doctorial Dissertation
Permanent Coexistence for Omnivory Models, Virginia Tech, August, 2006