Cloud, Chaos & Contagion Lab

PI

Sungju Moon, PhD
	(CV) Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Nevada State University. My research interests include applications of nonlinear dynamics and chaos theory in the context of atmospheric research and epidemiological modeling. (…more about me)

Student Researchers

Brenda Castillo Saldana
	Hi! I am a sophomore at Nevada State University dual majoring in Mathematics and Data Science. Math has always been my favorite subject in school, therefore, I decided to explore it further here at Nevada State University. I’m one of the students being sponsored by the Center of Undergraduate Research in Mathematics, CURM. My research focuses on constructing an ABM on rumor mutation, showing how rumors change as they spread. I am also a math tutor at the Academic Success Center here at NSU.

Brenda Castillo Saldana

Hi! I am a sophomore at Nevada State University dual majoring in Mathematics and Data Science. Math has always been my favorite subject in school, therefore, I decided to explore it further here at Nevada State University. I’m one of the students being sponsored by the Center of Undergraduate Research in Mathematics, CURM. My research focuses on constructing an ABM on rumor mutation, showing how rumors change as they spread. I am also a math tutor at the Academic Success Center here at NSU.

Isabella Moreno
	Hi! I am a junior at Nevada State University majoring in Data Science with a minor in Applied Statistics. I am honored to be amongst those participating in the CURM grant-funded project, which runs through the ‘25–’26 academic year. My research examines the dynamics of rumor spread from the perspective of the members in a network. This is my first brush with college academia and the first time I have ever been so immersed in math, which is really exciting for me as someone who loves to learn new things! Beyond my academic activities, I enjoy playing video games, spending time in the sun, and hanging out with my 5 year old daughter.

Isabella Moreno

Hi! I am a junior at Nevada State University majoring in Data Science with a minor in Applied Statistics. I am honored to be amongst those participating in the CURM grant-funded project, which runs through the ‘25–’26 academic year. My research examines the dynamics of rumor spread from the perspective of the members in a network. This is my first brush with college academia and the first time I have ever been so immersed in math, which is really exciting for me as someone who loves to learn new things! Beyond my academic activities, I enjoy playing video games, spending time in the sun, and hanging out with my 5 year old daughter.

Nigel Sherfield
	Nigel is pursuing a degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics at Nevada State University. He enjoys teaching himself how to play instruments, staying physically active, and learning new math techniques. Nigel aspires to one day open his own educational institution. Nigel is a TRIO-McNair Scholar at NSU, having his Summer Research Institute proposals accepted for 2024, 2025, and 2026. His current project focuses on developing and applying a dynamical model of learning.

Nigel Sherfield

Nigel is pursuing a degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in Mathematics at Nevada State University. He enjoys teaching himself how to play instruments, staying physically active, and learning new math techniques. Nigel aspires to one day open his own educational institution. Nigel is a TRIO-McNair Scholar at NSU, having his Summer Research Institute proposals accepted for 2024, 2025, and 2026. His current project focuses on developing and applying a dynamical model of learning.

Reign Clowie Ware
	Hello, my name is Reign! I’m an undergraduate at NSU and my major is Mathematics. My goal is to get my masters and become an educator in the field, ideally a university level professor. I currently tutor students with varying experience in math ranging from Pre-K to Pre-Calc. My project aims to build an ODE-based model of rumor spread dynamics.

Alumni

Rose Reasons (BS Mathematics ‘25, Summa Cum Laude)

INBRE iSURF-Flex, Summer 2024 – Network-based agent-based modeling of an infectious disease
Graduate student in mathematics at UNLV (as of Summer 2026)

Mary Giles (BS Mathematics ‘26, Summa Cum Laude)

INBRE iSURF-Flex, Summer 2024 – Agent-based modeling of emerging disease variants
Graduate student in Mathematics at ASU (as of Summer 2026)

Ryllie Pate (BS Mathematics ‘26, Cum Laude)

INBRE iSURF-Flex, Summer 2024 – Parameter space exploration of infectious disease models

Carlos Chavez (BS Mathematics/Secondary Education ‘26)

TRIO-McNair SRI, Summer 2025 – Dynamical modeling of algae growth

Elise Fernandez

Independent Study, Spring ‘26 – High-dimensional chaos synchronization