Abstract
   The Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov (JMAK) equation is widely used to describe the kinetics of materials phase transformations, such as solidification, precipitation, or recrystallization. Beyond materials science, the JMAK equation has been applied to many non-thermodynamic transformations in the life sciences and social sciences. Through a cross-disciplinary lens, my research explores parallels between the JMAK model and the SIR epidemiological model, particularly in the context of COVID-19. This effort aspires to promote communication about the spread of an epidemic via a mathematical framework that is more accessible than the SIR model to non-technical audiences. 
   The effectiveness of the JMAK model at both retroactively describing and proactively predicting (forecasting and projecting) the rise in case numbers as a function of time is assessed. 
   Furthermore, this study broadens the applicability of the JMAK formulation to materials phase transformations by incorporating a variety of time-dependencies into the nucleation and growth rates, enabling that model to encompass interface-controlled, diffusion-controlled, and anomalous transformation kinetics. The study identifies several circumstances under which the two principal parameters contained in the JMAK model are explicitly linked.

Biography
   Kiana Shirzad has an undergraduate background in Biomedical Engineering, with an emphasis on Biomaterials. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Materials and Biomaterials Science and Engineering program at the University of California, Merced. 
   With a passion for interdisciplinary exploration, Kiana's research interests lie at the intersection of materials science and biomedical engineering.

Zoom Link
   https://ucmerced.zoom.us/j/4456227858?omn=86443939730