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Research

Department of Mathematics

Drexel University Mathematic's Department faculty research chalkboard

Research in Drexel University's Department of Mathematics builds on a connected community of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students who combine expertise from different disciplines. Mathematics faculty examine broad fields of mathematical theory, technique, and application across a wide range of topic areas, including: partial differential equations, dynamical systems, mathematical neuroscience, numerical analysis, approximation theory, combinatorics, functional analysis, representation theory, geometry and topology, matrix and operator theory, inverse problems, and stochastic analysis.

Our research faculty engage in abstract mathematical training that enables them to apply mathematical techniques to areas such as control theory, mirror design, computer graphics, data compression, fluid mechanics, and modeling biological phenomena. In addition, faculty research receives ongoing support from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the National Security Agency.

Drexel's Math Department hosts lively research seminars and colloquium series led by top scholars who present innovative mathematical ideas. The Math Department's annual Distinguished Speaker series features a renowned expert who presents on original and ongoing mathematics research.

Faculty Research Areas

Drexel's mathematics faculty scholars conduct leading research at the forefront of a wide range of compelling mathematics and statistics subfields.

Applied and Computational Mathematics

Drexel faculty use mathematics to study problems arising from a wide range of application areas, including –but not limited to– fluid dynamics, electro-magnetics, optics, materials science, neuroscience and other biological problems, and economics and game theory. The Department of Mathematics has many faculty experts in aspects of the theory and application of partial differential equations and dynamical systems, which they bring to bear on problems from these areas. Our faculty engage with all the steps of making mathematics useful for real-world problems, from working closely with applied practitioners, participating in modeling real situations, making theoretical predictions from models, computationally simulating outcomes of the models, and making subsequent refinements. Theoretical work includes proving that models are specified well enough to guarantee that solutions to the model exist, and proving that certain behaviors, desirable or otherwise, occur among the solutions. Computationally, this includes developing, implementing, and analyzing algorithms for the efficient and large-scale computation of these problems.

Seminar: Applied Math/Partial Differential Equation

Contact Specialization
David Ambrose
Professor
Korman Center 290
dma68@drexel.edu

mathematical analysis; fluid dynamics; nonlinear partial differential equations; boundary integral methods

Pavel Grinfeld
Associate Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 271
pg77@drexel.edu
Application of the Differential Calculus of moving surfaces and Variational Calculus, with heavy emphasis on computation, to problems in Bioengineering, low temperature Physics, Quantum Mechanics and Elasticity
Yixin Guo
Associate Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 218
yixin@math.drexel.edu
Biomathematics, Dynamical Systems, Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
R. Andrew Hicks
Professor
Korman Center 266
rah29@drexel.edu

Manifold; Geometric optics; Robotics; Inverse problems; Optical design; Blind spot

Georgi Medvedev
Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 222
medvedev@drexel.edu
Dynamical systems, large networks, mathematical neuroscience
Shari Moskow, PhD
Undergraduate Adviser; Professor
Korman Center 276
moskow@math.drexel.edu
Applied PDEs and numerical analysis, in particular homogenization theory, inverse problems, and related asymptotic and numerical methods
Ronald Perline
Associate Professor
Korman Center 294
rperline@math.drexel.edu
Applied Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, Symbolic Computation, Differential Geometry, Modeling of Nonlinear Optical Phenomena, Mathematical Physics
Li Sheng
Associate Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 274
lsheng@math.drexel.edu

Discrete Mathematics; Graph Theory

K. Shwetketu Virbhadra
Assistant Teaching Professor
Korman Center 230
ksv29@drexel.edu
Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity; Astrophysics; Cosmology
J. Doug Wright, Drexel University Professor of Mathematics
Professor of Mathematics; Department Head
Korman Center 296
jdw66@drexel.edu

nonlinear waves; partial differential equations; dynamical systems; lattice differential equations; coherent structures

Jingni Xiao, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Drexel University
Assistant Professor

jx342@drexel.edu

Inverse problems; partial differential equations; scattering theory; nonlocal operators; non-scattering phenomena

Thomas Yu
Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 268
tyu@math.drexel.edu
Applied Analysis, Applied Geometry, Multiscale Methods

Functional Analysis and Operator Theory

Linear algebra, and its various generalizations in the fields of functional analysis and operator theory, plays a substantial role in contemporary society, including statistics, machine learning and general applications of reproducing kernel Hilbert Spaces. Drexel's Mathematics Department features faculty experts in matrix analysis, singular integral operators, complex variables, Agler model theory, and real algebraic geometry. Our scholars are innovators in the international linear algebra and operator theory communities, having held leadership positions in the International Linear Algebra Society and the International Workshop on Operator Theory and Applications and editorial positions in top-tier peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, Complex Analysis and Operator Theory, Annals of Functional Analysis, and Operators and Matrices.

Seminar: Analysis

Contact Specialization
David Ambrose
Professor
Korman Center 290
dma68@drexel.edu

mathematical analysis; fluid dynamics; nonlinear partial differential equations; boundary integral methods

Ramesh Garimella, PhD
Associate Teaching Professor
Korman 293
rg948@drexel.edu

Passionate about undergraduate teaching; Core teaching principle is to motivate and inspire students; Likes to instill mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills in his students; Aims to prepare them not only for immediate courses but for future success as well

Anatolii Grinshpan
Associate Teaching Professor
Korman Center 228
ag465@drexel.edu
Function Theory and Operator Theory, Harmonic Analysis, Potential Theory
R. Andrew Hicks
Professor
Korman Center 266
rah29@drexel.edu

Manifold; Geometric optics; Robotics; Inverse problems; Optical design; Blind spot

James Pascoe
Assistant Professor
Korman 257
jep362@drexel.edu

Functional analysis; complex analysis; noncommutative algebra; matrix analysis

Drexel University Professor of Mathematics, Hugo Woerdeman
Professor
Korman Center 272
hjw27@drexel.edu
Matrix and Operator Theory; Systems Theory; Signal and Image Processing; Harmonic Analysis; Multivariable Interpolation; Factorization; Quantum Computing.
Matthew Ziemke
Associate Teaching Professor of Mathematics
Korman Center 257
mjz55@drexel.edu

Functional Analysis; Operator semigroups; Mathematical Physics

Combinatorics

Drexel mathematicians who research combinatorics – the study of discrete and finite mathematical structures – explore a broad range of topics, from the properties of graphs and groups to the algebra of symmetric polynomials and power series. Combinatorial objects often have simple-sounding definitions and are intuitive and highly visual, making them a powerful complement to areas with more abstract structures. At Drexel, Mathematics faculty work at the intersection of combinatorics and allied fields, including representation theory, algebra, geometry, and probability theory. Research strengths include symmetric function theory, quantum groups, Hopf algebras, and enumerative combinatorics.

Seminar: Combinatorics, Algebra, and Geometry (CAGE)

Contact Specialization
Jonah Blasiak
Associate Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 275
jdb395@drexel.edu
Algebraic Combinatorics, Representation Theory, Complexity Theory
Darij Grinberg, PhD
Associate Professor
Korman Center 263
darij.grinberg@drexel.edu
Algebraic Combinatorics, Noncommutative Algebra, Symmetric Functions, Hopf Algebras, Enumerative Combinatorics, Invariant Theory
Pawel Hitczenko
Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 270
phitczenko@math.drexel.edu
Probability Theory and its Applications to Analysis, Combinatorics, Wavelets, and the Analysis of Algorithms
James Pascoe
Assistant Professor
Korman 257
jep362@drexel.edu

Functional analysis; complex analysis; noncommutative algebra; matrix analysis

Li Sheng
Associate Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 274
lsheng@math.drexel.edu

Discrete Mathematics; Graph Theory

Probability and Statistics

Drexel faculty working in probability and statistics study decision-making under imperfect knowledge across a variety of disciplines, including physics, public health, finance, and data science. Our faculty explores the theoretical, computational, and applied frontiers by conducting research in probabilistic combinatorics, statistical learning, stochastic processes, time series analysis, uncertainty quantification, and variance reduction.

Faculty engage with all stages of the statistical and probabilistic modeling pipeline, from formulating models for complex random systems, to developing and analyzing inference methods, to implementing computational techniques for large-scale data analysis. They work closely with collaborators across disciplines to address challenges such as modeling high-dimensional data, quantifying prediction uncertainty, and designing efficient simulation and sampling methods.

Theoretical research includes establishing rigorous foundations for statistical procedures, understanding the behavior of stochastic systems, and developing new probabilistic tools. On the computational side, faculty develop and analyze algorithms for modern data science and machine learning, including methods for scalable inference, optimization, and simulation. Together, this work equips students and researchers to both understand uncertainty at a fundamental level and apply that understanding to real-world problems.

Seminar: Probability and Statistics

Contact Specialization
B. Cooper Boniece
Assistant Professor

cooper.boniece@drexel.edu

Time series; High-frequency data; Change-point detection; Wavelet methods; Fractional/self-similar stochastic processes

Pawel Hitczenko
Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 270
phitczenko@math.drexel.edu
Probability Theory and its Applications to Analysis, Combinatorics, Wavelets, and the Analysis of Algorithms
Georgi Medvedev
Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 222
medvedev@drexel.edu
Dynamical systems, large networks, mathematical neuroscience
Cecilia Mondaini, PhD - Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Drexel University
Associate Professor
Korman Center 265
cf823@drexel.edu

Analysis of Partial Differential Equations; Fluid Dynamics; Stochastic Processes

James Pascoe
Assistant Professor
Korman 257
jep362@drexel.edu

Functional analysis; complex analysis; noncommutative algebra; matrix analysis

Li Sheng
Associate Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 274
lsheng@math.drexel.edu

Discrete Mathematics; Graph Theory

Gideon Simpson
Professor; Associate Department Head; Graduate Adviser
Korman Center, room 262
grs53@drexel.edu

Applied mathematics; Numerical analysis; Scientific computing; Stochastic simulation

Xiaoming Song
Associate Professor
Tenure

Korman Center 273
song@math.drexel.edu
Stochastic Calculus, Large Deviation Theory, Theoretical Statistics, Data Network Modeling and Numerical Analysis