For Professor Xiu Ye, approximation is the key to solving life’s mysteries. There are so many variables, she says, the key is understanding the problem to be solved and then getting the closest approximation possible.
Xiu Ye – College of Science and Mathematics
Dr. Ye’s specialty is applied mathematics – specifically numerical analysis – a field she says is difficult for non-mathematicians to appreciate.
“Most of the time, people don’t understand what we’re doing with math,” she said. “The research is different. We’re solving problems with a pencil and paper, but our work applies to real world problems also.”
Many times, mathematics and statistics researchers do not receive grants, Dr. Ye said, but she has been one of the fortunate ones, garnering a $61,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. In the competitive field of professional academics, Dr. Ye has produced 40 scholarly papers that have been accepted for publication. Six of those have been published in the top journal for mathematics scholars, the SIAM Journal of Numerical Analysis.
Dr. Ye earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Wuhan University and two master’s degrees and a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. She is considered to be one of the best female numerical analysts in the United States.