Research in Mathematics
The Department of Mathematics at Tulane University is home to a vibrant community of researchers pushing the boundaries of mathematical science. Our faculty engage in dynamic, interdisciplinary work that spans fundamental theoretical advancements and high-impact applications, with world-class strengths in areas like Computational Mathematics & Biology, modern Algebra, Geometry & Number Theory, Analysis, and Probability & Statistics.
Our Research Clusters
To better reflect the diverse and interconnected research activities of our faculty, we have organized our strengths into four dynamic research clusters. Explore each cluster to learn more about the specific areas of focus and the faculty driving innovation. You can dive deeper into the specific research interests and publications of our dedicated faculty members by checking out the Faculty Directory.
Interdisciplinary Work
Our faculty's expertise often bridges multiple mathematical disciplines and extends into critical applied fields. These cross-cutting themes demonstrate the broad impact of our research across Tulane University and beyond:
Health & Biological Sciences
From modeling cancer progression and tumor-immune interactions to simulating complex biological fluid dynamics—such as the locomotion of microorganisms and blood flow in flexible vessels—our mathematicians are at the forefront of biological and medical research. Faculty collaborate extensively to tackle pressing health challenges.
Collaborations & Clusters:
Data Science & Information Theory
In an increasingly data-driven world, our researchers are developing the mathematical foundations for statistical learning, high-dimensional data analysis, and predictive modeling. Contributions from across our clusters provide both the theoretical rigor and practical tools for understanding complex data.
Key Focus & Clusters:
Fluid Dynamics & Mathematical Physics
Our department boasts a strong tradition of bridging pure analysis with the physical sciences. Faculty apply rigorous mathematical frameworks to understand the fundamental laws of nature, exploring topics in global general relativity, quantum field theory, and quantum cosmology, as well as turbulence and chaos.
Key Focus & Clusters:
Computational Science & Engineering
Complementing our theoretical work is a robust focus on scientific computing and numerical analysis. Mathematicians at Tulane develop and analyze novel numerical methods to solve challenging differential equations that arise in multiscale dynamical systems and create high-performance computing libraries.
Collaborations & Centers:
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Are you an undergraduate student interested in math research? Our department offers honors theses (supported by Newcomb-Tulane College research grants), directed reading courses, and information on competitive summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs).
