Pre-Meeting on Thesis Research Directions for MSc Applied Mathematics student

On the afternoon of November 20, 2024, the " Pre-Meeting on Thesis Research Directions " for the 24th cohort of Applied Mathematics Master students was successfully held at the School of Mathematics and Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. The event aimed to assist students in understanding their supervisors' research directions in advance, enhance communication between students and faculty, and guide students in selecting topics for their graduation theses.

During the event, academics from the School of Mathematics and Physics introduced themselves and briefly presented their research fields and interests, providing students with a preliminary understanding of their academic backgrounds:

• Dr Chi-Kwong Fok：

Algebraic topology, K-theory, Lie groups, Mathematical physics

• Dr Keqin Liu：

Modern math theory for AI technologies, the extension of pure math theory, especially number theory, and the application of pure math theory to solving practical problems in machine learning, e.g., multi-armed bandit in reinforcement learning.

• Professor Fei Ma：

Medical and Biomedical Image Analysis, Big Data Analytics, Forecasting, Graph Theory

• Dr Min Wen:

Operations Reserach, combinatorial optimization, Linear and Integer Programming, Network optimization;

Operations research methodologies such as mathematical programming, dynamic programming, exact methods, meta-heuristics as well as heuristics;

Applications of optimization within transport and logistics including: rich vehicle routing and scheduling, ship routing and speed optimization, facility locating, manpower scheduling, collaborative logistics etc.

• Dr Ruonan Zhang:

Operations Research and Its applications ,Optimization, Algorithm Design and Implementation, Combinatorial Optimization

• Dr Yina Liu: Intelligent Sensing System
• Dr Yinna Ye:

Asymptotic behaviour for Markov chains, branching processes, branching random walks in random environment

Time series analysis

• Dr Xinyao Yang：Dynamical Systems

• Dr Zhiping Rao:

Optimal control, Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equations, Impulsive systems, Sparse and switching control, Homogenization

• Dr Yichen Liu:

Nonlinear analysis, Partial differential equations, Calculus of variations, Control and optimization theory.

Following the introductions by the supervisors, the event proceeded to an interactive Q&A session. Students engaged in in-depth discussions with SMP academics on topics such as research directions, thesis selection, and future plans.

By Qinru Liu

Photos courtesy of Hui Zhang