Faculty
Associate Professor, Colloquium Chair, PhD, Ming Chen
I am an Associate Professor in the math department. I received my PhD in Mathematics from Brown University in 2007; my thesis advisor was Walter Strauss. My undergraduate degree is a BS in Mathematics from University of Science and Technology of China. Prior to coming to Pitt, I was a Dunham Jackson Assistant Professor at University of Minnesota.
My main research areas are in nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). I am interested in equations related to fluid mechanics and nonlinear wave phenomena, in particular water waves. A large part of my work has been devoted to the understanding of large scale dynamics and genuinely nonlinear behaviors which cannot be captured using perturbative approaches, for instance, large-amplitude traveling waves, overhanging or touching waves, and breaking waves.
Some of my recent projects have focused on constructing large-amplitude traveling water waves in presence of localized disturbances coming from either submerged objects or bottom topography. Further qualitative features of these waves including their shapes and stability are also worthwhile pursuing. My work has been supported in part by the National Science Foundation through DMS-0908663, DMS-1613375 and DMS-1907584.