Xiang Wan, PhD, an assistant professor of mathematics and statistics in the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago, was awarded a $250,000 NSF-LEAPS grant for his research on the Analytic and Numerical Treatment of Nonlinear Maxwell's Equations.  

The Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways (LEAPS) grant in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences is one of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) top honors for junior researchers. It aims to support pre-tenured faculty in mathematics specifically for minority-serving and predominantly undergraduate or R2 institutions. This grant supports Wan’s pioneering work in electromagnetics and empowers Loyola students to become leaders in applied mathematics. 

Wan is an applied mathematician specializing in modeling and analysis of Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). His research primarily focuses on two areas: qualitative studies of different PDE systems, as well as numerical analysis of discrete schemes for PDEs. His expertise has recently been recognized by Loyola’s Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship (CELTS), naming him a 2024-2026 Engaged Scholar for his dedication to integrating research with student engagement. 

Wan’s research seeks to develop cutting-edge tools to advance the understanding and optimization of electromagnetic fields governed by Maxwell’s equations. These fields, produced by electrically charged objects, consist of both electric and magnetic components and are described by Maxwell’s equations—a foundational set of four equations formulated by physicist James Clerk Maxwell. 

“This research project aims to develop analytical and computational tools to theoretically understand, numerically simulate and optimally manipulate Maxwell’s equations through a synergistic combination of mathematical analysis and numeric,” said Wan. 

The grant’s objective is to enhance the understanding of optimal control of electromagnetics, which plays a significant role in many modern applications and technologies. The project outcomes will contribute to the broader fields of applied mathematics and computational sciences, addressing the growing need for advancements in superconductor simulation, particle accelerator design, and medical imaging—areas where superconductivity is crucial for developing non-invasive technologies. 

Additionally, the project provides research training and STEM education opportunities to Loyola’s students through various channels, including research groups, the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) Student Chapter, curriculum development, and participation is seminars and conferences during the academic year and over the summer. 

“The proposed research aims to initiate a pioneer project toward a regular, diverse, and inclusive student research group,” said Wan. “The mentorship plan, structured in successive stages, is strategically designed to transform students’ initial interest in Mathematics into a deep understanding and active participation in research.” 

The research will be co-facilitated through curricular engagement, internal research initiatives, dedicated research hours, and presentations by students—both internal and external—funded by the proposal.  

“This approach aligns with the department’s goal, along with the leadership of the department chair Peter Tingley, PhD, to grow its majors and is instrumental in preparing students for research-oriented career paths, ranging from PhD programs to research-focused roles in industry and government,” expressed Wan. 

Since receiving the grant in September, Wan, jointly with his colleague Carmen Rovi, PhD, have launched initiatives to engage students in active math research, including two seminar-style math courses that offer students a path for engaged learning credits. There are currently 8 students working with Wan on various research projects, including an upcoming presentation at Joint Math Meetings in January 2025 in Seattle, with reputation as the largest annual mathematical conference in the world. 

Learn more about Wan, and the NSF-LEAPS grant.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest of Loyola University Chicago’s 15 schools, colleges, and institutes. More than 150 years since its founding, the College is home to 20 academic departments and 37 interdisciplinary programs and centers, more than 450 full-time faculty, and nearly 8,000 students. The 2,000+ classes that we offer each semester span an array of intellectual pursuits, ranging from the natural sciences and computational sciences to the humanities, the social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. Our students and faculty are engaged internationally at our campus in Rome, Italy, as well as at dozens of University-sponsored study abroad and research sites around the world. Home to the departments that anchor the University’s Core Curriculum, the College seeks to prepare all of Loyola’s students to think critically, to engage the world of the 21st century at ever deepening levels, and to become caring and compassionate individuals. Our faculty, staff, and students view service to others not just as one option among many, but as a constitutive dimension of their very being. In the truest sense of the Jesuit ideal, our graduates strive to be “individuals for others.”