Clara Chan

Clara Chan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at Wellesley College. Her academic career spans teaching and research across diverse mathematical disciplines.

• Education: B.A. from Harvard University, M.A. from University of Chicago, Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Her research focuses on the combinatorics of polyhedral complexes, cryptology, and comparative genomics, particularly examining stop codon readthrough mechanisms in mosquito and fly genomes. Courses like Introduction to Cryptography reflect her expertise in integrating advanced mathematical concepts into practical systems such as RSA encryption and elliptic curve cryptography.

Clara’s teaching experience includes appointments at MIT, Virginia Tech, and Wesleyan University, where she emphasized hands-on learning through computational exercises and competitive math team coaching.

Academic Affiliations:

• Wellesley College (current)
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (alma mater and former teaching role)
• University of Chicago (graduate studies)
• Harvard University (undergraduate studies)