Helen Wong

Helen Wong is a Professor of Mathematics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. Her research focuses on quantum topology, hyperbolic geometry, and applications of topology to molecular biology, data analysis, and quantum computation.

Education: BA from Pomona College; PhD from Yale University. She has held notable fellowships including the Simons Fellowship (2021-22), Joan and Joseph Birman Fellowship (2021-22), and von Neumann Fellowship (2017-18). She also received the Prize Teaching Award at Yale University and a Fulbright Research Award in Budapest.

Her research explores quantum invariants' connections with hyperbolic geometry, applications in molecular biology (e.g., protein folding), and quantum computing. Recent work includes studies on skein algebras, knot theory in 3D manifolds, and topological models for biopolymers.

Helen has secured multiple NSF grants:

• RUI: Pure and Applied Knot Theory (2023-2026)
• RUI: Knots in Three-Dimensional Manifolds (2019-2023)
• RUI: Skeins on Surfaces (2015-2019)

Her work bridges pure mathematics with interdisciplinary applications, particularly in biology and quantum technologies.