Zhuolin Qu

Zhuolin Qu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College of Sciences. Her research bridges applied mathematics and biology, focusing on the development of computational and mathematical tools to understand and control infectious diseases.

Research Interests:

• Mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, particularly malaria and mosquito-borne illnesses using Wolbachia
• Computational epidemiology and dynamical systems
• Numerical methods for partial differential equations (PDEs)
• Agent-based modeling for sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia
• Model reduction and sensitivity analysis in complex biological systems

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in using advanced mathematical frameworks—such as age-structured PDEs, spatial wave models, and network-based simulations—to study disease transmission dynamics, intervention efficacy, and biological control strategies. This work integrates realistic biological mechanisms with rigorous numerical solutions.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• NSF LEAPS-MPS award
• Mentoring Travel Grant from the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM)
• Award for Excellence in Research and Presentation by a Postdoctoral Fellow, Tulane University

Teaching and Mentorship: Dr. Qu teaches undergraduate and graduate courses including Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, and Mathematical Biology. While specific student names are not listed, her involvement in mentoring is evident through collaborative research and AWM grants.

Grants and Collaborative Research: She has secured funding from the NSF and Simons Foundation, including the Convergence Accelerator Team (CAT) award, and collaborates extensively with public health researchers and institutions such as Tulane University, Georgia State University, and Los Alamos National Lab.

Laboratory and Research Teams: Her work involves interdisciplinary teams focusing on mathematical biology, with affiliations to research groups at UTSA and national labs. She has co-organized workshops such as the 'Mardi Gras' series on disease modeling and participates in major research communities like the SIAM Activity Group on Mathematics of Biology.