Chun Liu, a distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Applied Mathematics at Illinois Tech, has been named a fellow of the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) for 2025. This recognition includes only 25 researchers and highlights Liu's contributions, particularly in nonlinear partial differential equations applied to fields such as biophysics and complex fluids. Additionally, fellows are acknowledged for their service to the community.
Expressing his thoughts on the honor, Liu stated, “It’s nice to be recognized by my colleagues, but this also gives visibility for the whole department and Illinois Tech. It’s great recognition for the mathematics research that’s going on here at Illinois Tech.”
SIAM has been designating fellows since 2009, aiming to honor distinguished members, improve their competitiveness for external awards, and support their advancement to leadership roles. The fellowship is a lifetime honorific without additional responsibilities.
Liu's research encompasses partial differential equations and their applications in complex fluids, contributing to more than 180 publications. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Energy, and various research foundations. Liu remarked on the collaborative nature of his department, saying, “The Department of Applied Mathematics at Illinois Tech is very strong in research with collaborators, both in and out of Illinois Tech, in many different areas. For instance, more than 70 percent of the faculty in the department are doing research related to data sciences and machine learning.”
In addition to being named a SIAM fellow, Liu has received several accolades, including the Householder Lecturer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2019 and a 2024 fellowship from the American Mathematical Society. He also serves as an editor for multiple academic journals including the SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis and Communications in Mathematical Sciences.