Chuan Xue

Where are you from?

I grew up in a small town in Hebei province in China. 

Please describe an experience (or 2) that helped you discover/ cultivate your interest in the mathematical sciences.

That’s a hard question. I was mostly interested in physics and biology in high school probably because I had better teachers in these areas. I was always good at math of course. In China, we choose major before we start college. It was my dad’s wisdom that if I want to do well in science, then learn math first. I was able to get into School of Mathematics at Peking University and studied applied mathematics there. It was an amazing experience being a student at PKU Math. I found my way to apply mathematics to biological problems as a graduate student here at UMN and continued to enjoy this path. 

What is/are your most proud accomplishment(s) in regards to your career in the mathematical sciences?

Having experimentalists to test my model predictions, and they saw what I predicted through their microscopes. I also enjoy working with graduate students, get them excited about research and watch them grow as young professionals.

What is/are your most proud accomplishment(s) in regards to your personal life?

I have two children who are very kind and thriving in school.

Please share some words of wisdom/inspiration.

• "All models are wrong, some are useful." — George Box

• Mathematics is biology’s next microscope, only better; biology is mathematics’ next physics, only better -- Joel E. Cohen