Chiu-Yen Kao facts for kids
Chiu-Yen Kao, born in 1974, is a smart Taiwanese-American mathematician. She uses math to solve real-world problems. She is a professor at Claremont McKenna College.
Becoming a Math Expert
Chiu-Yen Kao faced challenges growing up. Her family didn't fully support her going to college. But her teachers saw her talent and encouraged her to keep studying.
She earned her first degree in mathematics and physics in 1997. This was from National Taiwan University. She then got a master's degree in applied mechanics in 1999 from the same university.
In 2004, she earned her Ph.D. in mathematics. She studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her main project was about "fast sweeping methods." Her professor, Stanley Osher, helped her a lot.
After finishing her studies, she worked as a researcher. She was at the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications in Minnesota. In 2006, she became a math professor at the Ohio State University. Later, she moved to Claremont McKenna College in 2012. She has been a professor there ever since.
What Kind of Math Does She Do?
Chiu-Yen Kao is an applied mathematician. This means she uses math to solve problems in the real world. She works on:
- Shape Optimization: This is like finding the best shape for something. For example, designing a car to be super aerodynamic.
- Image Segmentation: This involves using math to split an image into different parts. It's used in things like medical scans or facial recognition.
- Mathematical Biology: This is using math to understand living things. It can help explain how diseases spread or how animals move.
Her Book
Chiu-Yen Kao also wrote a book! She co-authored Mathematical Modeling of Biological Processes with Avner Friedman. This book helps explain how math can be used to understand biology. It was published in 2014.
