Lisa Fauci facts for kids

Lisa J. Fauci, born on September 21, 1960, is an American mathematician. She uses math and computers to study how things move in liquids, especially in biology. Her work helps us understand how tiny things like sperm swim or how tiny ocean plants called phytoplankton move.

Dr. Fauci is a professor of mathematics at Tulane University. She was also the president of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics from 2019 to 2020. In 2023, she was chosen to be part of the National Academy of Sciences, which is a very high honor for scientists in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Lisa Fauci was born in Brooklyn, New York. She went to Pace University for her college studies. There, her mentor, Michael Bernkopf, encouraged her to continue studying mathematics.

She earned her bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1981. After that, she went to the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. She earned her master's degree in 1984 and her doctorate (Ph.D.) in 1986. Her main teacher and guide for her doctorate was Charles S. Peskin.

Career at Tulane University

Dr. Fauci started working at Tulane University in 1986. She has been a professor there ever since, teaching and doing important research in mathematics.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Fauci has received many important awards for her work.

• In 2012, she became a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. This was for her work in using computers to study how fluids move in biology.
• From 2014 to 2016, she helped lead the American Mathematical Society.
• In 2016, she was chosen as the Sonia Kovalevsky Lecturer by the Association for Women in Mathematics. This is a special lecture given each year to honor women in math.
• In 2018, she became a Fellow of the American Physical Society.
• In 2019, she was elected as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
• In 2020, she became a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. This was for her contributions to understanding fluid movement with computers and for helping the math community.
• In 2023, she was also elected as a fellow of the Association for Women in Mathematics. This honor recognized her efforts to help more women succeed in math. She encouraged women to go to graduate school and supported them throughout their careers.
• Also in 2023, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
• In November 2023, Tulane University honored her as a Hall of Fame winner.