Yun Kang | Mathematical Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Yun Kang | Mathematical Biology | Best Researcher Award

Yun Kang is a distinguished Professor of Applied Mathematics at Arizona State University 🏫, specializing in mathematical biology, complex adaptive systems, and nonlinear dynamical systems 🔬📊; with over 70 publications in high-impact journals 📝, Kang’s work bridges theory and modeling to solve biological, ecological, and social questions 🌍; a leader in mathematical research, she also champions women in STEM through mentoring and advocacy 🤝💡; her cutting-edge research, funded by the NSF 💰, explores multiscale modeling in social insects 🐜 and trust dynamics in human-automation interaction 🤖; as a dedicated educator and core faculty member at the Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational & Modeling Sciences Center 🧠, she has shaped both academic programs and future researchers 🌱📈.

Profile

Education 🎓

Yun Kang earned her Ph.D. in Mathematics from Arizona State University in 2008 🎓, focusing on mathematical biology 🧪; she completed an M.S. in Pure Mathematics at the University of Arizona in 2004 📐, with special research in random graphs 🔗; her academic journey began with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Shanghai Jiaotong University, China 🇨🇳, in 2002, where she concentrated on financial and computational mathematics 💹💻; this academic foundation provided a solid platform for her research into nonlinear systems and biological applications 🌿📊; Kang’s education path reflects global excellence 🌍, interdisciplinary rigor 🧠, and a passion for bridging mathematics with real-world complexity 🌐✨.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Yun Kang’s academic career began as an Assistant Professor at ASU in 2008 🧑‍🏫, after completing her doctorate 🎓; she advanced to Associate Professor in 2014 and became a full Professor in 2019 🌟; from 2016 to 2019, she served as Acting Director/Co-Director of the Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational & Modeling Sciences Center 🧠, promoting interdisciplinary collaborations 💡; beyond teaching, Kang holds roles as Core Faculty and Affiliated Faculty at ASU’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences 📚; her career spans leadership, research, mentorship, and advocacy for diversity in mathematical sciences 💪🌸; each role reflects her commitment to both academic excellence and community empowerment 🏅📢.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Yun Kang’s excellence is reflected in her NSF-funded research grants 💰, numerous high-impact publications 📝, and her leadership in mathematical biology 🔬; she’s a proud and active member of top organizations: Association for Women in Mathematics 👩‍🔬, American Mathematical Society 📘, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics 🧠, and Society for Mathematical Biology 🌿; since 2009, she’s mentored young female mathematicians via the AWM mentor network 🤝💡; her recognition stems from both groundbreaking research and her role as a diversity advocate in STEM 🌸🌍; her distinguished honors underscore her dual commitment to advancing math and empowering future scholars 🌟👩‍🏫.

Research Interests 🔬

Yun Kang’s research bridges nonlinear dynamical systems ⚙️, stochastic models 🎲, and mathematical biology 🧬; she explores complex adaptive systems — from population dynamics 🦌, food webs 🌾, eco-epidemiology 🦠, to social insect colonies 🐜; her NSF-funded work dissects multiscale division of labor in insect societies 🐝; she also models trust dynamics in human-automation interactions 🤖, blending theoretical rigor with real-world relevance 🌎; her contributions illuminate evolutionary processes 🔄, ecological interactions 🌱, and behavioral modeling 🧠; Kang’s approach merges deep mathematical theory with empirical validation 📊, offering new tools for biological, ecological, and social system analysis 🚀📘.

Publications 

Joshua Coste | Movement Ecology | Young Scientist Award

Mr. Joshua Coste | Movement Ecology | Young Scientist Award

Joshua Coste is a marine biologist and ecologist specializing in movement ecology, navigation behavior, and population genetics. He completed his BEST-ALI master’s program at the University of La Réunion and has conducted research at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (University of Exeter). His work focuses on seabird homing navigation and population connectivity, integrating tracking and genetic techniques. He has been involved in international fieldwork, collaborating with the ENTROPIE lab, SEOR, and the UK Chagos Archipelago research team. His latest research, published in Animal Behaviour, highlights the adaptive navigation of red-footed boobies. He has presented at international conferences, including the 16th International Seabird Group Conference.

Profile

Education 🎓

Joshua earned his Master’s in Biodiversity, Ecology, and Evolution from the University of La Réunion, specializing in tropical, aquatic, coastal, and island ecosystems (2022–2024). His bachelor’s degree in Biology-Ecology was from Nantes University, France (2019–2022). He also holds a scientific high school diploma with honors, specializing in Engineering Sciences. His academic training includes practical work in marine biology, genetic analysis, and ecological modeling. His education has equipped him with expertise in spatial analysis, seabird tracking, and conservation genetics.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Joshua has completed multiple research internships worldwide. At the University of Exeter, he studied the homing navigation of red-footed boobies using GPS data. At the University of La Réunion, he analyzed the genetic structure of Barau’s Petrel colonies. His internship at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, involved studying coral competition. At IFREMER Bretagne, he worked on archaea cultures in extreme environments. He also supported students with disabilities at Handisup, Nantes. His voluntary experience includes seabird monitoring with ENTROPIE, coral reef assessments, and conservation work with BESTRUN.

Research Interests 🔬

Joshua specializes in movement ecology, behavioral ecology, and population genetics. His research explores seabird navigation, homing efficiency, and environmental adaptation. His study on red-footed boobies demonstrated how seabirds adjust flight paths based on daylight constraints. He has worked on connectivity between seabird colonies, philopatry’s influence on genetic diversity, and coral reef ecosystem dynamics. His interdisciplinary approach combines fieldwork, genetic analysis, and computational modeling.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Joshua was nominated for the Young Scientist Award by the International Cognitive Scientist Awards. His research on seabird navigation was recognized at the 16th International Seabird Group Conference. His Animal Behaviour publication has gained academic recognition. He actively contributes to international collaborations in marine biology and conservation.

Publications 📚

  • Homing navigation is optimized to diurnal constraints in a tropical seabird, the red-footed booby

    Animal Behaviour
    2025-04 | Journal article
    CONTRIBUTORS: Joshua Coste; Stephen C. Votier; Ruth E. Dunn; Robin Freeman; Malcolm A. Nicoll; Peter Carr; Hannah Wood; Alice M. Trevail