YAN ZHUANG

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Associate Professor
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035

Office: Chambers 3040
Phone: 704-894-2317
E-Mail: yazhuang@davidson.edu

Pronouns: he / him

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Davidson College in Davidson, NC. Prior to my appointment at Davidson, I received my Ph.D. in mathematics from Brandeis University in Waltham, MA.

My research interests lie in the areas of enumerative combinatorics and algebraic combinatorics. Most of my work is in permutation enumeration and its connections to (quasi)symmetric function theory and combinatorial Hopf algebras. I seek to answer questions about counting permutations with certain nice properties or with respect to parameters called permutation statistics, and I develop general frameworks for investigating these kinds of questions, often drawing upon the rich interplay between combinatorics and abstract algebra.

Working with students is my greatest joy at Davidson. My style of teaching empowers students to become active participants in their own learning, and as an educator, I aim to instill self-confidence in my students, to foster a sense of belonging in my classroom, and to cultivate an appreciation for the beauty and power of mathematical abstraction. I supervise undergraduate research projects in combinatorics and I look forward to introducing future students to the excitement of mathematical discovery.

I am the Principal Investigator of NSF grant DMS-2316181 (Sept. 2023–Aug. 2025). This grant provides funding for DREAM (Discovering Research and Expanding Access to Mathematics), a new summer program for Davidson students integrating mathematics research, professional development, and educational outreach. DREAM ran in Summer 2024 and will run again in Summer 2025.

When I am not exploring the mathematical wilderness or sharing my love for mathematics with my students, I like to play and listen to music, play board games, exercise, and try new food. I enjoy hearing people talk about things that they are passionate about and learning from the lived experiences of those from different backgrounds.

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