Professor and Graduate Program Director

Department of Mathematics
​The University of Alabama
​Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
Office: 328C Gordon Palmer Hall
Email : sdai4@ua.edu

Education

Ph.D. Applied Mathematics, University of Maryland, 2005
M.S. Mathematics, Institute of Mathematics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2000
​B.S. Mathematics, Peking University, 1997

Academic Experience

Professor of Mathematics, The University of Alabama, 2023-
Graduate Program Director of Mathematics, The University of Alabama, 2021-
Associate Professor of Mathematics, The University of Alabama, 2017-2023
Assistant Professor of Mathematics, New Mexico State University, 2013-2017
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Michigan State University, 2011-2013
Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Worcester polytechnic Institute, 2008-2011 
CAM Assistant Professor of Mathematics, UCLA, 2005-2008

Honors and Awards

University of Alabama College of Arts & Sciences Administrative Faculty Fellow, 2023-2024

Grants

NSF CBET-2212116: Assembly Mechanism Investigation and Theoretical Framework Development of Magnetorheological Emulsions for Low Power Energy Dampers, 2022-2025, total amount $342,355 (co-PI).
MAA Dolciani Mathematics Enrichment Grant, Northridge Middle School Math Club, 2020-2022, total amount $5,000 (PI).
NSF DMS-1815746: Complex amphiphilic structures and the functionality of biomaterials, 2018-2023, total amount: $217,087 (PI). NSF DMS-1802863: Degenerate diffusion in complex amphiphilic network structures, 2017- 2020, $86,170 (PI, this was a portion of DMS-1411438 that was transferred to The University of Alabama).
NSF DMS-1411438 (2014-2018): Degenerate diffusion in complex amphiphilic network structures, total amount: $186,486 (PI).

Research Opportunities

Graduate research and teaching assistantships are available for motivated students.  My research interests lie in nonlinear partial differential equations and applied analysis, with applications in physical, biological and materials sciences. Contact me if you are interested. 

Curriculum Vitae

Curriculum Vitae PDF.

News 

  • Feb 2023: Former PhD student Toai Luong selected as recipient of the 2023 University of Alabama Outstanding Dissertation Award. Read full story on the departmental webpage.
  • January 2023: Former PhD student Toai Luong selected as recipient of the 2023 College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Dissertation Award.
  • April 2021: PhD student Toai Luong selected as recipient of  the 2021 College of Arts & Sciences Award of Outstanding Research by a PhD student.