Honoring Contributions to Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, observed annually each April, highlights the vital role mathematics and statistics play in research, innovation, and everyday life. Each year, the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics—a collaboration between SIAM, the American Mathematical Society, the American Statistical Association, and the Mathematical Association of America—joins this month-long celebration to promote greater public understanding and appreciation of the mathematical sciences.

Advances in mathematics and statistics drive progress across science, technology, and society. In recognition of this observance, institutions nationwide—including universities, high schools, student groups, research organizations, and public information offices—host lectures, workshops, competitions, and outreach activities. We invite you to participate in the celebration and share your events on social media using #MathStatMonth.

To mark Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, SIAM is spotlighting SIAM member Dr. Jennifer Ryan, KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Jennifer Ryan

Dr. Jennifer Ryan is a professor and Division Head of Numerical Analysis, Optimization & Systems Theory in the Department of Mathematics at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. She is an expert in high-order numerical methods for partial differential equations, with particular emphasis on discontinuous Galerkin methods, superconvergence, and convolutional filtering. Her work bridges mathematical theory, algorithm design, and real-world scientific applications, with the overarching goal of developing reliable, high-accuracy computational tools for complex physical systems.

Dr. Ryan earned her Ph.D. in applied mathematics from Brown University, where she was advised by Chi-Wang Shu and supported by a NASA Graduate Student Research Fellowship. Her career has since spanned five countries, and she has remained actively engaged in both the U.S. and European mathematics communities through service on editorial boards as well as involvement with the Association for Women in Mathematics.

Dr. Ryan has been actively involved in SIAM for 25 years through several leadership activities. She has served as a workshop mentor and participated in numerous SIAM conferences over the years, including the SIAM Conference on Computational Science and Engineering, the 2019 Northern States Section Meeting, and The Third Joint SIAM/CAIMS Annual Meetings (AN25). In addition, her committee service includes membership on the SIAM Student Paper Prize Committee (2016-21), the AWM-SIAM Sonia Kovalevsky Lecture Committee (2021-23), and the Prize Canvassing Committee (2024-25). She currently serves as a member of the SIAM Council and as Chair of the SIAM Prize Canvassing Committee.

Watch the video below to learn more about Dr. Ryan’s career path and her advice for early career professionals.