BIO
Jesse Chan was born in Nederland, TX in 1985 to a loving Chinese family. His father worked as a chemical engineer in the oil industry, and his mother taught computer science at Lamar University. They emphasized the importance of education, excelling at whatever you put your mind to, and being the best version of yourself. Carrying these values, he attended Rice in 2004, entering as an English major but finding his way into the STEM field, graduating in Computational and Applied Mathematics (CAAM). Entering the job market in the first economic downturn, Jesse instead pursued higher education and continued his curiosity in the CAAM field by getting a master's and Ph.D. at the Oden Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. Here, he learned how culture influences mathematics and found his passion in simulations of fluid flows and finite element methods. Aside from learning, Austin provided a vibrant culture where Jesse played in two bands and at his local church. Continuing to nurture his interest within the field, he found his path back at Rice as a postdoctoral instructor in 2013 and eventually an assistant professor in 2016. Growing up, Jesse was not confident in his math abilities, but rather than a weakness he learned to see it as an asset, allowing him to use his creative thinking in making connections others might not have. Now as a mentor, he first and foremost cares for his students' ideas and approach, aiming to always be available. On the personal side, he continues to be involved in music and the church, currently a part of Holy Family HTX Episcopal Church, where he often plays with their music group. He has recently taken on the role of secretary for the SIAM Texas-Louisiana chapter, looking forward to giving back to the academic community that has given so much to him. Jesse Chan continues to explore his found love of mathematics, computation, and teaching, hoping to see greater Asian American representation in the field and continue being the best mathematician and educator he can be. Tune in with Jesse Chan to learn about a journey from English to Computational and Applied Mathematics and academia. Learn about the role of AI learning in the CAAM field and the creative achievements he has contributed to. Take away how one's weakness can become their greatest strength.