Yan Zhuang

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 was recently awarded a LEAPS-MPS grant from the National Science Foundation to support my professional activities. 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—which will run in Summers 2024 and 2025.