Introducing our New Faculty
The Mathematics Department is pleased to welcome new research and instructional faculty members this fall. These colleagues bring valuable expertise, fresh perspectives, and renewed energy that will further strengthen the department’s academic and teaching mission.
The incoming research faculty expand the department’s strengths in several strategic areas, including Applied and Computational Mathematics, Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Physics, Analysis, and Mathematics Education. Complementing these additions, the new instructional faculty offer extensive teaching experience and a strong commitment to advancing student learning and success.
As Department Chair Sarah Reznikoff noted, “We are thrilled to welcome our new postdocs and instructional faculty members this year. Virginia Tech students will benefit enormously from working with these top researchers and instructors.”
Brief profiles of our new faculty members, including their backgrounds and areas of interest, appear below.
Ruth Buttemere joins the department as an adjunct instructor, primarily teaching introductory calculus courses.
With a background in high school mathematics education, Ruth is passionate about engaging with students and supporting their learning, helping them build a foundation for future applications in engineering and other disciplines.
Why did you choose to come to Virginia Tech?
I am excited to return to Virginia Tech after 25 years. I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees at VT and taught as an instructor for one year in 1999-2000. Since then my family has lived and worked in Tennessee, Maryland, and Eastern Europe, but we are glad to be back in Blacksburg and part of the Virginia Tech community again!
Fun Fact: I'm following my oldest children back to Virginia Tech. I have a daughter starting a masters in Urban and Regional Planning and a son who is a sophomore in Environmental Engineering.
Visiting Assistant Professor Mihrab Chowdhury joins the department from Clemson University where he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Center for Public Health Modeling and Response.
Dr. Chowdhury develops models to study biological and ecological systems using mechanistic approach and machine learning. His research focuses on epidemiology, ecology, and public health.
Why did you choose to come to Virginia Tech?
Profile picture of Instructor Hoai Dao
Instructor Hoài Đào recently received her Ph.D. in Mathematics at Oklahoma State University
Instructor Hoài Đào will be teaching undergraduate mathematics courses at Virginia Tech. Her research interest is in commutative algebra, particularly resolutions of monomial ideals.
Postdoctoral Associate Chi Hong Chow
Prior to joining the department, Patricia Caldwell Postdoctoral Associate Chi Hong Chow was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn.
Dr. Chow's research focuses on the enumerative geometry of flag varieties, most notably their quantum cohomology. He also works on related problems such as mirror symmetry and Gamma conjectures. He has published in leading journals, presented at international seminars, and co-organized academic events, building a strong foundation for continued contributions to cutting-edge research in mathematics.
Postdoctoral Associate Christina Giannitsi earned her BSc and MSc from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece before completing her Ph.D. at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Most recently she served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at Vanderbilt University.
Dr. Giannitsi’s research focuses on discrete harmonic analysis, with particular emphasis on its connections to analytic number theory, ergodic theory, geometric measure theory, and additive combinatorics. At Virginia Tech, she will conduct research with Dr. Eyvi Palsson. With a strong record of scholarship and engagement, Dr. Giannitsi is well positioned to continue her successful trajectory in research and academic leadership.
Why did you choose to come to Virginia Tech?
I initially chose Virginia Tech for its strong analysis group. However, as I transitioned into the department, I came to appreciate the warmth, kindness, and collaborative spirit of its members—qualities that, though often unseen, have played a crucial role in the department's success and will undoubtedly shape my own experience here.
Postdoctoral Associate Bari Hridoy recently earned his Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Texas Tech University.
Why did you choose to come to Virginia Tech?
I chose Virginia Tech for its vibrant research environment and the strength of its mathematical biology group within the Department of Mathematics. The opportunity to work with Dr. Lauren Childs, whose research aligns closely with my interests in infectious disease dynamics, was a key factor. I was also drawn to the department’s interdisciplinary collaborations and its ongoing efforts to apply mathematical modeling to ecological and epidemiological problems, including the study of environmentally mediated disease transmission.
Prior to joining Virginia Tech as a Postdoctoral Associate, Kun Huang was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Fusion Studies in the Department of Physics at The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Huang's research spans advanced computational methods, including low-rank techniques for high-dimensional problems, structure-preserving schemes for kinetic equations, and multiscale and finite element methods applied to kinetic simulations of magnetized plasmas. At Virginia Tech, Dr. Huang will be working with Dr. Yingda Cheng and Dr. Daniel Appelö. The department looks forward to his valuable contributions in computational mathematics and plasma modeling.
Prior to joining Virginia Tech as a Postdoctoral Associate, Kirsten Morris was a graduate student at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Dr. Morris's work on graph-based decoders for Quantum LDPC codes positions her at the forefront of quantum error-correction research, and she will further advance this work through collaboration with Dr. Gretchen Matthews at Virginia Tech. Honored with multiple fellowships and awards, and with a background in STEM service through AmeriCorps, Dr. Morris is poised to contribute further through her postdoctoral role at Virginia Tech.
Why did you choose to come to Virginia Tech?
I chose to come to Virginia Tech due to the robust and productive Applied Algebra group and the friendly and supportive atmosphere I experienced in the mathematics department and Virginia Tech community more broadly. The beautiful outdoor surroundings are a wonderful bonus, too!
Dr. Talia LaTona-Tequida earned her Ph.D. in 2025 from a joint Mathematics and Science Education doctoral program offered by the University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University.
Dr. LaTona-Tequida focuses on research in graduate mathematics education, with a particular interest in understanding the way societal narratives about mathematics and gender influence the mathematical identities of students. She brings rich experience as a research assistant on multiple NSF-supported projects focused on advancing equity, teacher leadership, and reform in mathematics education
Why did you choose to come to Virginia Tech?
The Department of Mathematics at Virginia Tech centers research as a high priority and fosters a friendly research community that encourages interdisciplinary collaborations. Additionally, the university offers numerous resources and connections beyond academia, making it an ideal environment for advancing my research.
Dr. Rodrigo San-José earned his Ph.D. in 2024 from the University of Valladolid in Spain.
Dr. San-Jose's expertise is in commutative algebra, algebraic geometry, and coding theory. As a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow his work will not only advance theoretical foundations but also strengthen collaborations across mathematics, computer science, and engineering, helping VT expand its role in the global conversation on quantum technologies and secure communications.
Why did you choose to come to Virginia Tech?
I chose to come to Virginia Tech because of its strong Applied Algebra Group, which includes Professor Gretchen Matthews and my mentor, Professor Hiram López. This is one of the most active research groups in coding theory in the U.S., and I’m excited to join Virginia Tech and collaborate within this active research community.
Dr. Nusrat Tabassum earned her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University. She comes to Virginia Tech following a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the Department of Public Health Sciences at Clemson University.
Dr. Tabassum’s research centers on ecological and epidemiological modeling, with an emphasis on species interactions, vector-borne diseases, and infectious disease dynamics. She will strengthen Virginia Tech’s Mathematics Department by advancing interdisciplinary research, expanding applications of mathematical biology, and fostering collaborations that connect mathematics with pressing real-world challenges.
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