Welcome :) I am currently a postdoc at Dartmouth College. I was a postdoc at the University of Utah. I received my PhD in Applied Mathematics in August 2022 from Case Western Reserve University, where I was also part of the Cleveland Clinic, advised by Peter J. Thomas (CWRU) and Jacob G. Scott (Cleveland Clinic). 

❤️I am excited to join Texas Tech University as a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics in Fall 2026! I also look forward to working with the Honors College!❤️

Research  Broadly speaking, I do research in applied probability & stochastic processes and its intersections with optimization under uncertainty, statistical inference, and mathematical biology (stochastic population dynamics). Very broadly speaking, I enjoy thinking about analogies and synthesizing connections between seemingly disparate concepts.

Specifically, I am fascinated by the connections between the following three fields through adaptive dynamics, optimization and control, and complexity on high-dimensional random landscapes of interacting populations and networks with the motivation of resilience and sustainability under environmental stress:

• mathematical spin glasses (large networks with random interactions and conflicting combinatorial optimization constraints)  in high-dimensional probability & statistical physics (energy landscapes),

• eco-evolutionary dynamics in biological & social sciences (fitness landscapes). In particular, I am interested in high-dimensional fitness -- for example, birth and death rates instead of just net growth rates.

• Large Language Models in machine learning & AI (loss landscapes).

My overarching research program bridges multi-scales through

1. [macro --> micro] Inferring  microscopic interaction mechanisms from macroscopic data for a series of interacting populations that increase in complexity: 🟡homogeneous populations (Journal of Mathematical Biology by Huynh et al. 2023, and my first-author preprint on analysis of stochastic processes for limited data) to 🟡heterogeneous populations (Bulletin of Mathematical Biology by alphabetically-ordered Beckman, Cho, Huynh 2025) to 🟡network structures (my single-author preprint for an interacting particle system, and collaborative preprint with AMS MRC for an agent-based model). My simple but powerful nonparametric inference methods utilize properties of stochastic processes and work well for parameters as nondifferentiable, high-dimensional functions of the state variables (code available at https://github.com/lhuynhm/). Moreover, the methods emphasize the roles of stochasticity in identifiability. This is like Inverse Problems  in Uncertainty Quantification.

2. [micro --> macro] Modeling and analyzing how microscopic random interactions give rise to emergent macroscopic collective behaviors, especially phase transitions (my senior-author preprint arXiv:2505.02879). This is like Forward Problems in Uncertainty Quantification.

Teaching  I have taught a variety of courses and worked effectively with students across a wide range of identities and backgrounds. I incorporated research on "How random is ChatGPT?" in my MATH 20 Probability in Summer 2024. One of my teaching evaluations that touches my heart and reflects my teaching philosophy is

“She was very knowledgeable on the course material. Something I found a little frustrating at first, but grew to very much appreciate, was that she would make us learn the material the “hard way.” Instead of calculators and basic quiz questions, we would do our work by hand, and answer conceptual-theory questions. This was more difficult than I had been used to in the past, but I believe I learned better because of it. She cared about our progress and was fun.”

Some comments from my Fall 2025 teaching evaluations are:

🩵 "My professor, especially in the second half of the course, did an excellent job of breaking down really complex topics into pieces that we could learn. She taught the intuition behind every concept and would frequently map out the concepts to help us understand. I think these actions led to a really strong overall understanding and retention of the course material among me and my classmates."

🩵 "1. The explanations and justifications for theorems were very clear - I found myself remembering the justifications more than the actual theorems, and that came to really help me on the exams 2. The visualizations that we used in class were also very clear and I appreciated that because it gave me a greater appreciation for the subject than just memorizing things"

🩵 "Your teaching method in general was very effective for me, especially the use of diagrams, geometric intuitions, and multiple colors of chalk."

🩵 "I like that the professor had a lot of physical examples to explain concepts."

🩵 "She explained difficult concepts clearly and used helpful visualizations. She was patient when answering questions and encouraged students to participate. She also created a supportive atmosphere that made it easier to ask for help."

🩷 "The emphasis on deep understanding and really getting where the concepts come from was great, and really what I hoped for when choosing Math 9 and it still went a bit beyond my expectations. And then, similarly to how I learn, I felt Prof. Huynh was very aware of the dichotomy between learning deeply to understand and learning practically to solve example problems efficiently and do well on the exam. That understanding aided me in my learning even more."

🩷 "She was constantly available and willing to help me. She explained concepts thoroughly and thoughtfully if I had any issues. In class, she entertained many questions in order to deepen her students' understandings of concepts. All in all, she was by far my best professor this term!"

🩷 "I liked how the professor tried their best to accommodate to everyone's learning pace and for those who may have had a less background knowledge on the subject."

🩷 "Professor does a good balance of "Exam mode" and "Learning mode". She understands that we are worried about our grade and does tell us the bare minimum we need to know to pass, how to format our answers etc. However, she also is very passionate about the content and sometimes tells us about her personal research, writes her own codes for us to visualize the content and goes deeper into the conceptual aspect of the course."

🩷 "They checked in on me after I failed the first exam and spoke to me on how to improve in the class. Due to this meeting, I was able to improve greatly and performed better on the following exams."

Research Mentoring  Please see my Research Group page.

Service & Outreach

• I have been a co-organizer of the Applied & Computational Mathematics Seminar at Dartmouth College.

• I was an elected co-chair of the Mathematical Oncology Subgroup of the Society for Mathematical Biology from 07/2023-10/2025.

• I recently co-organized an Association for Women in Mathematics Breakfast (23 participants from undergraduates to graduates to postdocs to active & retired professors discussing career stories) and was a math station leader at Dartmouth Science Day.

Community

In addition to my professional memberships, I very much enjoy my interactions with: 

• Seminar on Stochastic Processes

• Women in Probability

• Spin Glass Theory and High-Dimensional Landscapes in Biology

• Statistical Mechanics of Spin Glasses, Neural Networks and Learning

• Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM) Uncertainty Quantification for Mathematical Biology

• Fields Institute Thematic Program on Mathematical Oncology

• National Institute for Theory and Mathematics in Biology (NITMB) workshop on ecological dynamics 

• Cleveland Clinic, Moffitt Cancer Center Integrated Mathematical Oncology (Moffitt IMO), and Pfizer

I was also a GUEST :) at Conference on Quantum Topology and Hyperbolic Geometry, Phú Quốc Beach Resort, Việt Nam 🏖️🦞

Gratitude

• My letter writers for their time and support over many years!

• My formal and informal mentors for my academic growth.

• My collaborators for our productivity and inspirations.

• Administrators and staff for easy paperwork and pleasant working environment.

• My students for their curiosity and creativity. I am proud of you!

• My family and friends for their love & wisdom and our cherished memories. I love you!

• and many more...