Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Mathematical modelling and rigorous analysis, as applied to the life sciences, have proven successful in answering biological questions and resolving paradoxes in biological systems. However, the existing body of mathematical biology research only scratches the surface of what can be accomplished via modelling. Expanding the frontier of which biological problems can be effectively solved mathematically is a two-way process, involving both the development of powerful mathematical techniques and validating models using experimental data. This process requires enormous research efforts, and Dr. Hao Wang will be at the forefront of them. Dr. Wang aims to develop fundamental models in life sciences via chemical and physical laws and novel mathematical methods. His research program is truly interdisciplinary, involving mathematical, computational, and experimental studies. Wang’s research program will explore the role of essential environmental factors, such as nutrients, light, temperature, and landscape, in species interactions and movements via stoichiometric theory and cognitive movement theory. Significant applications include a biodegradation project for estimating and controlling greenhouse gas emissions, as well as an ecotoxicological project for uncovering and mitigating the impacts of industrial and municipal pollutants on ecosystems. In addition, Wang’s recent research integrates mechanistic modelling and machine learning approaches for predicting early warning signals with underlying mechanisms. This hybrid methodology was motivated by the Covid-19 pandemic, where the number of infection cases partly depends on the extent people follow preventive policies. The method developed by Wang will have broad applicability in ecological forecasting and hypothesis testing.