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EnglishWhat Research Is the WSU Department of Mathematics and Statistics Involved In?
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The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Washington State University describes its faculty as active researchers at the forefront of current global interests, and the department's news page shows that work in practice: a WSU mathematician using computational modeling to study how viral infections spread, and department members helping host an international biometrics conference in Pullman. The site's own description of the field points to applied work across technology, biology, cryptography, physics, education, psychology, and business, alongside theoretical problems. If you want the department's formal list of research strengths, the homepage directs you to a dedicated research strengths page rather than summarizing them inline.
How the department frames its research
The homepage describes mathematics and statistics as "dynamic, growing disciplines with direct connections to technology, biology, cryptography, physics, education, psychology, business, and more." It gives three concrete illustrations of that reach:
- Mathematics is elemental to website encryption algorithms.
- Statistics can identify trends in criminal justice.
- Differential equations help doctors study brain waves.
The stated aim for students is to "investigate and solve both real and theoretical problems," which signals that the department presents itself as covering both applied and pure work rather than one side only.
Research examples from the news page
The clearest evidence of current research activity comes from the department's news items:
| News item | Date | What it shows about research |
|---|---|---|
| WSU mathematician calculates how to combat viral outbreaks | September 8, 2026 | Xueying "Snow" Wang uses computational modeling to decipher how viral infections spread across multiple scales, from processes inside individual cells to outbreaks across populations |
| Kalispel students experience international conference at WSU | July 2, 2026 | Mathematicians and statisticians from around the world came to Pullman for the regional conference of the International Biometric Society (IBS) in early June; Kalispel students were invited to join |
| WSU SURCA undergraduate researchers earn 65 awards | April 29, 2026 | 73 students at the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities received 65 awards totaling $14,000 |
| Sociology's Hafiz wins CAS 3MT Qualifier | March 6, 2026 | Six competitors vied to represent the College of Arts and Sciences in the 3 Minute Thesis qualifier on March 5 in Goertzen Hall |
The viral-outbreak modeling item is the most specific research description on the page: it spans scales from within-cell processes to population-level outbreaks, which places the work at the intersection of computational modeling, biology, and public health. The IBS conference item indicates the department's connection to the biostatistics community and to outreach with regional tribal students.
Where to find the full research picture
The homepage does not enumerate research areas or faculty labs. Instead, it links out with the instruction to "Learn about our research strengths." That linked page is the place to check for the department's stated strengths, and individual faculty pages are the place to confirm a specific researcher's current projects. The alumni spotlight on the same page illustrates the department's education emphasis: Dr. Cameron Sweet completed a Ph.D. in Mathematics with Education Emphasis and an M.S. in Statistics at WSU, and taught STAT 412, 212, and introductory mathematics courses as a graduate teaching assistant.
What this means if you are evaluating the department
- For prospective graduate students: the news and homepage suggest active work in computational modeling of biological systems and in statistics/biometrics, plus a formal education emphasis track evidenced by an alumnus. Confirm current openings and supervisor fit on faculty pages rather than from the homepage.
- For undergraduates seeking research: the SURCA awards item shows a structured undergraduate research showcase with departmental participation, which is a concrete entry point to ask about.
- For anyone wanting a definitive list: use the research strengths link from the homepage; the homepage itself gives examples, not a complete inventory.
Because the site does not publish a consolidated research-areas list on the page reviewed here, treat the examples above as illustrations of direction rather than an exhaustive account of what the department studies.