（By Zhao Jifan, Wuhan University News Network）
November 18 — Wuhan University hosted an appointment ceremony for high-level talents in mathematics on November 18. President Zhang Pingwen, Shen Zhuanghai (Executive Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee), Yang Tong (Hongyi Chair Professor and Deputy Director of the Wuhan Institute for Mathematics and Intelligent Research), and Fan Huijun (Hongyi Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Mathematics and Statistics) attended the ceremony. Fu Lei, Director of the Personnel Department and Talent Office, presided over the event.
Shen Zhuanghai presented letters of appointment to Yang Tong and Fan Huijun as Hongyi Chair Professors. Fan Huijun, in his capacity as Dean of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, issued a dual appointment certificate to Yang Tong, while Yang Zhijian, Deputy Director of the Wuhan Institute for Mathematics and Intelligent Research, presented a dual appointment certificate to Fan Huijun.
Yang Tong shared his reflections on joining Wuhan University’s mathematics discipline through three keywords: “fate,” “integration,” and “vision.” He expressed gratitude for the university’s high regard and its provision of excellent working conditions, pledging to seize this opportunity to advance innovative research, foster high-quality talent development, and contribute to the growth of mathematics in Wuhan.
Fan Huijun discussed the “two challenges” he faced upon joining Wuhan University and shared insights on strengthening the discipline. He emphasized his commitment to achieving research breakthroughs while leading efforts to enhance academic collaboration, expand talent exchange channels, and build a world-class mathematics program aligned with evolving global trends.
In his closing remarks, President Zhang Pingwen highlighted the academic achievements of Yang Tong and Fan Huijun and outlined Wuhan University’s Hongyi Talent Development System. He welcomed their addition to the faculty, noting that attracting top-tier experts would elevate the university’s global reputation and attract outstanding young scholars. Zhang stressed the importance of prioritizing high-end talent recruitment, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, optimizing resource allocation, and cultivating a vibrant academic culture to propel Wuhan University toward its goal of becoming a world-class institution.
Representatives from the University Party Committee’s Publicity Department, Office of Development Planning and Discipline Construction, Personnel Department, Alumni Affairs Office, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Wuhan Institute for Mathematics and Intelligent Research, and student delegates attended the ceremony.
Background on Yang Tong
Yang Tong earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Sun Yat-sen University in 1987 and 1990, respectively, and his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, in 1993. He served at City University of Hong Kong from 1994 to 2022, rising from lecturer to chair professor, and later joined Hong Kong Polytechnic University as a chair professor (2022–2024) and the Kwok Group Endowed Professor of Mathematical Sciences (2024). In 2024, he joined Wuhan University as a tenured chair professor and Deputy Director of the Wuhan Institute for Mathematics and Intelligent Research.Yang has held editorial roles for journals including Analysis and Applications (2013–2017), Kinetic and Related Models (founding editor, 2008–present), and Acta Mathematica Sinica (2024–present). His groundbreaking work on nonlinear partial differential equations, particularly kinetic equations and hyperbolic conservation laws, has earned him accolades such as the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award, memberships in the European Academy of Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), and the American Mathematical Society, and the Croucher Senior Research Fellowship. With over 200 publications in journals like JAMS, CPAM, and JEMS, his research has been cited over 5,000 times, including by Fields Medalists and ICM speakers.
Background on Fan Huijun
Fan Huijun, a National Distinguished Young Scholar and chief scientist of a key international S&T innovation project under China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, is renowned for his work in mathematical physics and geometric analysis. He developed the FJRW theory and made seminal contributions to mirror symmetry, harmonic maps, and GW theory. His research, published in Annals of Mathematics, CPAM, and Science China, has earned him the Second Prize of the National Natural Science Award, the First Prize of the Ministry of Education’s Natural Science Award, and national teaching honors. He serves on editorial boards for Communication in Mathematical Research, Frontiers in Mathematics, and other journals, and co-edits the Peking University Series in Mathematics.
(Photography by Cao Haigang; Edited by Zhang Liping)
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