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Honoring Abba Ramadan

To celebrate Black History Month, SIAM is featuring Dr. Abba Ramadan, a prominent Black applied mathematician from our community. We encourage you to take a moment to read through this spotlight, explore a compilation of resources and networks tailored for Black professionals in STEM, and learn more about our commitment to our community. 

Biography

Dr. Abba Ramadan is assistant professor of mathematics at The University of Alabama. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Kansas (2022), under the supervision of Atanas Stefanov, in which his research concentrated on the existence and stability of solitary waves for nonlinear Schrödinger equations with defects. Dr. Ramadan’s current research focuses on the analysis of partial differential equations and their applications in areas such as fluid dynamics, materials science, and optics. He also has interests in probability and statistical modeling, particularly in applications to agriculture and the natural sciences.

As a SIAM member for six years, Dr. Ramadan is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship, striving to foster student engagement and success in mathematics. In 2024, he was named a SIAM Postdoctoral Support Program recipient, in which he received funding to pursue a proposed program of research collaboration with mentor Keith Promislow of Michigan State University. Dr. Ramadan will be a mentor in the SIAM-Simons Undergraduate Summer Research Program during the summer of 2026.

Watch the video below as Dr. Ramadan discusses his professional journey and offers advice to early career professionals.

Resources 

Below is a curated list of resources and networks that may be of interest to Black professionals of all ages. 

Relevant SIAM Programs

MGB-SIAM Early Career Program

The MGB-SIAM Early Career Fellowship recognizes the achievements of early career applied mathematicians and supports their professional growth, with particular interest in encouraging applications from individuals whose perspectives have been historically underrepresented in the mathematical sciences. The fellowship reflects a joint commitment by Mathematically Gifted & Black (MGB) and SIAM to promote long-term engagement of fellows within SIAM and continued success within the wider applied mathematics and computational sciences community. Learn more about the 2025 Class of MGB-SIAM Early Career Fellows.

SIAM-Simons Undergraduate Summer Research Program

The SIAM-Simons Undergraduate Summer Research Program is an eight-week program in applied mathematics and computational science that establishes five sites across the United States to provide research, networking, and mentorship opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students. One faculty mentor and two students will work together at each site, and participants across all five sites will come together via video conference to present their work, participate in professional development activities, and engage in community-building initiatives to foster a strong sense of belonging.

Students accepted to the program will: 

  • Learn how to conduct scientific research and effectively communicate mathematics and computational science principles
  • Gain a deeper understanding of career pathways in applied mathematics and computational science
  • Visit the Flatiron Institute in Manhattan
  • Attend the SIAM Annual Meeting the following year to present their research project

This program is intended to broaden participation in applied mathematics, computational science, and data science by U.S. students who are underrepresented and historically marginalized in our discipline.

Participant applications for summer 2026 are open until February 6, 2026, and letters of recommendation must be submitted by February 11, 2026. Learn more about the research projects in 2026.