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Five years ago, Chi “April” Tran arrived at the �鶹��Ѱ����� as a first-year PhD student in the Department of Applied Mathematics, newly awarded the Rudy Horne Fellowship. At the time, she described herself as a student with wide-ranging interests and a deep enthusiasm for learning, eager to explore topics from computational mathematics to machine learning.

Now, as Dr. Tran, April’s journey has come full circle. She has been awarded the prestigious J. H. Wilkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Scientific Computing and will continue her research at Argonne National Laboratory, marking a significant milestone in her development as a researcher.

April’s path into applied mathematics began early. “I’ve enjoyed doing math since I was little, so getting into applied math felt like a pretty natural path for me,” she explained. Over the course of her time at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder, that initial interest has evolved into a focused research program at the intersection of mathematics, data, and scientific computing. With Professor David Bortz, April has been focusing her studies on computational mathematics, specifically data-driven system identification.

Her work centers on developing new methods to understand complex systems from data, particularly when that data is incomplete or noisy. Through her research in Weak-form Scientific Machine Learning (WSciML), April has contributed to building tools that can uncover the underlying equations governing physical and engineered systems. These methods can also be used to construct efficient surrogate models, enabling faster simulation and optimization in a wide range of applications.

Along the way, her perspective on research has also matured. “Finding the clearest and most elegant way to explain an idea is very rewarding,” she said, reflecting on one of the most meaningful aspects of her work.

April credits much of her growth to the people and environment within the department. “It’s hard not to stay motivated when I get to work with talented and inspiring people on really interesting problems,” she said. “A big part of what’s kept me going is definitely the unwavering support from my family and friends.”

That support began early in her graduate career. The Rudy Horne Fellowship, awarded when she first arrived at APPM, played an important role in her transition into graduate school.

“I was incredibly honored to receive the Rudy Horne Fellowship when I began at �鶹��Ѱ�����in 2021,” April said. “The fellowship provided support during a challenging transition from a small liberal arts undergraduate experience to a more demanding academic environment. That early encouragement was meaningful as I navigated graduate school and grew from a student into a researcher.”

During her time at CU, April has worked closely with her advisor, Professor David Bortz, and collaborated with researchers both within and beyond the university. She is also part of the WSciML research group, led by Professor Bortz and Professor Vanja Dukic, which has helped shape both her research direction and her postdoctoral plans.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work with many incredible people, from whom I’ve learned so much,” she said. “I believe that has been a key part of my preparation for this opportunity.”

Her work has also included collaborations with scientists at national laboratories, providing her with broader exposure to large-scale scientific computing environments and interdisciplinary research.

That experience will continue in her next role. The Wilkinson Fellowship supports early-career researchers in scientific computing and provides the opportunity to pursue independent research in a highly collaborative setting. At Argonne, April plans to expand her work on WSciML and explore new applications.

“I will continue advancing the WSciML framework, now in collaboration with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory,” she said. “I’m particularly interested in exploring how it can be used to build digital twins and be applied to a broader range of real-world problems.”

Receiving the Wilkinson fellowship came as a surprise. “I didn’t expect it at all, and felt very honored,” April said. “Receiving such a prestigious fellowship wasn’t something I had envisioned, so I was incredibly excited and grateful.”

As she looks ahead, April remains grounded in the same curiosity and motivation that brought her to �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder in the first place. Reflecting on her experience, she emphasizes the importance of early engagement with research for students following a similar path.

“The most practical advice I can give is to start research early: go to seminars, talk to professors and their students, and get your hands dirty,” she said.

From her beginnings as a Rudy Horne Fellow to her upcoming role as a Wilkinson Postdoctoral Fellow, April’s journey highlights both her individual achievements and the supportive academic community that helped shape her. The Department congratulates April on this momentous achievement and looks forward to seeing the impact of her future work.