Hong Qian

Qian Hong (钱紘) is a prominent Chinese-American mathematician and biophysical chemist who returned to China after more than 40 years in the United States, joining Westlake University in Hangzhou as a full-time Chair Professor at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies. He previously held an endowed professorship at the University of Washington's Department of Applied Mathematics, where he spent the bulk of his academic career.

Qian comes from one of China's most distinguished scientific families — a clan associated with national pioneers including rocket scientist Qian Xuesen and atomic researcher Qian Sanqiang. His return reversed a long-standing family tradition of emigrating to the US and drew widespread attention in Chinese scientific circles.

His research focuses on the mathematical and physical understanding of biological systems, particularly stochastic mathematics and nonequilibrium statistical physics applied to cellular dynamics. He was elected a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2010 and is the author of several key textbooks on mathematical biology.