Her parents had only elementary education and she grew up in a remote town; now she is pursuing a PhD in the US and researching blood-flow simulations
Growing up in a remote mountain town in China, Linjie Ying found her way into computational mathematics despite limited academic guidance at home. At a US university, she is developing methods used in complex blood-flow simulations.Moving away from home for education was part of Linjie Ying’s life from an early age. Raised in a small mountainous town in China, she attended boarding school during middle and high school because her parents’ long working hours and lack of transport made daily commuting difficult. Today, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in computational mathematics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), in the United States. According to a profile published by UNLV News Centre on November 2, 2026, her research focuses on the mathematical methods behind simulations of blood flowing through flexible blood vessels.Ying’s parents made bamboo furniture and ladders to support the family. They had only elementary-level education and could not always guide her through academic choices or help with schoolwork. As a first-generation college student, she largely had to find her own way through the education system.She went on to study at Zhejiang University in China, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computational mathematics before moving to the US for doctoral studies. The opportunity to work with UNLV mathematics professor Pengtao Sun was an important factor in choosing the university.
How mathematics helps simulate blood flow
Ying’s research focuses on fluid-structure interaction, a field that examines what happens when fluids interact with moving or flexible structures. Blood moving through deformable blood vessels is one example. Similar interactions occur when air moves around aircraft wings or water encounters flexible structures.Her work involves developing numerical methods and finite element models that can simulate these interactions, particularly when structures undergo significant changes in shape. She also studies the mathematical properties of these methods to understand whether the simulations are stable, accurate and reliable.Such research has practical relevance because scientists and engineers use computer simulations to study complex physical systems that may be difficult or expensive to test through experiments.
Why mentorship matters
At UNLV, professor Pengtao Sun has guided Ying through research challenges and helped her develop as an independent researcher. Sun said she had made substantial research contributions and received fellowships and scholarships from the university’s Graduate College in successive years.Ying says the experience has also shaped her understanding of mentorship. She values the patience and personal support she has received from her professor and hopes to offer similar guidance to other students in the future.Her advice to first-generation students is to build relationships with classmates, academic advisers and professors rather than trying to manage every challenge alone.“If your family cannot provide the academic or career guidance you need, do not be afraid to look for support elsewhere,” Ying said in an interview published by UNLV.For Ying, education has meant more than earning academic qualifications. It has given her the opportunity to explore unfamiliar subjects, enter a new research field and consider possibilities beyond the town where she grew up.
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