Hanliang Guo
Sherwood Dodge Shankland Award for the Encouragement of Teachers (2026)
2026 Commencement Ceremony Excerpt
Hanliang "Han" Guo, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science at Ohio Wesleyan University. An applied mathematician, his research focuses on biological fluid mechanics, scientific computing, and data-driven modeling, including work on cilia and microswimmers published in leading journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) and Journal of Fluid Mechanics.
His pioneering research deepens our understanding of how microscopic cilia move fluids, a complex phenomenon he models to inspire the design of next-generation micro-robots. His prestigious scholarship has been featured in leading journals, including a recent cover article in Nature Physics. Dr. Guo's contributions are further recognized by a significant $400,000 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant aimed at cultivating the future workforce.
Dr. Guo's commitment to student success is evidenced by his dedicated mentorship, which has led to collaborative research and award-winning student presentations. An engineer by training, he discovered his passion for mathematics upon seeing its capacity to elegantly model biological systems. He now shares this enthusiasm through accessible community lectures, explaining how mathematical insights can even help us drive better.