Dr. Roxanne Francis was awarded a PhD in Mathematics in 2026 from the Faculty of Science and Technology at The University of the West Indies, Mona.

Dr. Francis completed her B.Sc. (Hons) with a double major in Mathematics and General Chemistry from The University of the West Indies, Mona, in 2017. She subsequently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics Education in 2018 and went on to earn an M.Sc. in Mathematics, with Distinction, in 2020. She then began her doctoral research in Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics at The University of the West Indies, Mona, under the supervision of Dr. Mahesha Narayana. Her academic and research pursuits have been characterized by a strong commitment to excellence and perseverance.

Her research interests lie primarily in Applied Mathematics, Differential Equations, Fluid Dynamics, Numerical Methods, and the mathematical modelling and control of thermally driven fluid systems. Her doctoral research, which focuses on "the control of Rayleigh-Bénard Convection (RBC) using body-force and boundary-temperature modulations", supervised by Dr. Mahesha Narayana (Head, Department of Mathematics), examines the stability and non-linear dynamics of convective systems subjected to external periodic forcing. RBC likens to the heat transfer processes involved in heating a pot of water on a stove, for example, in which heat transfers as a result of fluid motion. RBC is just one such example and the onset of such convection is of particular interest. Her work incorporates analytical, numerical, and computational techniques to investigate thermal instability, bifurcations, chaotic dynamics, hyperchaos, and heat-transfer enhancement. Her research has resulted in publications in internationally recognized journals, including Thermal Science and Engineering Progress, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Physics of Fluids, and Journal of Engineering Mathematics. She has also presented her research at international conferences and academic forums across Jamaica and internationally, including invited and keynote presentations addressing thermal instability and non-linear dynamics. This research contributes to a better understanding of controlling convection and the resulting instabilities under non-uniform heating. Its findings have important applications in oceanography and in understanding atmospheric processes and weather phenomena.

Beyond her academic accomplishments, Dr. Francis is deeply committed to using mathematics as a vehicle for youth development and empowerment, particularly among young women. She is passionate about challenging the perception that mathematics is inaccessible or intimidating and works to create opportunities through which students can experience mathematics as engaging, relevant, and attainable. Her outreach initiatives have included organizing ‘UWI Math Fairs’, workshops, student enrichment programmes, and engagements designed to strengthen mathematical confidence and interest among secondary-school students. Through these initiatives, she has worked with students from diverse educational backgrounds, helping to bridge learning gaps and promote greater participation in mathematics.

Her work seeks not only to improve mathematical competence but also to cultivate confidence, leadership, resilience, and a belief in one's capacity to excel. She views education as a powerful tool for transforming lives and communities and is committed to creating spaces in which young people in general can see themselves as mathematicians, scientists, researchers, educators, and leaders. Her commitment to youth and women's empowerment complements her academic career and reflects her broader vision of using mathematics not merely as a discipline of study, but as a means of opening doors and inspiring possibility.

Photo caption: Dr. Roxanne Francis