Cecilia Diniz Behn, professor in applied mathematics and statistics at Mines, has been named the inaugural Joe and Jane Gray University Chair. A university chair is the highest level of distinction a Mines faculty member can hold.
Diniz Behn is an expert in the field of mathematical biology, which uses advanced mathematics to solve complex biological problems. She’s known for her impactful interdisciplinary research, as a sought-after mentor for graduate students and as an innovator in building biomedical education at Mines.
Joe W. Gray, PhD, a 1968 Mines physics graduate and trailblazing inventor of cancer-related biomedical engineering technologies, created the chair with a $5 million gift in 2023. The endowed chair supports a distinguished professor’s multidisciplinary research efforts to address existential issues facing humankind.
“Holding this endowed chair is a huge honor,” said Diniz Behn, who started the position in late fall 2025. “It will give me new flexibility to tackle bigger questions while they are in a more nascent state, opportunities to promote interdisciplinary biomedical research on campus and, importantly, additional funding to support my graduate students and postdocs.”
Read about her vision for putting the endowed chair’s funding to work on the Mines Foundation website.
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
