Dieudonné Zirhumanana Balike
I am an applied mathematician with a strong focus on free boundary problems, biofilm modelling, and mathematical biology. I completed my Ph.D. in 2024 as part of a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (European Joint Doctorate) between the University of Naples "Federico II" and the University of Limoges. My thesis, "Analysis and simulations of free boundary problems arising in biofilm modelling", was defended with Distinction and Congratulations of the jury.
Currently, I am a currently teaching and doing researcher at the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Bukavu (DR Congo) and an invited lecturer at the University of Goma. Previously, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Naples Federico II (2024–2025). My research interests span nonlinear PDEs, free boundary problems, numerical methods, and the mathematical modelling of microbial systems.
Education
Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics — University of Naples "Federico II" & University of Limoges
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network — European Joint Doctorate (M2ex H2020 MSCA-ITN-2019-EJD: N° 861088).
Thesis: Analysis and simulations of free boundary problems arising in biofilm modelling.
Defence: 28 October 2024 ·
Supervisors: Prof. Luigi Frunzo, Prof. Maria Rosaria Mattei (UNINA) & Prof. Véronique Deluchat Anthony (UNILIM).
M.Sc. Mathematical Sciences — African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Senegal
Thesis: Modelling the movement of a molecule in tilings by using Markov chains.
M.Sc. Mathematical Education (Bac+5) — ISP/Bukavu, DR Congo
Major: Mathematics · Thesis: On simplexes and their properties.
B.Sc. Mathematical Education (Bac+3) — ISP/Bukavu, DR Congo
Major: Mathematical Physics · Thesis: On Lyapunov's stability analysis theory.
High school in General Pedagogy — Institut Luhihi II, Kabare territory, DR Congo
Publications
Published
- DZ. Balike (2021): Mathematical model for the mitigation of the economic effects of the Covid-19 in the DR Congo, PLOS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0250775
- Z. Balike, A. Ring, M. Saiguran (2020): Modeling the movement of particles in tilings by Markov chains, Open Journal of Mathematical Analysis, DOI: 10.30538/psrp-oma2020.0055
Submitted
- D.Z. Balike, Existence results for a biofilm free-boundary problem with dominant detachment. Preprint available here
- D.Z. Balike, Long-Time Behavior Analysis of a Hyperbolic-Parabolic Free Boundary Problem in Biofilm Dynamics. Preprint here
- D.Z. Balike, M.R. Mattei, V. Deluchat, V. Luongo, L. Frunzo, Mathematical modeling of trace-metal precipitation in biofilms. Preprint here
- D.Z. Balike, L. Frunzo, M.R. Mattei, F. Russo, Existence and uniqueness of solution to a free boundary problem for biofilm growth, Preprint here
- D.Z. Balike, M. R. Mattei, V. Deluchat, L. Frunzo, A review of numerical methods for biofilm models. Preprint here
In preparation
- D.Z. Balike, Maria R. Mattei, A. Tenore, L. Frunzo & I. Klapper, Dynamics and Control of Subaerial Biofilms Ready for submission
- D.Z. Balike & Maria R. Mattei, Existence and stability of travelling wave of a free boundary problem Ready for submission
- DZ Balike, Control design and stabilization of an hyperbolic-parabolic free boundary problems modelling biofilms
Selected talks & schools
- 18–23 June 2023 — BIOMATH 2023, Pomorie, Bulgaria.
- 19–21 April 2023 — IMAB23, Porto, Portugal.
- 4–8 July 2022 — Biofilms workshop, Naples, Italy.
- 14 Oct 2022 — Journées doctorales IMPEO, Limoges, France.
- 30 May–3 June 2022 — MMSEOR2022, Palermo, Italy.
- 4–8 April 2022 — Hausdorff school 'Diffusive systems, Part II'.
- 3–4 Nov 2021 — Nonlinear PDEs workshop, Salerno.
- 12–16 July 2021 — Summer school, University of Barcelona.
Career & Employment
Part-time Lecturer — ISP/Bukavu, DR Congo
Invited Lecturer — University of Goma, DR Congo
Postdoctoral researcher — University of Naples Federico II, Italy
Topic: Spectral reflectance signature of colored subaerial biofilms. Supervisor: Prof. Maria Rosaria Mattei
Full-time Teaching assistant — ISP/Bukavu, DR Congo
Invited Teaching assistant — ISP/Kaziba, DR Congo
Invited Teaching assistant — ISP/Kamituga, DR Congo
High school mathematics teacher — Ecole d'Application de l'ISP/Bukavu, DR Congo
Primary school teacher — Ecole primaire Tutimize, Kabare, DR Congo
Skills
Languages: French, English, Swahili, Shi (strong); Italian, Lingala (medium).
Programming: Matlab, Python (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, NumPy/SciPy, XGBoost), R.
Tools: LaTeX, LibreOffice, Microsoft Word.
Awards
Gallery
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