Gumel received B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Bayero University and Brunel University London, respectively. He was a Full Professor in the Department of Mathematics, University of Manitoba, before becoming Foudation Professor of Mathematics at Arizona State University in 2014. He uses mathematical theories and methodologies to gain insights into the qualitative behaviour of non-linear dynamical systems arising from the mathematical modelling of phenomena in the natural and engineering sciences, with emphasis on the transmission dynamics and control of emerging and re-emerging human diseases of public health and socio-economic interest. Gumel was elected Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in 2009. He was also elected Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science in February 2010. He received the 2009 Dr. Lindsay E. Nicolle Award for excellent paper published in the Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology. Professor Gumel has written over 150 peer-reviewed research , numerous book chapters and edited three books.
Books
Abba B. Gumel. Mathematics of Continuous and Discrete Dynamical Systems. Contemporary Mathematics Series, American Mathematical Society. Volume 618, 2014.
Abba B. Gumel and Suzanne Lenhart. Modeling Paradigms and Analysis of Disease Transmission Models. DIMACS Series in Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science. Volume 75. American Mathematical Society, 2010.
Abba B. Gumel, Carlos-Castillo-Chavez, Ronald E. Mickens and Dominic Clemence. Mathematical Studies on Human Disease Dynamics: Emerging Paradigms and Challenges. American Mathematical Society Contemporary Mathematics Series, Volume 410, 2006.
Promotion of biomedical sciences in Nigeria
In 2014, Gumel became one of eight US-based scientists who signed a memorandum of understanding with seven Nigerian universities aimed at helping them build world-class capacity in biomedical sciences research and pedagogy. He was appointed as an extraordinary Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Pretoria, South Africa for 2015-2018 and re-appointed for 2019-2021.
Awards and recognition
Appointed Founding Fellow, ASU-Santa Fe Institute Center for Biosocial Complex Systems.
Appointed Extraordinary Professor, Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
Merit Award for research excellence in 2011, given by the University of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association. Eight awards are given each year, under the research category, throughout the campus.
Merit Award for research excellence in 2010, given by the University of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association.
Merit Award for research excellence in 2008, given by the University of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association.
University of Manitoba award for Outstanding Outreach, December 2008.
Merit Award for research excellence in 2007, given by the University of Manitoba and the University of Manitoba Faculty Association.
Rh. Award for outstanding contributions to interdisciplinary scholarship and research, 2004. This is the highest research award given to junior faculty at the University of Manitoba.
Young African Mathematician Medal, given by the African Mathematical Union. This award is given to an African mathematician, under the age of 40, for research contribution and potential.