With the approval of Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, the Institute of Mathematics of Nanjing Normal University was inaugurated in November 1993, as the supporting unit of division level in the department of Mathematics. Professor Huaihui Chen was the founding director of the institute. Professor Yongzhong Song is the director in charge of institute at present. The Institute of Mathematics has made great contributions to the construction and development of the mathematical discipline in NNU. In 1998, the institute was entitled as a key research institute in NNU.

    At present, the institute has the following main research fields: number theory, algebra, topology, differential geometry, theory of functions, functional analysis, dynamical system, numerical algebra and parallel computing, optimization theory and application, numerical methods for partial differential equations, computational mechanics, ordinary differential equation and application, partial differential equation and nonlinear analysis, graph theory and combinatorial design, control theory and application, the theory of limit and actuarial science, Stochastic process and application in finance, mathematical statistics and application, research on curriculum and teaching theory, etc.

    The institute of mathematics has implemented a rolling-type employment system. All employers, from full-time research faculty to postdocs, sign appointment contracts. The institute also invites domestic and foreign visiting scholars. So far, it has established a team of both world-renowned academic leaders and promising young scholars. Currently, there are 17 ongoing vertical funding programs of various types, with a total funding amount of 3.29 million yuan. These programs consist of 1 sub-item of the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China, 8 NSFC general programs, 2 NSFC youth programs, 2 Tianyuan programs, 2 doctoral scientific fund projects of the Ministry of Education for doctoral supervisors, 1 project for new teachers, and 2 projects from the Education Department of Jiangsu province.  

    The institute of mathematics has practiced a system under which directors assume full responsibility. There are one director and two vice directors. Daily work is hosted and carried out by the executive vice director. In order to strengthen the communication and cooperation among faculty, the institute holds colloquiums biweekly on Wednesday afternoons since 2011, and also encourages other academic activities.