UMD College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences News

THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Department of Mathematics News

December 2024

Message from the Chair

$Doron Levy$ Fall 2024 was a very active semester! We welcomed several new professors: Arka Adhikari (probability and mathematical physics), Uri Bader (algebra and dynamics), Andy Lawrie (partial differential equations), Ron Peled (probability and statistical mechanics) and Yun Yang (statistics). Our alum Shin Song (Ph.D. ’24) joined us as a lecturer, Brittani Flores joined the business office as a coordinator and Radu Balan replaced Howard Elman as the AMSC director.

Our department also underwent an external review. The committee provided excellent constructive suggestions that will assist us as we set course for the upcoming years. The committee’s report concluded with this statement: “The Brin Mathematics Research Center represents a monumental advance for the University of Maryland, with far-reaching implications for research, education, and societal impact. By fostering innovation and collaboration, the BMRC ensures that the university remains at the forefront of mathematical and interdisciplinary advancements for years to come.”

As we received this praise for the Brin MRC, we learned the sad news that Eugenia Brin passed away. A longtime supporter of our department and the university, Eugenia led a brave and amazing life. We are forever indebted to Eugenia and Michael Brin for their generosity. We mourn her passing. T

his newsletter includes many stories about our alumni, students, faculty and staff. Please reach out to us if you have news and stories you would like bring to our attention. The year 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Mathematics. We are planning a Fall 2025 event on campus, so stay tuned.

I would like to congratulate all of our winter graduates and wish our entire Math family Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

~Doron

FACULTY & STAFF NEWS

$(L-R) Uri Bader and Ron Peled$	$Adam Kanigowski$
Two Internationally Recognized Mathematicians Join the University of Maryland New Brin Endowed Professors Uri Bader and Ron Peled bring a wealth of experience and research to the department. READ MORE »	Adam Kanigowski Awarded European Mathematical Society Prize He is the first member of UMD’s Department of Mathematics to receive this prestigious award for young mathematicians. READ MORE »
$Lizhen Lin$	$Salihu Musa$
Demystifying AI’s Mathematical Magic Through Innovation and Mentorship Mathematics Professor Lizhen Lin works to understand the math behind artificial intelligence and machine learning while guiding the next generation of data scientists at UMD. READ MORE »	Spotlight on Mathematical Epidemiologist Salihu Musa Musa is developing models and data-driven maps that illustrate how factors such as climate change, seasonal variations and human behavior influence Lyme disease spread in Maryland and beyond. READ MORE »
$Anais Bardyn$	$Headshots of 4 visiting professors arranged in a grid and collaged onto a gold, abstract background.$
Meet Brin Mathematics Research Center Coordinator Anais Bardyn She joined the Department of Mathematics following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Geology. READ MORE »	Four Visiting Professors Join UMD’s Department of Mathematics Henri Berestycki, Zbegniew Blocki, Qëndrim Gashi and Carlangelo Liverani joined the department in fall 2024. READ MORE »

DEPARTMENT NEWS

$The Brin Family sitting on a couch. Eugenia Brin is on the far right.$	$The reverse of the Fields Medal, a golden coin with laurel leaves and a Latin inscription on it. The text reads, Congregati ex toto orbe mathematici ob scripta insignia tribvere.$
Eugenia Brin, Longtime Supporter of Science and Performing Arts at UMD, Dies The donor and her family funded research, fellowships, faculty positions and more. READ MORE »	Three Fields Medalists Visited UMD in Fall 2024 Alessio Figalli, Elon Lindenstrauss and Curtis McMullen participated in workshops and gave lectures in the Department of Mathematics. READ MORE »
$UMD mathematics Lecturer Todd Rowland leaning in to look a female high school student's laptop screen. Her laptop lid is covered with colorful stickers. Behind the pair is a glassboard full of equations. Credit: Mark Sherwood.$	$A golden terrapin shell with a laurel branch on each side$
UMD Hosts Inaugural Brin Maryland Mathematics Camp The two-week summer day camp brings strongly motivated high school students to College Park for lectures, problem-solving sessions and more. WATCH THE VIDEO »	Faculty Members, Alumni and Students Receive Awards Read more about the members of our community who have been honored recently for their outstanding contributions to the university and the field of mathematics. READ MORE »

STUDENT NEWS

$A composite photo of Luis Suarez doing different things in the same room: working on his laptop, reading a book, and teaching math at a blackboard with a group of students. Credit: Mark Sherwood.$	$The top 3 winners of the high school math competition, holding their certificates.$
Luis Suarez Shares His Philosophy of Math In the quest for truth and meaning, the mathematics Ph.D. student found an unexpected path at UMD. READ MORE »	UMD High School Math Competition Inspires New Generations of Maryland STEM Students Maryland and D.C. students compete annually for scholarships to UMD. READ MORE »
	$Zoe Chabria giving her presentation in front of a colorful title screen that says You Don't Have to Be a Magician to Use Magic Squares.$
Cracking Cryptography in the Classroom Mathematics, computer science, and electrical and computer engineering majors can take a cryptography class to learn how modern communications and transactions are kept secure. READ MORE »	Junior Zoe Chabria Awarded $10,000 Scholarship from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Chabria was recognized for her work in the Terrapin Teachers program and her commitment to mathematics education. READ MORE »
$A large group of faculty and students on the steps of Kirwin Hall with donors Carol Fullerton and James A. Yorke after celebrating the Fall 2024 Haptman Fellowship awardees.$
25 Ph.D. Students Named Herbert A. Hauptman Fellows for 2024-25 Donors Carol Fullerton and James A. Yorke met this year’s fellows at a luncheon in October. READ MORE »

ALUMNI & DONOR NEWS

$The cover of Matthew Becker's book, Run, shown as a physical book and on an iPad. The cover features a silhouette pf a woman running in the dark.$	$Susan Murphy$
Alum Makes Math Thrilling Matthew Becker (M.S. ’17, Ph.D. ’18, applied mathematics & statistics, and scientific computation) published a math-infused thriller novel. READ MORE »	‘One of the Best Things I Ever Did’ With her generous gift, Susan Murphy (B.S. ’75, mathematics) funded a Maryland Promise Program scholarship to provide students with financial, mentoring and networking opportunities. READ MORE »
$Adjunct Professor John Grant$
UMD Launches Award to Recognize Dual Majors in Mathematics and Computer Science Starting spring 2025, the Grant Family Outstanding Achievement Undergraduate Student Award will recognize graduating seniors excelling in both fields. READ MORE »

EVENTS

Mon.-Fri.

JAN27-31

Perspectives on Moduli in Algebraic Geometry
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Wed.

FEB12

Brin MRC Distinguished Lecture
Speaker: Albert Cohen, Sorbonne
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Mon.-Fri.

FEB24-28

Hamiltonian Dynamics at Maryland
LEARN MORE »

Mon.-Thurs.

MAR10-13

Geometric Approaches to the Local Langlands Program
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Thurs.

MAR13

Brin MRC Distinguished Lecture
Speaker: Harrison Zhou, Yale
LEARN MORE »

Sat.-Sun.

MAR29-30

Mid-Atlantic Seminar on Numbers (MASON-7)
LEARN MORE »

Wed.

APR2

Brin MRC Distinguished Lecture
Speaker: Chris Cosner, University of Miami
LEARN MORE »

Mon.-Wed.

APR7-9

Lorentzian, Affine, and Hyperbolic Differential Geometry–in Memory of Todd Drumm
LEARN MORE »

Mon.-Fri.

APR21-25

Geometry and Representation Theory Associated to G-Torsors on Curves
LEARN MORE »

Mon.-Fri.

MAY5-9

Weyl Laws Across Mathematics
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We'd Love to Hear From You!

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We are grateful to alumni and friends whose generosity supports current and future students. To learn more about how you can make a difference, please visit go.umd.edu/givetomath.

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Department of Mathematics / College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland William E. Kirwan Hall / 4176 Campus Drive / College Park, MD 20742 301.405.5047 / math@umd.edu