Statistics graduate program director Lizhen Lin works to understand the math behind artificial intelligence and machine learning while guiding the next generation of data scientists at UMD.

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Deep within Kirwan Hall, Mathematics Professor Lizhen Lin is always hunting for patterns—but not the kind found in fabrics or wallpaper. Lin, who began her position as director of UMD’s statistics graduate program in July 2023, is on a quest to understand the hidden mathematical patterns that help artificial intelligence (AI) make sense of the world around us.

“Imagine data existing in a three-dimensional space, much like the world we live in,” Lin explained. “Sometimes, even though the data can appear three-dimensional, it might actually center around something simpler, like a circle, which is one-dimensional. Deep learning methods are particularly good at finding these simpler patterns within a lot of complex data. As a statistician, I want to understand the foundational mechanisms behind how modern AI can process these vast amounts of data so effectively.”

Lin’s research dives deep into AI’s mathematical DNA by studying the fundamental theories that support modern machine learning, combining geometry, statistics and deep learning theory. She specializes in analyzing data with geometric properties and develops sophisticated statistical models such as Bayesian models for analyzing these complex data. These complex models work much like human learning: starting with an initial belief and continuously updating it based on new evidence. Holistically, Lin’s work bridges traditional statistics and mathematics with modern real-world applications. 

As AI and machine learning continue to transform industries ranging from social media platforms to health care, Lin’s research provides crucial insights into how these systems work and how they can be improved through understanding the foundations behind AI and machine learning. 

“Lizhen is a global expert in her field with skills of great interest to those pursuing modern data science,” said Mathematics Chair and Professor Doron Levy. “Her arrival at UMD opens many opportunities for our graduate students, including collaborative research efforts both within our community and beyond.”  

Modernizing statistics at UMD

As Lin looks to the future of statistics and its role in the evolution of AI, she also looks to her past for inspiration on how to better prepare a new generation of statisticians for a rapidly changing world. 

“My love for math was always there, starting from when I was a young girl growing up in China years ago. Numbers always made sense to me,” she said. “No one pushed me to love puzzles and logic, but I would not have been able to get where I am, studying what I study now, without some much-needed support from the people around me throughout my journey.”

For Lin, many of the most pivotal moments in her life and academic career were triggered by encountering the right teacher or mentor at the right time.  

“When I was attending college in China, one of my female professors opened my eyes to the possibility of continuing graduate studies in the United States,” she said. “I would never have imagined such a great opportunity for myself, but her guidance at the time opened these doors I never realized existed.”

That encouragement and guidance set Lin on a path that took her from the University of Arizona for her Ph.D. to Duke University for postdoctoral work and to teaching positions at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Notre Dame before she landed at UMD in 2023. It’s the kind of experience she hopes to share with new generations of statistics students. 

“In mathematics, we often talk about building on foundational work,” Lin said. “It applies to artificial intelligence and its advancement, but it’s also true in mentorship. Every student who succeeds becomes a potential mentor for others, creating a network of support that only grows stronger over time.” 

Looking forward, Lin hopes to continue expanding and evolving the statistics graduate program at UMD. As director, she oversees the recruitment of Ph.D students and curriculum development, and she hopes to increase cross-disciplinary initiatives within the statistics program and the Department of Mathematics. 

She is currently contributing to the development of a new bachelor’s degree in artificial intelligence—a field she believes will only grow in importance. Lin’s own journey reflects the expanding appeal of computational fields and their potential to inspire new generations of scientists.

“Over the last few decades, so many students have wanted to get into STEM because of these developments in computer science, data science and AI. This is particularly true for women, a traditionally underrepresented population in the field,” she said. “I want to ensure that statisticians and data scientists here at UMD receive the support they need to push the boundaries of what’s possible in this rapidly changing field.” 

Written by Georgia Jiang

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.

The University of Maryland Department of Mathematics and Institute for Health Computing (UM-IHC) welcomed Salihu Musa as a research scientist in fall 2024.

Musa earned his Ph.D. in mathematical epidemiology at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where he explored transmission mechanisms in infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and various vector-borne diseases such as Zika, dengue and Ebola. 

Prior to joining the University of Maryland, he was a bioinformatician at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. There, he applied his expertise in epidemiological modeling to analyze large-scale datasets, advancing our understanding of disease spread, forecasting outbreaks, and examining how human behavior influences transmission patterns. Eager to expand his focus to additional disease areas, he chose to bring his talents to Maryland.

“Epidemiological modeling is essential for understanding and managing diseases,” Musa explained. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, it proved invaluable for predicting spread and guiding public health responses—insights that are just as critical for addressing other diseases.”

At Maryland, Musa is focused on advancing our understanding of Lyme disease transmission dynamics, leveraging his expertise to develop mathematical and statistical tools for robust data analysis. Musa’s approach leverages simulation-based inference for epidemiological dynamics and sophisticated geographic information systems to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of Lyme disease transmission. The visually compelling, data-driven maps he creates also illustrate how factors such as climate change, seasonal variations and human behavior influence Lyme disease spread. 

“Lyme disease is a significant public health challenge across the country,” Musa said. “Maryland ranks among the top 10 most affected states, per CDC data, and within Maryland, Montgomery County bears the highest burden, making this research especially relevant to our local community.”

Musa’s model-driven study generates real-time maps of Lyme disease cases in high-burden areas, which provide local public health agencies with a realistic estimate of disease burden in their jurisdiction, identify potential hot spots and offer insights into the effectiveness of intervention strategies. Citizens living in or visiting high-burden areas in the mid-Atlantic, Northeast and upper Midwest United States will also find the maps helpful because they will know when to minimize their exposure to ticks, according to Musa.

Working alongside Abba Gumel, who holds the Michael and Eugenia Brin Endowed Chair in Mathematics at UMCP, Musa seeks to improve Lyme disease management and control strategies not only within the United States but also on a global scale, providing tools to better mitigate infections and protect public health while considering the changing climate.

“Dr. Musa's work offers a cutting-edge, data-driven solution to one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time—quantifying and mitigating the impact of anthropogenic climate change on the distribution and burden of human diseases, such as Lyme disease,” Gumel said. “Dr. Musa's hybrid mechanistic-statistical model realistically assesses the population-level effectiveness of various control and mitigation measures against the vector and the disease. His research exemplifies the One Health approach, which holistically integrates human, animal and environmental health to address public health challenges.”

In the coming months and years, Musa and Gumel look forward to continued collaborations within the University of Maryland and in the surrounding BioHealth Capital Region.

“I’m incredibly drawn to this area—it’s an ideal environment for research with impressive resources and high-caliber researchers at the IHC,” Musa said. “Beyond that, we’re perfectly situated near other renowned research universities and key government agencies like the NIH and FDA, making it a prime location for collaboration and innovation.”

Written by Sarah Ellinwood

She joined the Department of Mathematics following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Geology.

Anais Bardyn joined the Brin Mathematics Research Center (Brin MRC) in May 2023 following a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Geology, saying she knew by that point that UMD was a great place to work.

Bardyn shared her experiences and insights managing and coordinating the activities that take place in the Brin MRC in an interview below, which has been edited for length and clarity.

What is your favorite thing about working in the Brin MRC?

Working in a research center! I enjoy supporting scientists interacting with each other and discussing their results by helping to organize activities such as workshops and summer schools.

Did you always think you’d work in academia?

Yes. I enjoyed teaching and doing my research during my Ph.D. in France. As a result, I always envisioned myself working in a similar environment. UMD was the first American university I visited and it had a great impact on me. It’s a beautiful campus with so many students; I feel lucky to be part of it.

What does your day-to-day look like in your job?

It varies a lot. At the Brin MRC, we organize on average a one-week workshop every two weeks. Prior to a workshop, I work on the overall planning: interacting with the organizers and the participants, sending invitation letters, booking the hotel, creating the poster and the schedule, placing catering orders, and much more. During and after a workshop, I coordinate catering and work to reimburse participants’ travel expenses. In addition to the workshops and summer schools, I manage the Brin MRC Distinguished Lectures and visitors to the Brin MRC throughout the year.

What do you like most about your job?

The variety of my responsibilities and the organization they require, the management of the Brin MRC, and the fact that the Brin MRC supports researchers from all over the world.

What is your favorite UMD memory?

Seeing students return to campus after the pandemic. I was able to come to UMD during the pandemic to do my research during my postdoc, and it was a very empty place without students.

What do you like to do outside work?

I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, doing yoga, cooking and working in our garden.