Matthew Becker (M.S. ’17, Ph.D. ’18, applied mathematics & statistics, and scientific computation) published a math-infused thriller novel.

A discreetly placed pi symbol. A code composed of Fibonacci numbers. A cryptic reference to Fermat’s last theorem. To a mathematically trained eye, Matthew Becker’s thriller novel, “Run,” is full of clues that could help astute readers figure out the killer. For everyone else—well, you might just have to keep reading.

“A book that makes you want to keep going—that's really all I wanted,” Becker said of his goal in writing “Run.”

A voracious reader of mystery novels, Becker also holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in applied mathematics & statistics, and scientific computation from the University of Maryland. So it’s perhaps no surprise that his first published novel mentions a posteriori probabilities and Bayes’ theorem, with plenty of other mathematical references in between. 

Set in the Washington, D.C. area, the plot of “Run” follows Veronica Walsh, a math professor at Georgetown University who disappears after sending her husband, Ben, a political staffer, an unusual text: “I love you. I just need you to know that.” As Ben searches for signs of his wife, he gets pulled into two murder investigations and starts to question how much he actually knows about the woman he’s married to. 

Becker is happy with the reception that “Run” has received since its launch on September 24, 2024. As of November, “Run” had 4.1 stars on Goodreads and 4.2 stars on Amazon with more than 150 ratings on each platform.

“I'm trying not to be religious about checking ratings, but also I really like numbers,” Becker said with a laugh. “If I see a 2-star rating, I'm not personally offended, but I think, ‘Oh, that brings the average down.’”

Readers can expect to see a little more math and a lot more mystery when Becker’s sequel to “Run,” titled “Don’t Look Down,” is published on January 14, 2025. A third and final installment is planned for release in the spring. Even though Becker always loved reading murder mysteries, he didn’t dream of writing them.

Instead, Becker wanted to be an applied mathematician. He decided to come to UMD after hearing Department of Mathematics Chair Doron Levy speak at a conference about mathematical biology’s applications in cancer research.

“It was so interesting and so engaging,” Becker said, “and he’s the main reason that I wanted to come here.”

For his dissertation, Becker modeled the growth of cancer tumors and the connections to multi-drug resistance.

After graduating from UMD in 2018, Becker landed a job as a mathematician at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), where he worked on satellite tracking in the air and missile defense sector. During the pandemic, he switched tracks and joined a larger national effort to determine demand for COVID test kits.

“APL inherited a model for test kit demand in the country that was just 51 tabs of an Excel spreadsheet, all interconnected, with no notes,” Becker said. “It was horrible, so my value added was taking that and creating a semi-automated Python script.”

That project and similar efforts across the country helped the U.S. government figure out how many free test kits to mail to households at a time when demand far outstripped supply. 

Becker left APL when his wife, Sarah, a diplomat and fellow UMD alum (M.A. ’15, public policy), received her first assignment in the U.S. Foreign Service: a two-year stint in Uzbekistan. He welcomed the opportunity with open arms and started learning Russian alongside his wife. Together with their one-year-old daughter, they moved to the nation’s capital, Tashkent, in 2022.

After acclimating to their new environment, Becker started tutoring middle and high school students—mostly the children of other diplomats—in math.

“Word-of-mouth spread quickly through the diplomatic community that there's a guy who has a lot of free time and has a Ph.D. in applied math,” Becker said.

Becker also revisited his goal of becoming a published author, a pursuit he started years earlier while still living in the U.S. He finished writing “Run” in 2020 and pitched it to plenty of agents without much success.

“I got rejected by 125 agents,” Becker said. “One agent told me that my plot was far too convoluted, and on the same day, a different agent rejected working with me because my plot was too straightforward.”

Becker’s big break came after moving to Uzbekistan and learning that Aethon Books, a publisher that specializes in science fiction and fantasy, was looking for political thrillers. He submitted the first 50 pages of “Run” and received a positive response within 48 hours. By the end of the week he had received and accepted a three-book deal, and he ultimately secured a contract with a literary agent.

For those familiar with the thriller genre, Becker describes his writing style as a cross between two of his favorite authors.

“Without meaning to sound too hubristic, because at this point, I'm just some guy, I think of myself as sort of in-between Harlan Coben and David Baldacci,” he said. “That's the niche I'm trying to carve out.”

With one book under his belt and two more on the way, Becker is excited to see what his future as an author holds. After finishing his current series, he hopes his publisher will pick up another book he wrote years earlier about a serial killer. The plot is inspired by the famous ghost stories of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, where Becker lived for years while attending UMD.

In the meantime, Becker is focused on being a full-time dad to his two daughters, the youngest of which arrived in March. He is currently back in the U.S. but gearing up for another international move to Nicaragua in July 2025 for his wife’s second assignment, adding that he welcomes the new personal and professional challenge.

“I'm excited, and I love this adventure,” Becker said. “I'm fully on board, and I’ll follow wherever it leads.”

Written by Emily Nunez

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.

For Susan Murphy (B.S. ’75, mathematics), the years she spent as an undergraduate at the University of Maryland made an unforgettable impact.

“Maryland provided me with an excellent educational foundation and then a successful, lucrative and very diversified career,” Murphy said. “That wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have that education.”

Nearly 50 years later, Murphy started writing the next chapter in her UMD story, with the hope of giving others the same kind of academic opportunity she had years ago.

“I tell you what,” she said, “it’s probably one of the best things I ever did.”

It all started one summer day in 2020 when Murphy, now retired and living in South Carolina, received the latest edition of Odyssey, the annual magazine published by UMD’s College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences (CMNS).

“I am a lifetime alumni member, and I get all these publications from the university,” Murphy explained. “And when I started reading Odyssey, the thing that caught my attention was the very back page of that glossy publication.”

What Murphy happened to see on the back page was an advertisement promoting the Herbert Hauptman Endowed Graduate Fellowship Program, which was established by a mathematics alum’s daughter to honor her late father’s memory. Murphy was immediately inspired.

“You know I looked at that and I said, ‘Why not?” she recalled. “I was very fortunate to get an excellent foundation at Maryland, and when I saw that story, I thought, you know what? I think I want to be a philanthropist, and I want to give back to help others who weren’t as fortunate as I was.”

Murphy soon contacted CMNS Assistant Dean for Development Megan Carnell, and with a generous gift, she established the Susan E. Murphy B.S. ’75 Maryland Promise Scholarship. The scholarship supports undergraduates from Maryland and Washington, D.C., who demonstrate exceptional leadership and academic potential, providing them with financial, mentoring and networking opportunities. Her gift was matched by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation as part of its Building Together investment in the university.

“Helping students who need that help, this was something I really wanted to do, and it has been a very rewarding endeavor for me,” Murphy explained.

Inspired by mathematics

As an honor student excelling in math at Dulaney High School in Timonium, Maryland, Murphy always saw UMD as part of her plan for the future. From the day she arrived on campus, everything about her college experience—from living in the Centreville dorm to the programs and people that were part of her major in mathematics—was just what she’d been hoping for. 

“My college experience was fantastic. Both educationally and socially,” Murphy recalled.

All my professors were great. The other thing I really remember is that I was so impressed with the graduate students. You would go to your lectures and have your classes and then you’d go to these sessions with graduate students, and there were a couple in there that really made an impression on me.”

Murphy’s studies in mathematics and the other classes she took to broaden her skill set provided a strong foundation for the future.

“After a year or two, I realized I didn’t want to be a math teacher, so I tried to map out my curriculum so I was able to get a minor in computer science,” Murphy explained. “The computer science-math combo was really what got me off to a positive start after I graduated.”

Murphy’s first job took her to Bendix in Columbia, Maryland, where she worked as a contractor for NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.

“I worked with a lady who was a Ph.D., and quite often we’d get on the van to go to Goddard, and we plotted the satellites,” Murphy recalled. “That kind of knowledge was a little bit above my head, but it was really interesting. Every time a scientist plotted a path for a satellite, a book was written, and I think there were two books where I was mentioned as a contributor.”

Ready for a new challenge, Murphy moved on to Westinghouse, which later became Northrop Grumman, where for the next 35 years she took on a variety of roles, from software programming to business to management. For Murphy, every new position was an opportunity to grow.

“My whole career wasn’t technical. I moved to the business side of the house, and I jumped around in different financial capacities and moved into management for a while,” she explained. “When I would change jobs to a totally different field they would say, ‘There’s your desk, figure it out.’ And that’s what I did. It was kind of self-education—it’s really interesting to be able to get through the muddy waters yourself, to have the self-development to be able to do that.”

Staying connected to UMD

Throughout her career and after she retired in 2012 and moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Murphy stayed connected to people and events at Maryland through the university publications and glossy magazines that showed up regularly in her mailbox. But when she launched her Maryland Promise Program scholarship, that UMD connection began to feel much more personal—especially in 2023 when the scholarship named its first recipient—public health science major Taylynn Taylor.

“They sent me a letter that Taylynn had written to me. It was just very emotional, made me very happy and even made me cry,” Murphy said. “It just made me feel like I made a difference in somebody’s life.”

In her thank-you letter, Taylor shared her passion for science, calling the scholarship a blessing.

“I knew in my junior year of high school that I wanted to go to a school that would support my research and curiosity, and help to develop my interests,” Taylor wrote. “What I didn't know was that by going to Maryland I would also get support outside of the classroom and office hours. To be supported by your organization both in and out of academic pursuits is truly amazing, and I just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

On November 8, 2024, Murphy and others who have made generous gifts to CMNS were honored at the CMNS Dean’s Circle Dinner & Induction Ceremony. For Murphy, being able to help students like Taylor realize their dreams means more than she could ever have imagined. 

“It means everything,” Murphy said. “I was able to make a difference for someone who is less fortunate than me, and Taylynn seems like she’s a very, very smart young lady. She’s in the sciences, and if that’s where her heart leads her and that’s what she wants to do, then God bless her, and I’m glad I can make that happen for her. I hope other alums will be inspired to do the same.”

Starting Spring 2025, the Grant Family Outstanding Achievement Undergraduate Student Award will recognize graduating seniors excelling in both fields.

The University of Maryland will launch the Grant Family Outstanding Achievement Undergraduate Student Award in Computer Science and Mathematics in Spring 2025 to honor exceptional graduating seniors excelling in both fields. Established by computer science Adjunct Professor John Grant, the award recognizes undergraduate students pursuing double majors in these interconnected disciplines. Grant has been a faculty member in both mathematics and computer science departments for over 50 years. 

All majors conferred by the Department of Computer Science are eligible for the award, which will be presented to graduating seniors who are also mathematics double majors. Preference will be given to students with the highest GPA.    

Grant, who has dedicated much of his career to teaching and research in both fields, explained his motivation for establishing the award.

“Computer science and mathematics are deeply interrelated fields,” he said. “Mathematics provides a foundation for much of computer science, and the tools of computer science are increasingly used in mathematical work. Students who pursue both fields demonstrate an extraordinary ability to master the complexities of these disciplines.”

The award also reflects Grant’s appreciation for the university, where he has spent decades contributing to the academic development of students. He sees the award as a way to give back to an institution that has been a central part of his professional life.

“I wanted to do something to show my gratitude to UMD. This award is a way to highlight the strength of these departments and the outstanding students they produce,” he added.

The award, which reflects Grant’s decades-long connection to the university, will be overseen by the computer science and mathematics departments. 

Matthias Zwicker, chair of the Department of Computer Science, praised the award's significance.

“The award is a powerful testament to the importance of interdisciplinary education,” said Zwicker, who holds the Elizabeth Iribe Chair for Innovation and the Phillip H. and Catherine C. Horvitz Professorship in Computer Science. “Computer science has increasingly become a field that relies on mathematical rigor to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. Recognizing students who excel in both disciplines sends a strong message about the value of these fields and equips our graduates to tackle challenges in artificial intelligence, cryptography, data science and beyond.”

Doron Levy, chair of the Department of Mathematics, echoed Zwicker’s sentiments and highlighted the collaborative nature of the award.

“This award underscores the connections between the two disciplines that drive innovation in today’s world," Levy shared. “It is the first award in our institution that recognizes students who specialize in both areas. By recognizing these students, the award not only celebrates their hard work but also highlights the interdisciplinary collaborations that are essential for solving complex problems.”

Moving forward, Grant believes the award will reflect UMD’s dedication to celebrating exceptional student achievement.  

“I don't know of any university that has such an award. It will be something special to Maryland,” he said. “I hope this recognition will not only celebrate outstanding students but also motivate others to pursue excellence in these fields.” 

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications 

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