My own attitude, which I share with many of my colleagues, is simply that mathematics is a language. Like English, or Latin, or Chinese, there are certain concepts for which mathematics is particularly well suited: it would be as foolish to attempt to write a love poem in the language of mathematics as to prove the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra using the English language.
-R.L.E. Schwarzenberger
Department of Mathematics, Iowa State University
Short Biography
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Applied Mathematics at Iowa State University, where I work with Dr. Claus Kadelka on understanding how human behavior shapes the spread of infectious diseases. My research combines mathematical modeling, network science, and computational tools, and I am fortunate to collaborate with researchers from institutions such as the University of Virginia and New Mexico Tech.
I am honored to be a recipient of the Simons Dissertation Fellowship in Mathematics (2025–2027), the Wolfe Graduate Research Fellowship (Summer 2025), and the Iowa State University Teaching Excellence Award. Before coming to Iowa State, I completed my B.S. and M.S. in Mathematics at the University of Dhaka, where my research journey began under the mentorship of Professor Dr. Md. Kamrujjaman. I was also awarded the National Science & Technology Fellowship from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangladesh, in 2019.
Beyond research, I am deeply passionate about teaching and mentoring. When I lead a class, I aim to create a welcoming and intellectually engaging space where students feel inspired to explore mathematics. I believe in lifelong learning, and I continuously seek new mathematical tools and ideas to broaden my perspective.
Do you know how many people die from hunger every minute? Yes—it’s shocking.
So please, be gentle with your resources, your food, the people around you, and with this planet we all share. Be grateful for what you have.
And let’s work together to build a better, kinder world for our children.
Some sample works
© Md Shahriar Mahmud
Email: prism.shahriar@gmail.com
Email: msmahmud@iastate.edu
Phone: +1 (515) 815-4570