Four CS and Math Double Majors Honored with Inaugural Grant Family Award

The University of Maryland’s Department of Computer Science named four undergraduates as the first recipients of the Grant Family Outstanding Achievement Undergraduate Student Award in Computer Science and Mathematics. Julia Chen, Minsi Hu, Jacob Lane and Akshay Trivedi were recognized for excelling in their work at the intersection of these disciplines.

The award, established by Adjunct Professor of Computer Science John Grant, recognizes graduating seniors who pursue double majors in computer science and mathematics. Grant, who has taught in both departments for over 50 years, created the award to highlight the synergy between these fields and the determination of students working across them.

“This award recognizes the exceptional achievements of our students and underscores the importance of these interconnected fields,” said Department Chair Matthias Zwicker, who holds the Elizabeth Iribe Chair for Innovation and the Phillip H. and Catherine C. Horvitz Professorship. “The four inaugural winners have set a standard of excellence and curiosity that will guide and inspire future recipients.”

Julia Chen:

Chen’s decision to study mathematics alongside computer science began when she enrolled in math classes as part of her computer science major requirements.

“I didn’t enter college expecting that I would study math, but as I took a few math classes for my CS major, I found the problem-solving and abstract concepts in math to be incredibly satisfying to learn,” Chen said. “Soon, what started as simply fulfilling requirements turned into a math minor, which eventually turned into a full additional major, as I kept wanting to explore just a little more and gain a more well-rounded education.”

Chen sees a growing role for computer science and mathematics in shaping future scientific research.

“Computer science and mathematics have provided and will continue to provide us with the tools and methods that form the foundation of scientific research,” she said. “As the two fields continue to advance and evolve, we will find new ways to collect, process and extract insights from vast amounts of data, ultimately enabling scientific research on entirely new scales.”

Chen said receiving the Grant Family Award was a moment of encouragement.

“I am so incredibly grateful to receive the award,” she said. “It feels special to be selected as one of its first recipients, and I hope I can live up to the recognition.”

Minsi Hu:

For Hu, the link between computer science and mathematics has been clear since early in his academic journey.

“I've always been drawn to the beauty of how computer science and mathematics are so deeply intertwined with one another,” Hu said. “Learning about and understanding one subject boosts my appreciation and passion for studying the other.”

He said that the interplay between these subjects became evident in his coursework.

“Every semester I've been able to draw parallels between what I'm learning in my mathematics and computer science courses, whether it's machine learning with numerical analysis, computer vision with linear algebra or artificial intelligence with statistical methods,” Hu said.

He expects that these connections will remain important in future research.

“Both computer science and mathematics will be instrumental in influencing the future of scientific research,” he said. “We've seen time and time again, through the recent AI boom and quantum computing, how computer science and mathematics continue to influence and build upon each other.”

Winning the award, Hu said, motivated him to continue his studies in both areas.

“Winning the Grant Family Award has been both a surprise and an honor, inspiring me to further pursue depth in knowledge in both computer science and mathematics even after I graduate,” he said. “I’m sure that if I don’t stop learning, one day I’ll be able to contribute to and make my mark on the computer science and mathematics world.”

Jacob Lane:

Lane first developed an interest in computer science during his high school years.

“I discovered my passion for computer science in high school when I learned to code by making games,” Lane said. “I quickly discovered that I enjoyed solving problems with code, and so I decided to pursue computer science at the University of Maryland.”

He said his interest in math grew from his initial exposure to the subject through required classes.

“When I began to take math classes here, I found an equal passion for solving problems in math, which led me to my double major,” he said.

Lane said he is particularly interested in how advances in emerging technologies will rely on the intersection of both fields.

“As far as research, I’m very excited to see how fields like machine learning and quantum computing advance in the coming years, especially after having the opportunity to take courses on these subjects at UMD,” Lane said.

Lane expressed appreciation for the individuals who supported him throughout his studies and helped him earn the award.

“I’m honored to receive the award, and I’m grateful to the professors, TAs and advisors who helped me reach this point as well as to my family and friends for their support,” he said.

Akshay Trivedi:

Trivedi said he views computer science and mathematics as closely linked in theory and application.

“To me, CS and math are two sides of the same coin, so I love both equally,” he said. “When it comes to problem-solving, both fields are very similar in nature: proving theorems in math and writing programs in CS are more related than one might think.”

He also noted the importance of the overlap between the two fields in modern research areas.

“Furthermore, many important fields of study today—such as cryptography and machine learning—heavily rely on both,” Trivedi said.

Looking ahead, Trivedi said he expects the connection between computer science and mathematics to deepen.

“I believe both CS and math will continue becoming more intertwined,” he said. “Excelling academically or professionally in either field will increasingly require a strong understanding of the other.”

Receiving the award, Trivedi said, reinforced the value of studying both disciplines together.

“I am honored and appreciative that my hard work over the past three years has been recognized,” he said. “Seeing that UMD values the importance of pairing CS with math makes me proud to have studied here. I am hopeful that future UMD students will also see the appeal in studying both fields together.”

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications