2025 Rudy Horne Memorial Fellowship Recipient: Nirab Hossain

The Department of Applied Mathematics is proud to announce that Nirab Hossain has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Rudy Horne Memorial Fellowship. Established in memory of Dr. Rudy Horne, this fellowship honors students who, “through their presence in the department, contribute to the diversity of the Department of Applied Mathematics and of the campus, and more generally, of the community of mathematicians.”

The Rudy Horne Memorial Fellowship serves as both recognition and inspiration. It celebrates students who embody Dr. Horne’s lifelong dedication to excellence, mentorship, and inclusion – values that continue to shape APPM’s vision for a more equitable mathematical community.

For Nirab, mathematics has always been more than a subject, it’s been a part of life. “My father was a maths teacher who used to teach me maths in the funniest ways possible; it started there,” he recalled. “I loved to solve mathematical problems from my childhood. It’s kind of my natural ability to do maths and computation.” That early spark has since grown into a deep curiosity about how mathematics connects with real-world systems. Today, Nirab’s research interests span mathematical neuroscience, cyber-physical security, and neural networks, fields that blend theory, computation, and tangible social impact.

Receiving the Rudy Horne Fellowship is, for Nirab, both a personal milestone and a professional turning point. “Personally, it affirms the value of the path I have taken from Dhaka to Boulder and the support I have received from mentors, peers, and communities along the way,” he said. “Professionally, it gives me the confidence and resources to fully immerse myself in graduate research and teaching. Additionally, this fellowship reminds me of Dr. Horne’s legacy of enhancing mathematical research opportunity.”

Nirab’s journey to graduate study in the United States has also shaped his perspective on inclusion and access in the mathematical sciences. “I believe inclusivity in applied mathematics requires both structural changes and cultural shifts,” he explained. “We need sustained programs that lower barriers for students from underrepresented backgrounds … through scholarships, mentorship, or bridge programs. Culturally, I would just like to see more international collaboration opportunities so that students from places like Bangladesh can connect with peers in the U.S.”

That vision, of a global and connected mathematical community, is one that deeply resonates with the spirit of the Rudy Horne Fellowship. Nirab’s story reflects both individual perseverance and a broader ideal: talent and curiosity know no borders, and mathematics grows richer when diverse experiences and perspectives come together.

The Department of Applied Mathematics extends its warmest congratulations to Nirab on this well-deserved honor. His passion for discovery, commitment to inclusivity, and international perspective exemplify the very qualities that the Rudy Horne Memorial Fellowship seeks to celebrate. We are excited to see the contributions he will continue to make – both to the department and to the evolving global community of applied mathematics.