Four Rutgers mathematics professors are among 50 mathematical scientists from around the world named fellows of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) for 2014.

Jane Gilman
Jane Gilman

The society recognized the Rutgers professors, one from Newark and three from New Brunswick, for “outstanding contributions to the creation, exposition, advancement, communication, and utilization of mathematics.”

This is the second year that the AMS has recognized its most accomplished members with the rank of fellow. In its inaugural class of fellows last year, the society named 30 active and retired Rutgers professors from all three campuses.

Steven Ferry
Steven Ferry

This year’s fellows are Jane Gilman of Newark; and Steven Ferry, Xiaojun Huang, and Richard Lyons of New Brunswick.

"I was delighted to learn that three of my colleagues were among this year’s class of fellows,” said Simon Thomas, chair of the Department of Mathematics in the School of Arts and Sciences in New Brunswick. “They join 17 members of our department who were recognized last year. While only five percent of AMS members are fellows, more than a third of our tenured faculty have received this honor. This reflects the strength in depth of our department."

Xiaojun Huang
Xiaojun Huang

Ulrich Oertel, acting chair of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Newark, credits Gilman for establishing the department’s research capabilities while she served as chair from 1982 through 1990.

“It was not a research department before Jane led it,” he said. “By recruiting and hiring researchers, she turned the department around.”

The AMS cited Gilman “for contributions to topology and group theory, and for service to her department and the larger community.”  It cited Ferry “for contributions to controlled topology, and work on the Novikov conjecture.”

Richard Lyons
Richard Lyons

Huang was cited “for contributions to the study of several complex variables, and for service to the community.” And Lyons was credited “for contributions to the classification of the finite simple groups, including the discovery of one of the 26 sporadic finite simple groups.”

Founded in 1888 to further mathematical research and scholarship, the 30,000-member AMS fulfills its mission through programs and services that promote mathematical research and its uses, strengthen mathematical education, and foster awareness and appreciation of mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and everyday life.


Carl Blesch
732-932-7084 x616
cblesch@ucm.rutgers.edu