• Michael Huber

Dr. Michael Huber

Associate Professor of Mathematics

Education

Contact Information

Professional Background:

I joined the faculty at Muhlenberg College in July 2006. Before that, I taught for a total of nine years at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Teaching Activities:

I enjoy teaching applied mathematics courses at all levels from Introductory Statistics, Calculus I and Calculus II to elective courses in Differential Equations and Mathematical Modeling. Over the past three years I have guided students in DANA independent study courses in both sabermetrics (the study of baseball statistics) and nonlinear dynamical systems.

Current Research:

I am primarily interested in (1) applying mathematics to solve interesting problems, (2) the statistics of baseball, and (3) teaching differential equations and mathematical modeling. I like to use singular value decomposition techniques to make photo mosaic images, and I've sponsored several undergraduate research projects in this field. I have written and presented papers on mathematical modeling, teaching mathematics using technology, and assessment.

With Gabriel Costa and John T. Saccoman, I have written Understanding Sabermetrics (2008), an introduction into the science of baseball statistics. We have just completed a companion book, Practicing Sabermetrics. Look for it in late 2009. I enjoy studying the sport of baseball and developing statistics to model rare baseball events (such as hitting for the cycle, pitching a no-hit game, or turning a triple play). I have a few more rare events that I am modeling as well.

I have also written Mythematics: Solving the Twelve Labors of Hercules, (Princeton University Press, 2009), which provides the reader opportunities to solve the tasks which Hercules had to perform, and West Point's Field of Dreams: Major League Baseball at Doubleday Field (Vermont Heritage Press, 2004), which outlines exhibition games played by Major League teams (Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, and others) against the cadets of West Point from 1914 through 1985.

In August 2007, the NSF/DUE funded Phase II of the C*ODE*E grant for four years. In this phase, C*ODE*E — the Consortium of Ordinary Differential Equations Educators — will implement a comprehensive website that will build on the previous accomplishments of the Consortium (Phase I), which was funded from 1992 through 1997. I am part of the research team and I have been writing Interdisciplinary Lively Applications Projects (ILAPs) for C*ODE*E, creating applied mathematics problems involving ODEs which have a context in other disciplines.

In March 2009, a three-year grant for faculty development in mathematics education was approved by the NSF. I am part of this group with goals to export faculty development techniques to mathematics departments across the country.

The Omar Nelson Bradley Research Fellowships in Mathematics

I am the Chair of the Omar Nelson Bradley Fellowships Committee. The Omar Nelson Bradley Foundation has authorized fellowships for ten U.S. Army officers in the study of the Mathematical Sciences, to be awarded annually. For more information, click Bradley.

Personal Activities:

My hobbies include spending time with my family, researching my family's genealogy (back to 1440!), and puttering around in the garden. I also enjoy going to baseball or volleyball games, to cheer for Muhlenberg (Go Mules!) or a few baseball teams (college and pro). If I'm not in the office, you might find me at home relaxing on the deck or at the photo store printing pictures of my grand-daughter Riley.