Maths students at the University of Sheffield have been sharing their research findings at conferences and in journals that showcase undergraduates’ work.
Each summer, many students in the School of Mathematics and Statistics complete paid internships where they work with Sheffield mathematicians on new research into unsolved mathematical problems.
This semester, a number of Sheffield maths students who completed internships last summer, were selected to present their work at conferences.
Mathematics MMath students Cameron Heather, Benjamin Andrews and Calum Hughes all spoke at the Institute of Mathematics’ undergraduate conference, Tomorrow's Mathematicians Today.
In addition Elisabetta Dixon, who is doing our Mathematics with Study Abroad degree, presented a poster to the London Mathematical Society’s Women in Mathematics conference. She worked with Professor Caitlin Buck and PhD student Bryony Moody on using mathematical models to date archaeological finds.
Elisabetta said: “This project was the perfect chance to explore what postgraduate research could be like. We got to explore the fun, independence and frustrations this sort of stuff has to offer, whilst knowing we were in the reassuring hands of friendly supervisors ready to help at any moment. I am so glad I seized the opportunity.”
As a result of his summer research internship, Benjamin co-authored a paper with Dr Jonathan Jordan, who supervised his project on preferential attachment graphs. The paper was recently accepted for publication by the prominent undergraduate research journal Involve.
He said: “The undergraduate research internship is a really good way to get a taste of what PhD research is like, as well as look further into a bit of maths you enjoy.”
Another research paper has been written by Mathematics MMath student Lydia Wren, who worked with Dr Alex Best on a very topical subject – the mathematical modelling of infectious disease.
Cameron, who worked with PhD student Richard Daniel on a cosmology project, said: "I really enjoyed my time on the internship. It was the first research project I have had the chance to do and it is a great taster of what's to come in fourth year maths and beyond! I definitely look forward to more research-led aspects of maths thanks to this opportunity."
Calum’s project focussed on simplicial sets and was supervised by another PhD student, James Brotherson. Calum said: “This project really helped me decide that I'd like to do a PhD in maths and it was a great way to get paid to learn some amazing stuff!”
Sheffield maths students have access to paid research opportunities through a number of schemes, including the School of Mathematics and Statistics Undergraduate Research Internship (UGRI), the Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), and the London Mathematical Society’s undergraduate research bursaries.
Both Cameron and Calum are planning to work on new research projects this summer. Cameron will be doing a mathematical physics project on cosmology as part of the Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience under the supervision of Professor Carsten van de Bruck, and Calum will work with Dr Dimitrios Roxanas on the dynamics of linear operators, thanks to funding from the London Mathematical Society.
Dimitrios, who oversees undergraduate research opportunities in the School of Mathematics and Statistics, said: “It has been very rewarding to witness the growth of our undergraduate research experience programme over the past few years. More and more of our undergraduate students engage with academic research and then go on to present their work at national and international conferences and scientific journals.
“Their achievements are a source of pride for the School, and they have inspired more students to participate in research activities. Involvement in such projects has directly guided many of our students towards postgraduate studies, and several alumni are now pursuing advanced degrees at top universities.
“I am particularly pleased that as a School we have improved the participation of female students and also given more opportunities to other traditionally underrepresented groups and students from disadvantaged backgrounds.”