Cara Monical
What is your thesis area?
Algebraic combinatorics, particularly Schubert calculus.
Why did you choose the University of Illinois for Graduate School?
I was unsure of what area I wanted to go into and Illinois had a large enough program that I had different options to explore. Additionally, when I visited, the people in the department just felt like my people. The students were supportive of each other and seemed happy to be there.
Any special activities during graduate school?
I have been regularly involved with our student chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics which holds events to support graduate students as well as runs outreach events in the community. After a few summers spent on campus working on my research, I am currently doing an internship at Sandia National Laboratories. I regularly teach in the merit program which gives me a lot of control over my classroom and close interactions with my students.
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana-Champaign?
It's an extremely livable city, which is perfect for grad school. There is enough to do to keep you entertained when you aren't working, but not so much that you are distracted all the time. Pretty much everything is convenient, and the cost of living means you have options in what kind of lifestyle you want.
William Balderrama
What is your thesis area? Algebraic topology.
Why did you choose the University of Illinois for Graduate School?
I was originally drawn to Illinois because of the size of the department and resulting diversity of the research done here. When I visited, the departmental community seemed to be very friendly and the city seemed to be pleasant, and those initial impressions have turned out to be accurate.
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana-Champaign?
I like how the city manages to be compact but not cramped. There are a number of good restaurants near the math department, and since the city has a good bus system it's easy to get just about anywhere even without a car. Since I moved here from California, everybody warned me about the winter, but the seasons here are beautiful. The mathematics library here is incredible, which is a lifesaver when needing an older or more obscure reference.
Daan Michiels
What is your thesis area?
My thesis area is Poisson geometry. I study the intersection of foliation theory, symplectic geometry and Lie theory.
Why did you choose the University of Illinois for Graduate School?
When I asked my master thesis advisor to suggest places for a PhD program, he recommended the University of Illinois. A collaborator of his, Rui Fernandes, just moved here, and would make a good PhD advisor. Turns out he does!
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana-Champaign?
I like our math library. Also, I've enjoyed getting to know the Midwest. People are welcoming, and it's easy to fit in.
Any special activities during graduate school?
The Heidelberg Laureate Forum (HLF) was great. It is not often that you get to meet so many great names (Fields, Abel and Turing laureates), and I particularly enjoyed getting to know the other young researchers. Each and every one of them was passionate about what they did and had interesting things to share.
Iftikhar Ahmed
What is your thesis area?
Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases
Why did you choose the University of Illinois for Graduate School?
Illinois was at the top of the list, and my university (COMSATS) in Pakistan sponsored me for the MS program here. I am happy with my decision. I was interested in Applied Mathematics, especially Differential Equations, and the faculty at Illinois are strong in this field. Dr. Zoi Rapti gave a talk for first year student in Math 499, and I decided that I wanted to work with her in BioMathematics.
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana- Champaign?
Urbana-Champaign is a university town and people are really nice and cooperative. I am lucky that I am in Illinois and among top researchers.
Yun Shi
What is your thesis area?
My thesis area is Algebraic Geometry, in particular the Donaldson-Thomas and Pandharipande-Thomas theories, which count the number of curves on a Calabi-Yau 3-fold.
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana-Champaign?
I like this small and convenient town. A lot of my friends live close to campus, and we gather together to talk about math or do some other activities together frequently. I like our math library and the Urbana City library, where I learn a lot of interesting math by myself and with friends. At the Campus Recreational Center I can do every kind of sport I like. The Krannert Center for Performing Arts is a great place for enjoying performances during weekends.
Any special activities during graduate school?
We have a wide range of student seminars, where we discuss the math we learned by ourselves, or in our research; or we read a book or paper together.
Ashish Kumar Pandey
What is your thesis area?
Stability problems for nonlinear dispersive waves. Such waves are ubiquitous in nature, and for my thesis, I am focusing on the problem of modulational stability of water waves.
Why did you choose the University of Illinois for Graduate School?
The diversity in the department: more than 70 faculty members are working in almost every possible area of mathematics. I was not sure about my area of research when I joined Illinois, but in my first year I took graduate level courses in several areas and ended up working in PDEs.
Any special activities during graduate school?
I am writing two papers already, after two years in the PhD program. The second is "A good model for water waves."
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana-Champaign?
Urbana-Champaign is one of the best college towns I have been to. I like the university libraries as well as the public city libraries. Plus the Activities and Recreation Center at Illinois, which has a wide-array of sports facilities and is a great place to have fun after doing math all day.
Vanessa Rivera-Quiñones
What is your thesis area?
Dynamical systems in the context of disease ecology.
Why did you choose the University of Illinois for Graduate School?
I wanted to be in a program that cares for student success and provides a friendly environment for its students.
Any special activities during graduate school?
Through the local chapter of the Association of Women in Mathematics, I have volunteered for the Sonia Math Day for Girls and the GEMS workshops where we ran activities for middle school and high school girls to encourage them to pursue mathematics as a career. I was also the main coordinator for the Women in Math Seminar where members can practice prelim talks and other topics of interest.
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana-Champaign?
I love the fact that there are many activities within and outside the department that not only allow for academic growth but personal growth as well.
Anton Bernshteyn
What is your thesis area?
Combinatorics and descriptive set theory.
Why you chose the University of Illinois for Graduate School?
I believe that it is crucial for a mathematician to be exposed to disparate areas of mathematics, and the mathematics department at Illinois is large and diverse, making it possible to find experts working in virtually any area.
Something you like about living or studying in Urbana-Champaign?
Most of my life I lived in a large city, and so I was slightly worried about living in a smaller place. Thankfully, after moving to Champaign I quickly found I had no reason to be concerned. The city offers many excellent amenities, especially the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, which has several large theaters and an exquisite concert hall regularly hosting performances by top tier musicians. Also, the town is friendly to pedestrians (and bicyclists. I was happy to find out I can get virtually anywhere by foot!
Academically, I found what I was looking for: a broad variety of courses and seminars and a large and friendly community of people who are willing to share their knowledge of mathematics and fascination about it. And the Department of Mathematics occupies Altgeld Hall, the prettiest building on campus.
Updated 7/18/17