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Most PhD graduates across programmes and universities credit their mathematics degree for equipping them with some of the most sought-after soft skills of today: problem-solving, analytic reasoning, and critical thinking. While graduating mathematics PhD Vlassis Mastrantonis did cultivate these competencies at the University of Maryland, he found himself finessing other foundational skills as well.
“The three most valuable skills I’ve developed are reading, writing, and the ability to focus,” he says. “The first two may seem basic, but graduate school really reveals how much we struggle with them. To read and write well is to think clearly – you can’t write clearly if you don’t truly understand. But the most fundamental skill is to focus. I’ve learned it’s more about elimination than intention; the bored brain naturally seeks focus.”
Maryland’s Department of Mathematics offers three graduate programmes that harness these fundamental abilities to lead the way in rigorous mathematical innovation. The Mathematics, Statistics, and Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation (AMSC) programmes foster mathematical thinking with a holistic set of skills thanks to their effective combination of a wide range of core and specialised courses with embedded research opportunities.
It’s a pairing that’s served generations of graduate students well. In the last few years, the department has added another emphasis to this approach: innovation.
With the generous support of the Brin family, there’s been a dramatic increase in activity at the Brin Mathematics Research Centre. Here, mathematicians across the world come together for conferences and workshops on a broad range of research topics.
Mathematics professor and AMSC program director Radu Balan notes of the Brin Centre’s impact, “The Brin MRC brings a new level of interest to our department for colleagues outside our campus. This increases our visibility in the field and makes our department more appealing for top students and researchers interested in joining us.”
Graduate students across all three programs in the department are encouraged to attend Brin workshops to expand their learning beyond traditional coursework. “The Brin MRC provides extraordinary opportunities to start new collaborations, or to expand existing ones,” Dr. Balan observes. “External collaborators can be brought in as visitors for periods ranging from a few days to a few months, or even an entire year.”
The Department of Mathematics combine rigorous training with a collaborative environment and career-enhancing opportunities. Source: University of Maryland
Exceptional opportunities for study and research
To PhD candidate Weimin Jiang, the department is a dynamic ecosystem committed to supporting and inspiring graduate students. His research is on number theory, specifically on Langlands programme and he sees his thesis brimming with possibilities.
“I’m most excited about how vast and deep this branch of mathematics is, and how much it allows me to explore different areas in mathematics, like geometry, harmonic analysis, group theory, etc,” Jiang says. “I take a little piece of each to apply to my own research. The ability and the necessity to make (a little) connection between different realms of mathematics is fascinating and mesmerising. It’s hard and confusing 99% of the time, but that 1% of the time of the ‘eureka’ moments make me feel like it’s all worth it.”
The department ensures graduate students receive just as much support to pursue mathematical enrichment opportunities outside the university whether they be conferences, workshops, or summer schools. Students can apply for departmental travel funding regardless of their research area or seniority in the program. Such support can be vital for students to share their ideas with the larger mathematical community, gain feedback on their projects, and network with those in their research area for career planning. For graduate students, it can be hard to get one’s foot in the door in the competitive realm of academic job hunting and professional development. Here at UMD, it’s a priority to prepare students by providing a strong foundation for research activities.
The Department of Mathematics spearheads research opportunities for graduate students and the larger math community. Source: University of Maryland
A vision for innovation, by students, for students
Ask graduate students about their time at the department, and their answers share a theme: faculty and staff always go above and beyond to help them achieve their academic and professional goals.
For Mastrantonis, there have been several people who have made an impact on his UMD journey. “I am deeply grateful to all of them,” he says. “However, my advisor’s influence has been invaluable. Over the past five years I have worked extremely hard, but I know that without my advisor’s mentorship and support, I wouldn’t have achieved nearly as much.”
Jiang shares a similar sentiment. “My advisor does a good job understanding that research in this area takes time,” Jiang says. “The staff here are fantastic in that they create a lively environment by connecting with the students and helping students connect with each other more.”
The department sought to raise its standards in this aspect in the last two years. The newly inaugurated joint Graduate Student Council for AMSC, Math, and Statistics (GSCAMS) is made up of elected student representatives from each graduate programme. Each month, the council meets with department leadership to address questions from the student body. How can we better meet student needs? What activities will enliven and empower students more?
By addressing these overarching questions, the council has had resounding success. It’s launched several high-impact initiatives, such as mentoring for qualifying exams, reimbursement of international student fees, and an expansion of social events (including a student t-shirt design competition).
One particular community engagement opportunity that stands out is the directed reading programme (DRP). Matching graduate student mentors with undergraduates allows them to explore a research paper of their choice and present their findings at an end-of-year celebration. Undergraduates investigate topics they might not have encountered in the classroom, while graduate students connect with those curious about higher mathematics and expand their outreach. It’s a win-win situation for everyone – a recurrent theme at the department.
With the Brin Centre, GSCAMS, and DRP, one thing’s for certain: whether it’s attending a lecture from a Fields medallist or mentoring freshmen starting their first semester in college, the department is successfully spearheading research opportunities for graduate students and the larger math community. To join them, apply to the Department of Mathematics today.
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