With a depth and breadth of expertise, over 1,100 students make up the vibrant Faculty of Mathematics graduate community. Read the stories below to learn more about a few of those students, and check back regularly for new feature profiles.
Monthly spotlight
Adina Goldberg | Pure Mathematics
Wherever Adina Goldberg goes, she leaves a trail of newly-created community events, academic initiatives and connection opportunities behind her. The Pure Mathematics PhD student and self-described “huge extrovert” carries the mantra: “Make things happen if they don’t exist â just build it yourself.”
Since January 2020, Goldberg has co-organized a series of graduate student talks jointly held between Pure Math and Combinatorics & Optimization to encourage cooperation and build community. “If you’ve met any mathematicians, you might not be surprised to find that they don’t naturally tend to go outside their social comfort zones unless nudged a little bit,” Goldberg stated. This essential idea of cooperation also shows up in Goldberg’s PhD research, where she explores how accessing a quantum state could help people solve problems together more efficiently.
With a MASc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Toronto, a MMath in Pure Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and her current pursuit of a PhD, Goldberg is an experienced graduate student. Her advice to graduate students who want to make the most of their experience is, “Don’t just be another name in another office â be present and pay attention to people.”
Read more about Adina's research.
Check out our other graduate student profiles below.
Applied Mathematics
Kevin Church
A modified model developed by Church and his supervisor, Professor Xinzhi Liu, is built around the idea of pulse vaccination, a disease control policy where, at certain times, a portion of the population is vaccinated altogether.
Adoption of their research could help manage outbreaks of diseases such as the flu and measles. "When vaccination is added to a time-delay mathematical model of epidemics, you can in some sense dictate when infection spikes happen if the vaccine is strong and enough people get vaccinated."
Read more about Kevin's research.
Irene Melgarejo Lermas
As she completes her thesis, Irene has her sights set on another graduate degree from Waterloo. “I plan to continue focusing on machine learning now that I’ve seen its practical applications,” she shares. “Waterloo provides an ideal environment to study quantum computing. This is where new ideas begin.”
Read more about Irene's journey.
Combinatorics and Optimization
Matthew Sullivan
A predictable, well-defined game of 14 players feels like a much-needed respite for students like Matthew, whose chosen field of graph theory is significantly less straightforward. At a basic level, graph theory examines the sets of points (“vertices”) and lines (“edges”) that model relationships between objects on graphs. From optimizing road networks to designing computer chips, graph theory presents an infinite supply of complex problems to solve. Matthew points to the many opportunities to collaborate with like-minded researchers as a highlight of his time at Waterloo. “As a graduate student, you get so many opportunities to connect with researchers from all over the world,” he shares. “This collaboration generates a great atmosphere for discovery.”
Read more about Matthew's experience.
Caelan Wang
Wang continues to look for learning opportunities to grow in her teaching, as well as in others by mentoring graduate students in their teaching through the Centre of Teaching Excellence as a Graduate Instructional Developer and a recipient of the Fundamentals of University Teaching Certificate.
Read more about Caelan's journey and the Amit and Meena Chakma Award.
Computational Mathematics
Jyler Menard
“The support that Waterloo provides through design teams, co-op infrastructure, and student initiatives is invaluable,” Menard explained. “I chose to go to Waterloo because of those things, and I’m staying here for my master’s because of those things.”
But Menard believes there is always room to improve student support outside the classroom. So, after participating in a physics-themed hackathon during a co-op term in Montreal, he was inspired to bring something similar to Waterloo. Working with fellow students Bethany Bouchard, Tim Whittaker, and Anya Forestell, Menard helped organize “Schrodinger’s Hack” last October, Waterloo’s first physics hackathon.
Read more about Menard's experience.
Data Science
Jaskirat Bhatia
While in his undergrad, Jaskirat Bhatia was inspired by a class project using machine learning algorithms to learn more about the field of artificial intelligence. Bhatia applied to the Data Science graduate programs at Waterloo and received an offer to both the Master of Data Science and Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) program. He didn’t have to think twice to commit to MDSAI. “I couldn’t believe it. No other university was offering a program like this.”
Entering MDSAI with minimal work experience, Bhatia found enormous value in his co-op term. In the Department of Chemistry, Bhatia worked with Professor Subha Kalyaanamoorthy by using his knowledge in machine learning to help create a model for repurposing an existing drug to treat COVID-19.
At the end of 2020, Bhatia attended a virtual meetup to make industry connections and displayed a project he had completed as part of his program. One conversation led to another and Bhatia and his co-founder started a company called JEmotions, which uses AI to measure stress levels and connect users to mental health resources. “Thanks to the MDSAI program, I had all the knowledge I needed to take this chance.”
Read more about Jaskirat's experience.
Jinjiang 'J.J.’ Lian
Jinjiang âJ.J.’ Lian first realized he wanted to become a data scientist while working as a data manager for clinical research at a university healthcare facility in the US. “I noticed that many healthcare workers lacked the skill set to collect and interpret patient data correctly, which negatively impacted patient care,” he recalls. “I decided that whether I ended up in healthcare, tech, or another industry altogether, I wanted to use my data skills to help people.”
As J.J. flipped through graduate program brochures, Waterloo’s Masters of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) program caught his attention. “There are a lot of programs in computer science in Canada, but I saw how much effort Waterloo put into designing its MDSAI program,” J.J. remembers. “Professors even offer different versions of the same course to meet the needs of students with different backgrounds.” Attracted by the level of personalization available to students, as well as the abundant co-op opportunities, J.J. joined one of the first cohorts of MDSAI students at Waterloo Math.
Read more about J.J's experience.
Max Niebergall
A self-described “lifelong technology enthusiast,” Max Niebergall enrolled in the Master of Data Science Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) program to launch a impactful career in data science.
As an undergraduate student in computer science at Wilfred Laurier University, Max realized that he was only just beginning to skim the surface when it came to developing critical skills in data science. “The MDSAI program gives me the opportunity to double down and master skills in AI, machine learning, statistics, data mining and other areas that will be foundational for the future,” he affirmed.
As he completes his first months in the program, Max points to the quality of the Waterloo Math community as the clear highlight of his Waterloo experience so far. “I’ve always believed in the power of community,” he reflected. “I learned how to make a positive contribution through participating extensively in Laurier Rotaract and other student clubs, and I hope to make a similar contribution at Waterloo.”
Read more about Max's experience.
Mathematics for Teachers
Alyssa Schultz Dey
She grew up in Alberta and Nova Scotia, but she considers Nanchang, China, her second home. After earning undergraduate degrees in pure mathematics and education, Alyssa Schultz Dey took a leap of faith and accepted a teaching position at the Nanchang No. 2 High School Sino-Canadian Nova Scotia International Program in southeastern China.
Alyssa always knew that she wanted to pursue a master’s degree, but it took extensive research to discover the right fit. “I was looking for a program that would not only help me improve as a teacher but also refresh and increase my own understanding of mathematical concepts,” she shared. Schultz Dey came across the Master of Mathematics for Teachers (MMT) program at the Faculty of Mathematics at the same time she was helping her students register for the University’s math contests. “I sensed that the program would give me an opportunity to dig deeper,” she said.
As she reaches the halfway point of the program, Schultz Dey has already noticed a difference in the quality of her teaching. “The MMT program has changed the way I approach problems,” she explained. “My courses push me to prove why my final answers are true, not just come up with a final answer, which is exactly what I push my students to do. The education I have received has directly translated to the classroom.”
Read more about Alyssa's experience.
Pure Mathematics
Hayley Reid
In her first year at Waterloo Math, Hayley Reid’s experience as a TA ignited a passion for teaching. “One of the biggest highlights of graduate school has been to stand in front of a class and teach students new concepts,” she says. “For me, it’s an overwhelmingly exciting thing to be able to witness those lightbulb moments.” After finishing her degree, Hayley aspires to teach mathematics at the university level. To continue building her teaching credentials, she has taken advantage of training opportunities like the Math Faculty Graduate Teaching Seminar and Fundamentals of University Teaching program at the Centre for Teaching Excellence.
Reflecting on her time at Waterloo, Hayley appreciates the seemingly limitless opportunities for graduate students in the Faculty of Math. “There is such a large math community here that no matter what you want to study, you can find someone who will be able to supervise you,” she says. “If you want to learn to teach, there are ways to do that. Anything you want to do, you can do here.”
Read more about Hayley's experience.
School of Computer Science
Amine Mhedhbi
Your Netflix suggestions and recommended connections on LinkedIn use graph databases to help make predictions. Computer Science PhD student Amine Mhedhbi's research focuses on understanding and developing new techniques across the graph database stack to improve execution performance of graph analytical workloads.
Mhedbhi leads a research project to develop a new in-memory graph database management system called GraphflowDB. His research focuses on two primary questions - how to perform very fast joins to detect complex patterns in graph-structured data, and how to scale an in-memory graph database system.
Mhedbhi's award-winning research helps to improve the capabilities for very complex queries, such as those that can detect intricate fraud patterns in financial networks. For this research, Mhedbhi was the only recipient from Canada to receive a 2020 Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship.
Read more about Amine's research.
Sangho Suh
Coding strips utilize comics to present programming concepts in a more accessible way. They chose comics because it is a medium well-known for its ability to explain complicated concepts and processes effectively through visual storytelling.
Sangho Suh, the lead author and a PhD student in Waterloo’s David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science presented Coding Strip: A Pedagogical Tool for Teaching and Learning Programming Concepts through Comics at the IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing.
In the follow-up study, Suh also taught a Waterloo undergraduate computer science course and tested four use cases of coding strips. They include using coding strips to introduce concepts and codes, review, and practice coding. The researchers found that students thoroughly enjoyed learning with coding strips and benefitted from these use cases in various ways. This work, Using Comics to Introduce and Reinforce Programming Concepts in CS1, was recently accepted and will be presented at a premier computing education conference, ACM Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education.
“There are a lot of challenges associated with engaging students who are learning to code because they find it to be abstract and difficult,” Sangho Suh explained. “Our work shows that teachers can use coding strips to address this challenge.”
Read more about Sangho's research.
Lindsey Tulloch
Lindsey Tulloch’s passion for computer science began when a close friend convinced her to install Linux on her desktop instead of Windows. “That’s certainly what got the ball rolling in my software development journey,” she recalled. “I’ve always been a problem solverâI enjoy the aspect of working through something and figuring it out on my own.”
It wasn’t just Tulloch’s interest in computing that brought her to Waterloo’s Master of Mathematics (MMath) in Computer Science program in 2019. The prospect of building expertise at the intersection of human rights and digital privacy also motivated her to take the plunge. “I believe that global access to a free and open Internet, free from surveillance and censorship, is an important part of fulfilling the human right to privacy,” she explained. “When I first visited the CrySP lab, I encountered research that directly applied to my field of interest and emphasized protecting marginalized communities.”
Read more about Lindsey's story.
Statistics and Actuarial Science
Luke Hagar
Luke Hagar was the first student from the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science to participate in GRADflix, an annual competition hosted by Waterloo’s Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA) that challenges graduate students to create one-minute videos describing their research for a non-specialist audience. Hagar was among the 25 finalists in 2021 for his project, entitled “Beyond p-values: Sample size determination using Bayesian statistics”.
Hagar decided to enter to gain experience and share his research in Bayesian statistics with a broader audience. He has, however, had to overcome the challenge of condensing his research into a one-minute presentation to a non-specialist audience.“Other faculties’ research may feel more tangible to a non-specialist audience than a math student, so with that in mind, I focused on the problem my research solves,” Hagar said.
Participating in the GRADflix competition allowed Hagar to explore his abilities in the animated filmmaking technique, stop-motion.“It’s been a positive experience,” Hagar said. “I hope people who are considering graduate studies or who are already in graduate studies in the faculty of math see the value of this experience and try for themselves.”
Read more about Luke's GRADflix experience.
Katia Naccarato
Katia Naccarato has never shied away from exploring an unfamiliar path, hitting a dead end, and trying a different one. Before she enrolled in the Master of Actuarial Science (MActSc) program at the Faculty of Mathematics, she was laser-focused on pursuing a career in medicine. Her current trajectory looks nothing like she expected, but she’s confident that she’s heading in the right direction.
When she learned more about the actuarial profession during career development coaching, something clicked for Naccarato. “Actuarial science seemed like the perfect mix of math and business,” she recognized. During the application process, she connected with a human resources professional who recruited candidates for actuarial roles in insurance companies. “She told me how highly regarded the Waterloo actuarial science program was within the profession,” remembered Naccarato. “When I received my acceptance, I didn’t even bother applying to any other programs. Waterloo was my first choice.”
Read more about Katia's story.
Maysum Panju
While working on his undergraduate degree and Master’s in computational math, Maysum Panju started learning about machine learning. That led to his interests in developing algorithms and theoretical proofs, and he decided to start his PhD in statistics.
Now in his fifth year of his PhD, Panju is focused on tackling a problem called symbolic regression. “A common application of this could be learning the natural laws of physics. If you’re given data about a physical system, you don’t necessarily need to know the different physical laws; you can uncover the laws by uncovering the data sets only. That’s the problem I was trying to solve.”
Panju has always been interested in practical applications, but enjoyed the efficiency, accuracy and data requirements of theoretical proofs. He recently competed in the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and his presentation on his research earned him an award from the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science.
Read more about Maysum's research.
Chao Qian
Two years into his undergraduate degree at Sichuan University, Chao Qian regretted his decision to study business management. “I came to the realization that management skills are better learned outside of the classroom,” he said. “I wanted to learn something more solid and quantitative. That’s where my journey to Waterloo began.”
After completing a dual degree in business management and mathematics at Sichuan University and Prince Edward Island University, a professor invited Qian to join a summer research project that focused on applying quantitative methods to portfolio selection.
“I was fascinated by the work, but I didn’t know anything about mathematical finance as a whole,” Qian admitted. “The people I met at Waterloo encouraged me to apply for the Masters of Quantitative Finance (MQF) program to learn how to apply my programming and math skills to financial problems.” Sixteen fast-paced months in the MQF Program affirmed the passion for programming that had first taken root in PEI.
Read more about Chao's story.