{"id":2020,"date":"2024-01-27T23:53:54","date_gmt":"2024-01-27T23:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/?page_id=2020"},"modified":"2024-01-28T01:15:43","modified_gmt":"2024-01-28T01:15:43","slug":"dim-research-panel-part-i-students-winter-2024","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/dim-research-panel-part-i-students-winter-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"DiM Research Panel PART I – Students (Winter 2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Date: January 15th 2024, 5:30PM – 6:30PM<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Panelists: April Niu (Algorithmic Game Theory<\/em>), Zhaoshen Zhai (Geometric Topology<\/em>), Tasmin Chu (Probability and Groups<\/em>), Carl Kristof-Tessier (Geometric Group Theory<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Check out PART II<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Jump to a Question:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Introductions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. How did you know which professor to reach out to?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. What is the hardest part of research?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. NSERC and SURA – What are the differences? How do you apply?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. What does the day-to-day look like?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. How many hours a week do you spend on your research?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. I am U1 and have not taken many courses. What are the chances that I do research?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. What are your best or most important memories related to research?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Does research get boring?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. How was the conclusion of your research?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. How much support did you have during challenging moments?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. When you contacted the supervisors, did you already have a project in mind?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. Do you need SURA or NSERC to do research?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. How does research affect your workload?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Getting money for research: Can you only get funding from research grants or can you get paid privately?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. MATH470<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. What general courses would make up a good basis for math research?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. How long are summer research projects?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. For someone not in honours, is there a lower probability of getting SURA?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. How do you deal with imposter syndrome?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. Should you do research as early as possible?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. How long do you talk to your supervisors for?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. Final Advice<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    1. Introductions<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Tasmin Chu, Probability and Groups<\/strong>\n
        \n
      • 2 x SURA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Helped friend solve his problem, and now it is becoming a paper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • April Niu, Algorithmic Game Theory<\/strong>\n
          \n
        • Computer science<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Joined statistics and computer science here<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Got a professor to be their supervisor after undergrad<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Did SURA in algorithm design in game theory, which is becoming their research now<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • More applied math<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Carl Kristof-Tessier, Geometric Group Theory<\/strong>\n
            \n
          • 2 x NSERC<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Number theory<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Geometric group theory<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Starting their master’s degree with the professor that they were working with this summer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Interacts with both math and computer science<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Strong algorithm related to group<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Zhaoshen Zhai, Geometric Topology<\/strong>\n
              \n
            • SURA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Notes that it is normal to get rejected<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
              2. How did you know which professor to reach out to?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

              General advice<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                \n
              • Take courses that you are interested in, take many courses, don’t be afraid by some courses or about what people say about the course<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Talk to the professor, and they can maybe direct you<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Even if you don’t know exactly what you want to study, throw yourself out there<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Personal experiences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                  \n
                • Panelists say they had no idea what they were doing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • In Algebra 3, reached out to their teacher, told them “I’m lost”<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Emailed a lot of professors, and all said no except one. Didn’t know the professor but still shot his shot and got an interview<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                  3. <\/strong>What is the hardest part of research?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • Prerequisites<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Lots of reading, but it makes you stronger. It becomes fun to read the textbooks because you understand them better.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • When you can’t move on from that one line from the textbook.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                    4. NSERC and SURA – What are the differences? How do you apply?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • Apply to NSERC (not for international students) first and you are immediately considered for SURA (Science Undergraduate Research Award)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • For Arts, there is ARIA (Arts Undergraduate Research Internship Awards)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                    • Other option: ISM Undergraduate Summer Scholarship. Less money but can still consider it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                      5. What does the day-to-day look like?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                        \n
                      • Go into Burnside, meet with the professor once a week, gives guidelines on what you do for the week<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Close contact with the professor, task-based<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • You are never completely alone, a lot of talking<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                      • Meet people, make friends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                        6. How many hours a week do you spend on your research?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                          \n
                        • 3-4 hours a day<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Most of it is talking, hanging out<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • Every day there is a bit of research<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                        • It varies week to week<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                          7. I am U1 and have not taken many courses. What are the chances that I do research?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                            \n
                          • Look for supervisors! A lot of professors don’t care about courses because their research is so specific<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Your chances are lower than the second years that already applied<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                          • Worth applying still because it only makes your chances go up for next year<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                            8. What are your best or most important memories related to research?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                              \n
                            • Highest: solving a problem<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                            • Lowest:\n
                                \n
                              • A lot of PhD students with them, so they felt behind.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Thought they did something right, but it was wrong. They then fixed it and it was right.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                              • Imposter syndrome – god complex. It comes and goes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                9. Does research get boring?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                  \n
                                • The research is not your area if you get bored.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                • Need to care about your problem, or it will be hard to work on it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                  10. How was the conclusion of your research?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                    \n
                                  • Not writing a report<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • Write your paper as quickly as possible so you don’t get bored<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • If it is a great match, talk to your professor about doing a Master’s<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • You often continue your research<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • 2 final reports<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                  • You can always say no if the professor asks you to continue in that research – don’t stay stuck in the area if you don’t want to.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                    11. How much support did you have during challenging moments?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                      \n
                                    • Reach out to your collaborators<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Research something that is interesting to other people so you can talk to other people as well<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • By talking with your collaborators and making connections, you learn something about your own project even though other people don’t necessarily understand<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                    • Collaboration is good, but the goal is to become and independent researcher<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                      12. When you contacted the supervisors, did you already have a project in mind?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                        \n
                                      • You don’t need a specific project, but usually have a field in mind<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                      • The professor almost always chooses the project<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                      • If you are interested in a certain project, look into what you want<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                      • No one expects you to have a research problem in mind, but you should also dive into problems you find interesting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                        13. Do you need SURA or NSERC to do research?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                          \n
                                        • Try to get money, as it is expensive to live<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                          14. How does research affect your workload?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                            \n
                                          • Research project class takes a lot of time<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                          • Takes a certain amount of space in your life, depending on how obsessive you are<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                            15. Getting money for research: Can you only get funding from research grants or can you get paid privately?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                              \n
                                            • Can come from the professor’s grant<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                            • Don’t count on getting paid privately, it is not an internship<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                            • Money is also important for incentives, on both sides<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                            • SURA – competitive application, can put in your CV<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                              16. MATH470<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                \n
                                              • You don’t get paid – not an option<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                              • You have to find a supervisor – talk to them in person, reach out, try your best<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                17. What general courses would make up a good basis for math research?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                  \n
                                                • Take all algebras and analysis classes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                • Topology, geometry-topology (biased, their field), comes up a lot, very modern<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                • Depends on your research, theirs was in 447<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                  18. <\/strong>How long are summer research projects?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • 15 weeks, possible to get 16 weeks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Most of the time you have to be in person<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Usually the whole summer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Arts – only 10 weeks<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Depends on the grant<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Depends on the progress of your research, they can extend SURA (6 months)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                  • Depends on the professor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                    19. <\/strong>For someone not in honours, is there a lower probability of getting SURA?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • Don’t worry about it, take good courses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                    • Take honours classes in the area that you are interested in, don’t be afraid of the honours classes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                      20. <\/strong>How do you deal with imposter syndrome?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                        \n
                                                      • Never feel too stupid to apply of talk to a professor, they are open-minded<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                      • Goal is to learn, not revolutionize the world<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                      • You are not uniquely stupid<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                        21. <\/strong>Should you do research as early as possible?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                          \n
                                                        • The more classes you take, the more attractive you look for supervisors<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                        • The more time goes on, the more opportunities will come your way<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                        • Don’t stress too much, fine to be U3-U4, take your time, go at your own pace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                          22. How long do you talk to your supervisors for?<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                            \n
                                                          • Usually about an hour<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                                                            23. Final Advice<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
                                                              \n
                                                            • Research – most fulfilling experience, most social, unique experience<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            • Present your research and talk about your research<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            • the social aspect is a big part<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            • You get paid for sitting down and doing nothing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            • If you are passionate, professors will take you<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                                                            • Don’t be afraid of the less flashy fields<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                                              Date: January 15th 2024, 5:30PM – 6:30PM Panelists: April Niu (Algorithmic Game Theory), Zhaoshen Zhai (Geometric Topology), Tasmin Chu (Probability and Groups), Carl Kristof-Tessier (Geometric Group Theory) Check out PART II! Jump to a Question: 1. Introductions 2. How did you know which professor to reach out to? General advice Personal experiences 3. What is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2020","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2020"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2020\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2036,"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2020\/revisions\/2036"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diversityinmath.ssmu.ca\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}