"I wanted an education that would allow me to do research and teach"

- I am Aswin Gopakumar, a second-year PhD student employed at the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics. I have a desk at Icelab, Integrated Science Lab at Umeå University. If you are looking for me, I would suggest starting from there. I hail from Kerala, a region in south India and nationally known as God’s own country. I did my integrated master’s in Mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram, India, before moving to Umea in March 2022.

Why did you decide to go for a PhD?

- I was interested in Mathematics from a young age. Out of all the subjects taught in school, I was always keen on learning and applying new techniques in mathematics. This interest led me to do an undergraduate degree in Mathematics at an institute set up to inspire young scholars to pursue research. During my undergraduate education, I went on a few outreach activities to inspire school-going young adults to pursue science. From those and other experiences, I learned how much I enjoy studying specific topics
in mathematics and teaching. After graduation, I wanted an education that would allow me to do research and teach. Hence, I decided to go for a PhD.

What motivated you to choose Umeå and the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics for your PhD?

- While looking for a doctoral position, I narrowed my search to Europe as I wanted to experience a different culture from my own, and being in Europe makes it easier to experience different cultures as you can travel freely among certain countries. What drove me to Umeå University is the project itself. The project stood out from the rest as it was an interdisciplinary project involving Mathematics and Ecology. In my undergraduate studies, we had courses from different natural sciences, and one of the courses I enjoyed was Ecology. And being able to do a project in it gave me a compelling
reason to apply.

How is it to live in Umeå? 

- Kerala is a region with two main seasons: summer and monsoon, and the average temperature in Kerala remains almost constant at 27 degrees Celsius throughout the year. We don't have long days during summer, nor short days during winter. For all these reasons, moving to Umeå was a significant change in terms of climate. However, over the year and a half of living here, I have learned to embrace and enjoy the cold. I haven't had any issues with language either, as most Swedes are proficient at English. All is not rosy, as the darkness can be quite the villain. Overall, I would say Umeå has
become a second home for me.

A culture clash that shocked me was the breakfast culture throughout Europe in general. India is known for its different breakfast dishes. Regardless of the region you travel to in India, you can enjoy a wide variety of breakfast food. However, in Sweden, the emphasis is on lunch and dinner. While at the start, it was quite a surprise, now that I have been here for a while, I have adapted a similar routine.

Can you describe your research?

- My research involves ideas from Mathematics and Ecology. To be precise, I work in Mathematical modelling, where I use differential equation models to study the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of various organisms that inhabit the world. My current project is to understand the relationship between biodiversity, a measure of the variety of organisms, and different ecosystem functions, such as biomass production and resistance to environmental changes, in an evolving and spatially varying community. Biodiversity-ecosystem function research is becoming a central topic in
Ecology as it can shed some light on the implications of the loss of biodiversity associated with the rise in global temperature and climate change.

What has been the most rewarding experience so far?

- My most rewarding experience in PhD research so far is knowing that my code functions as intended and yields the expected results. It gives me confidence that my research is progressing in the intended direction.

What's the most challenging part of PhD research?

- The most challenging part for me is not to lose motivation when things don’t go according to plan. It is easy to become so focused on our project and be disappointed if we encounter some setbacks. One has to zoom out and look at the bigger picture sometimes and lean on others for support if things don't work out as we expected.

Can you describe a typical day in your life as a PhD student?

- My working hours are slightly different from the traditional Swedish standards. I would come into my office around 9.30 - 10.00. One advantage of being a PhD student is you have control of your hours. Once I settle in the office, I grab some coffee and get to work. My daily work consists of reading papers, writing codes, some administrative duties and if I am doing any courses, then doing some coursework as well. I take ample breaks in between to not feel saturated. We frequently have interesting discussions
during breaks at Icelab, scientific or otherwise, which can be stimulating. Once I am satisfied with the amount of work I have done, I decide to head home. This is usually around 18.30-19.00. We try to have fun activities after work on weekends as many seem to enjoy them.

What do you like to do for fun when you're not working on your PhD?

- Usually, on weekdays, I like to unwind by watching movies or playing video games. I sometimes join the social activities planned by the Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics or Icelab. I like to go on hikes occasionally and play board games. I also play sports like badminton, football, and cricket - sorry to reinforce the stereotype. However, I haven't played any cricket since moving to Umeå. Given the opportunity, I also do second-hand shopping, as I find it quite fun and sustainable.

What advice would you give to someone considering a PhD here in Umeå?

- If you live in Sweden or can travel to Sweden easily, visit Umeå temporarily before deciding to move. I would suggest this for any place, not just Umeå. However, if you can't do so, ask other people you might know who are in Umeå or your future colleagues at the University. Umeå University and SLU have many international students and faculty and have a diverse group of people, so you are more likely to fit in. In my opinion, Umeå is a city that has something for everyone. It has beautiful nature, appreciable urban areas and wonderful people. It has a sense of serenity that I haven't felt in any other city I have been to. So, if you like your project and supervisor, Umeå
University is definitely one you should consider.