"Having my first paper published felt like a big milestone, and that was quite rewarding!"

Why did you choose to pursue a PhD and what motivated you to choose Umeå and Department of Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics for your PhD?

- I liked a lot of things about my undergraduate studies – for instance the focus on problem solving, and just getting to learn about things that interested me. PhD studies also have those benefits. Getting to do my own research and developing my knowledge of a specific field also appealed to me. When I was looking for PhD positions, I found the ad for the position that I have now. The description of the project sounded really interesting, and it sounded like I had a pretty suitable background for working on that project, so I decided to apply here. I also grew up in Umeå, so I knew the city and the university, and it felt like a natural place to apply.

Was it a big adjustment to get used to PhD studies compared to undergraduate studies?

- Yes, it was an adjustment, for sure. As a PhD student you have courses and research to work on, as well as other tasks, such as teaching, giving seminars and going to conferences, so PhD studies take a lot more planning than undergraduate studies. As a PhD student you also get to learn your research topic much more deeply than you get to learn any one topic as an undergraduate student.

Can you describe your research in a simple way? 

- My research is in combinatorial geometry, or more specifically combinatorial rigidity theory. Briefly, combinatorial rigidity theory concerns problems where one is given some structure, and some permitted motions of that structure. The motions are typically described by some geometric constraints – i.e. the distance between some points of the structure must remain the same, or some points must remain on a line. The goal is to find simple ways to predict whether a motion exists.

What's the most challenging part of PhD research?

- One thing about PhD studies that can feel challenging, and that’s different to a lot of other jobs, is that a lot of what you’re working towards is quite far in the future – it takes a long time to go from a good research idea to a published paper, and graduation is years in the future at the start of your studies. It can take a long time to see the results of what you’re working on day-to-day.

What has been the most rewarding experience so far?

- Having my first paper published felt like a big milestone, and that was quite rewarding! It can also be a very rewarding experience to go to conferences and finding other people who are interested in the same things that you are.

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

- I usually work at the office for most of the day, but if I am working on something that I prefer to do at home I have the option of working from home, provided that I don’t have any obligations that require me to be at the office. I usually have a list of things that I hope to get done in a day, so when I get to the office I get a coffee and start trying to check things off that list. I like doing the more creative work in the morning, so unless I have teaching or a meeting in the morning, I usually start thinking about proofs or examples for my research. Around 12 I’m usually ready for lunch. After lunch, I try to change it up from what I did in the morning, so I will often try to do things like write, read a paper that I need to read for my research or do other administrative tasks. By 17, I am usually out of both energy and creativity, so I normally leave around then. If I have an urgent deadline, or if I have something I still want to finish at the end of the day, I do that from home after I’ve had a break.

Have you been teaching? what was your experience of it?

Yes, I teach, and I enjoy it. I started teaching as a teaching assistant during my undergraduate studies, and that taught me a lot about how to best explain different concepts, and how to best teach problem solving skills. Teaching is also very different to research and coursework, and I usually think it’s nice to focus on something other than my own research for a few hours.

What are your career goals post-PhD?

- At the moment, I am leaning towards trying to stay in academia after I graduate. I would like to continue doing research also after my PhD, and staying in academia would allow me to do that.

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

- Umeå has a great cultural scene, so I like to take advantage of that when I can. When I have the time, I also like to travel to see those of my friends who live outside of Umeå. More regularly, though, I just meet up with friends for things like board game nights or lunch/dinner. Many weekdays, I just do fairly simple things after I get home from work – I’m a pretty avid reader, and I go to the gym regularly, or I might take a walk and call a friend, or go see my family, who mostly live in the city.

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

- Try to explore the research at the department, by maybe going to seminars or talking to the researchers (including us PhD students) at the department. Mostly to figure out what topics you’re interested in, but it’s nice in general to be familiar with the people and the research going on at the department where you would be working.