John Engbers, Ph.D. 2013: Assistant Professor, Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Marquette University
Notre Dame prepared me to be an excellent mathematician. My advisor, David Galvin, was a key part of that training. I was able to begin doing serious mathematical research after my first year of graduate school, and with the guidance of Dr. Galvin, produced four papers while still a student. This allowed me to be considered for a tenure-track position at Marquette—where research is expected and valued—without having any experience in a postdoctoral position.
Notre Dame also helped me to develop as a teacher. I attended various events at the Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning and had the opportunity to teach a number of courses on my own (including an Honors Linear Algebra course for two summers).
Notre Dame was supportive in funding me to attend conferences to both present my research and to network with others in my field. In fact, one of my current collaborations began by a meeting at a discrete math seminar organized by Dr. Galvin.
Even while a doctoral student, I was encouraged to develop a research program—including defining a number of questions that I hoped to try to solve in the first five years after graduating. I’m hard at work on those questions now!
Victor Ocasio, Ph.D. 2014: Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus
From my Notre Dame Ph.D. advisor, Prof. Julia F. Knight, I learned that research is a highly collaborative effort. Through her, I was able to meet many members of the mathematical community, some of whom are currently collaborators. Together, we are working to advance the frontiers of scientific knowledge.
Also, the faculty at Notre Dame know how important it is for a budding mathematician to develop teaching skills. The teaching seminar I took during my first year, along with various opportunities to lecture in my own class, helped in the development of my tone and style—both of which I was trained to revise and modify according to the needs of my students. I attended many lectures and workshops offered by the University’s Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, which awarded me an Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award.
At the University of Puerto Rico, my responsibilities include teaching three to four courses at the graduate or undergraduate level, advising graduate students on theses in the Masters in Pure Mathematics program, and service to the department. I am currently a member of both the Pure Mathematics committee and the Computer Science committee, as well as faculty advisor to the undergraduate Student Association in Math and Computer Science and an undergraduate recruitment committee.
Martha Precup: Postdoctoral Associate, Baylor University
As a graduate student at Notre Dame, I had the great opportunity to advance both my mathematical knowledge and research skills. My advisor, Prof. Sam Evens, helped me to develop research interests beyond the classroom. Ultimately, I was able to publish in a highly ranked mathematics journal, Selecta Mathematica, which was the highest contributing factor to my success on the postdoctoral job market.
I also had unique opportunities at Notre Dame for professional development—all of which helped me to obtain a position after earning my Ph.D. They included involvement with the Center for Mathematics at Notre Dame, attending seminars through the Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, and leading undergraduate reading groups. I especially enjoyed being a teaching assistant for the first-year sequence of honors calculus, a freshman-level, proof-based calculus course.
Now at Baylor, my postdoctoral position allows me to spend time on research and to gain experience teaching a variety of courses before applying for tenure-track positions. I’ve had opportunities to speak at conferences, make professional connections, and cultivate my research on Hessenberg varieties. After this postdoc, I hope to obtain a tenure track position at a liberal arts college or regional university.
Now at Baylor, my postdoctoral position allows me to spend time on research and to gain experience teaching a variety of courses before applying for tenure-track positions. I’ve had opportunities to speak at conferences, make professional connections, and cultivate my research on Hessenberg varieties. After this postdoc, I hope to obtain a tenure track position at a liberal arts college or regional university.
Yueh-Ju Lin, Ph.D. 2014, Postdoctoral Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan
During my Ph.D. studies at Notre Dame, I had the privilege of having Prof. Matthew Gursky as my advisor. I enjoyed working with him immensely, as he is a very supportive and approachable mentor. Under his supervision, I not only deepened my knowledge of mathematics, but I learned how to do independent research. I also gained valuable insights from different fields by interacting with other professors at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame’s Department of Mathematics provided a professional environment that helped me develop my career. At the same time, it offered a warm and friendly atmosphere where I could enjoy the company of my teachers and colleagues. While at Notre Dame, I also gained four years of teaching experience as an instructor and a teaching assistant. All of these experiences prepared me well for starting my academic career at the University of Michigan.
At Michigan, I continue my research interest in geometric analysis. A formative experience this fall was teaching calculus classes using cooperative and interactive teaching/learning techniques within small groups of students rather than traditional lecturing. I am developing as a researcher and a teacher.
John Harvey, Ph.D. 2014, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Münster
At Notre Dame my advisor, Karsten Grove, was extremely supportive from the day I arrived. In addition to introducing me to new areas of study, he has shaped the way I think about mathematics and how I share it with others. Like many other professors in Notre Dame’s mathematics department, he ensures that his students are active in attending conferences and meeting their future colleagues, which is crucial for career development. His direction and encouragement were instrumental in getting me this far.
I’m currently working as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Münster in northwest Germany. The position is in one of the most respected geometry research groups in the world, within a very large and active mathematics department, located in a small and beautiful city. I have the opportunity to pursue new avenues of research, start new collaborations, and be supported in the continuation of the work I began in my dissertation.