SAMBa’s most remarkable feature is the variety of study options it offers
I joined the SAMBa programme following the completion of a Master of Science in Mathematical Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, Italy.
During my PhD, I was involved in the mathematical description of the random fluctuations which naturally occur in populations of finite size (such as particle systems, bird flocks) using tools from stochastic analysis and partial differential equations. In addition, in the early stages of my MRes, I contributed to preparing the involvement of GKN (a world’s leader aerospace supplier) in the third SAMBa Integrative Think Tank.
I am now an ISTPlus Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria). A substantial part of my current work builds on what I studied during the years spent as a SAMBa student.
The years as a SAMBa student helped me develop critical thinking skills and group work management skills.
SAMBa’s most remarkable feature is the variety of study options it offers. From full engagement in industrial projects with world leading companies to cutting-edge academic research, students can strike the optimal balance which best suits them in shaping their subsequent career.
I had the opportunity to get involved in some international training and capacity building activities with international partners and was able to travel to Brazil and Mongolia to share my knowledge of statistical methods and applications, which was really rewarding.
I found the one-on-one reading courses an incredible opportunity to both learn about a topic in detail, and to get to know a potential area and supervisor before starting my PhD
(My supervisors) encouraged me to take my own research direction, guided by my interests, and to be involved in the wider community, presenting at and attending a wide range of national and international conferences
My experience in SAMBa shaped me as a versatile researcher with the ability to use maths to make an impact.
Being part of SAMBa is like being part of a little community: everyone is super supportive and there is always someone to talk to if you need it (usually with cake!).
The experience and the skill set acquired during my years in SAMBa helped me develop my academic career in a growing inter and trans disciplinary world.
Shortly after joining SAMBa I broke my neck in a bicycle accident. But thanks to the support from the amazing team, I was still able to make a success of my PhD. The SAMBa environment surrounds you with wonderful people and fantastic opportunities.
I was able to use the SAMBa training in statistics, to support training workshops in Mexico and in fact took a break from my PhD to take on a statistics teaching assistant role.
You get a lot of freedom to choose your research area...and there is a wide range of research areas within the department from which to choose
I can't imagine studying for my PhD anywhere other than SAMBa
