Mathematics students complete Hamilton Trust Summer Internship Programme
Posted on: 17 August 2018
Twenty-one undergraduate students from Trinity’s School of Mathematics have just concluded the hands-on Hamilton Trust Summer Internship Programme, designed to give them a taste of research in the field, and to provide the opportunity to lead investigations into unsolved problems.
The programme is sponsored by the Hamilton Trust, an educational charity founded by Mike O’Regan to support students and teachers of Mathematics, Science and English. Mike O’Regan is the great-great grandson of Trinity mathematician, Sir William Rowan Hamilton.
Some students worked alone while others worked in groups as 14 unique projects took shape over a six-week period. Each project was overseen by a researcher working in the school, and students enjoyed regular project meetings, presentations and talks along the way.
The internship programme was led by Ussher Assistant Professor in Numerical Analysis in Trinity’s School of Mathematics, Kirk M Soodhalter.
Professor Soodhalter said: “It was a pleasure to work with so many talented and hard-working students. I myself participated in two such programmes in consecutive summers during my undergraduate years, and this greatly influenced me to pursue a career in mathematical research. I am delighted to help others have the same opportunities I had.”
Project topics ranged from pure mathematics and theoretical physics to applications in data analysis and statistics. For example, one project used mathematical methods to extract information in medical data with the hope of offering better diagnoses in people living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), and even of detecting when MND may be present in cases before the motor neuron count has not yet drastically decreased. Another project tackled black hole thermodynamics and the ‘firewall phenomenon’, while one student focused on developing a mathematician’s guide to understanding how their students visualise abstract concepts.
Student, James McNeill, said: “The internship was a very positive experience – it can be difficult for undergrad students to picture what actual research feels like. The best thing about the internship was being able to experience that in some degree – while being supported by the academic staff. I found it very useful in that regard – I now know a little more about academic life, and what it’s like.”
Student, Rebecca Mangan, added: “I found the internship a great opportunity to investigate areas outside of normal undergrad teaching, and to work on a real-life project independently. I enjoyed the weekly presentations as it gave some insight into other areas I did not have much previous knowledge of.”
It is tentatively planned that the School of Mathematics will again offer the programme next summer; interested students should contact Professor Soodhalter for further details.