This nurturing environment instilled in me a profound appreciation for inquiry and the relentless pursuit of knowledge

What made you decide to study at the University of Sheffield?

Studying in my home country, China, is extremely stressful. Due to limited higher education resources and a large, brilliant, and hardworking population, academic pursuits have become highly competitive, although they ideally shouldn't be. Therefore, I decided to take a 10-hour flight to a place with a more relaxed atmosphere. The University of Sheffield is exactly what I was looking for; life in Sheffield embodies the ancient Chinese saying “非宁静无以致远”, which means that without tranquility, one cannot achieve far-reaching goals.

What have you enjoyed most about your course so far?

The lectures are well-structured; you can see how the content from one lecture supports your learning in a parallel one. We discussed the motivations behind the development of theories, as well as open-ended topics for exploration. I believe my course has equipped me with the inspiration and a mindset to try to solve problems that people have not figured out in centuries. This is the most valuable thing I have gained from my studies.

Beyond the curriculum, I greatly appreciated the research opportunities provided by the University of Sheffield. I began with the UGRI summer research program, generously funded by the university. During that summer, I learned advanced machine learning concepts such as Gaussian Processes, Neural Processes, and Multi-fidelity Bayesian Optimization from Dr. Wei Xing. Alongside Wei and other collaborators, we submitted three papers to top academic conferences and journals. I am also leading my own research, inspired by previous work, and I deeply appreciate the support from both the university and Dr. Wei. I truly couldn’t have achieved this without their guidance.

What skills have you developed during your course?

Technical skills including programming in Python and R, formulating complex real-world problems within a mathematical framework, designing experiments rigorously, and creating high-quality plots to support the findings of my claims. Additionally, I have developed the mathematical maturity required for undergraduate mathematics, meaning that even if I forget certain theories and concepts, I can quickly reacquaint myself with any familiar undergraduate-level mathematics in 20 minutes. 

Beyond the skills mentioned above, I believe the most important gift mathematics has given me is the development of a certain philosophy of life. During my undergraduate studies, there were numerous opportunities to engage with real mathematicians—our lecturers—who were all friendly and encouraged us as much as they could. They not only taught us advanced mathematics but also showed us how to learn it by encouraging us to ask questions and fostering our curiosity. 

This nurturing environment instilled in me a profound appreciation for inquiry and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. It taught me to approach problems analytically, break them down into manageable components, and seek innovative solutions. This philosophy also guides my life, to be curious and embrace challenges.

What would you say to a student thinking about studying your course at Sheffield?

The best investment is to invest yourself, and you won't go wrong with Sheffield. Mathematics is exceptional, offering outstanding resources and support. At Sheffield, students have the opportunity to design and shape their own university experience, supported by the institution and, most importantly, by their own initiative.