Early Career Mathematicians Committee

The Early Career Mathematicians Committee and their roles.

Chairperson: Ben Dias MIMA

Role: To provide a focus for the group, and act as direct liaison with the IMA.

Born and raised on the tropical island of Sri Lanka, I came over to the UK to pursue my higher education. Following the successful completion of an MSci in Mathematics & Astronomy, and a PhD in Computer Science (both at University College London), I joined Unilever UK as a Research Scientist. My role at Unilever involves Mathematical modelling, and currently focuses on the area of “Predictive Consumer Mathematics”, which involves developing Mathematical models for predicting consumer behaviour. I first heard about the IMA from Prof. Peter Grindrod CBE CMath FIMA, when he gave an invited talk at Unilever. I was delighted to hear about the existence of such an institute for Mathematicians and was excited to hear about the Chartership scheme. I joined the IMA as a Member in October 2007, with full support from Unilever. Since joining, I have been proactively looking for ways to become actively involved in the work of the IMA. As such, I have volunteered as a School Speaker, I am a member of the Editorial Board for Mathematics Today and I am delighted to also be involved in the work of the Early Career Mathematicians group.

Vice Chair: Stephen Lee CMath MIMA

Role: To support the chair, take actions at meetings, circulate them and be responsible for committee discussions, and look after email list.

Stephen works as a Data Analyst/Web Manager for the independent charitable curriculum development body Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI). He previously studied for a first degree in Mathematics with Education and a PhD in Mathematics Education at Loughborough University. He joined the IMA in 2007 and is now a member of numerous IMA committees, including the Early Career Mathematicians Group, the East Midlands Branch, Mathematics Today Editorial Board and the Image and Website Review committee.

Conference Leaders: Ravi Robin Gajria & Lindsay-Marie Armstrong

Role: To organize two ECMG Conferences per year and to coordinate input from early career mathematicians to Mathematics Today, other IMA Journals and the IMA website.

Lindsay-Marie Armstrong AMIMA

I am currently in my final year of a PhD at Southampton University looking at the computational fluid dynamic modelling of coal and biomass thermal conversion in fluidised beds.

In 2006, I graduated from Northumbria University in Newcastle with a BSc (Hons) degree in Mathematics. Along with the expected algebra, statistics, calculus and discrete mathematics to name a few, I was introduced to the field of fluid dynamics in the final year. It was there that I developed an interest in the field.

I pursued this path by continuing my studies with an MSc in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) at Leeds University. Various important aspects of CFD were introduced including the fundamentals of fluid dynamics, reaction kinetics and turbulence modelling. The final months allowed me to experience work as a researcher with a project looking into the application of CFD modelling to medical biology. My project focused on the species transport in a bio-reactor for a patella ligament. Upon completion, I realised I wanted to pursue a career working in research.

With the current environmental issues and challenges I wanted to work in the expanding field of energy technology. This lead to my current PhD at Southampton University where I started in 2007.

Ravi Robin Gajria AMIMA

I studied physics at University College London and then qualified as a post compulsory education teacher at the Institute of Education, London. Currently I am taking a part time masters in mathematics at the Open University, and one in education at Edge Hill University.
I am particularly interested in developing teaching and widening participation of students in higher education. Hence I work and volunteer with various science outreach schemes such as teaching at higher and further education institutions. I am consulted on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) curricular and resources at the National Science Learning Centre, University of York and am a representative of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers' Early Careers Steering Group and Further Education Group.
Having joined the IMA last year I am working on forming its London branch.

Chartership Leader: Peter Rowlett MIMA

Role: To provide advice to early career mathematicians on how to upgrade their membership or gain chartership within the IMA, to provide advice to early career mathematicans within the IMA on how to set up local branches of the IMA in their area to help promote mathematics further.

Peter is interested in mathematics education and mathematics promotion. His day job is for the Higher Education Academy Maths, Stats and OR Network on the Mathematical Sciences Curriculum Innovation Project as part of the National HE STEM Programme. This mainly involves funding and supporting curriculum innovation projects in mathematical sciences higher education as well as research and staff development. Outside of work, Peter co-hosts the Math/Maths Podcast for science communication project Pulse-Project and convenes the Nottingham branch of the MathsJam monthly meet up. He has been an IMA member since 2004 and worked for the IMA as University Liaison Officer from 2008-10. He is Vice-Chair of the IMA East Midlands Branch and a member of the Council of the British Society for the History of Mathematics. He is studying part time for a PhD in e-assessment in mathematics.

Promotion Leader: Sharon Evans MIMA

Role: To promote the IMA and mathematics to graduates, students (within schools, colleges and universities), businesses and charities, to organize social functions, and to develop links with other Young Scientist communities.

I’ve worked as a Thermo-Fluids Engineer for Rolls-Royce in Derby since October 2007. I do a lot of CFD analysis, some coding using Matlab and FORTRAN and I use various in-house fluid network codes. I joined the IMA as an Associate Member in January 2008 after first hearing about it from a colleague. In June 2010 I became a full Member of the IMA. I’ve attended every ECM conference since the one held in Oxford in May 2009 and I regularly attend East Midlands Branch lectures and social events. In 2009 I became a STEM Ambassador, after hearing about it at an ECM conference, and I have enjoyed promoting the uses of Mathematics at Rolls-Royce to various groups of Year 10 and Year 12 students in Derby since then.

In my spare time I’m a keen photographer and I can often be found wandering the countryside trying to get that perfect picture! I am also an active member of the Rolls-Royce Photographic Society.

Non-Ordinary Members: Ellis-F Cresswell, Caitlin Jones & Millan Bel

Role: To get involved and help support the development of the Group

Caitlin Jones AMIMA

I am a confident and outgoing person - surprising for a mathematician I know! My main interest in life is travel as I love to explore new places and meet new people. I am a keen swimmer and have recently got interested in open water swimming, which goes well with the snorkelling and diving when I am overseas. My working life has been very varied to date as I have worked in different industries, both public and private sector, and in many roles. I went to university as a mature student, at 24 years of age, and graduated top of my class in 2008 with a Mathematics degree from Brighton University. Since graduating I worked for a short time as a Statistician at Bristol University and for the last year I have been working for a fairly well known General Insurance company as a Pricing Analyst. Alongside my work I am studying for Accountancy qualifications, although with the long work hours this is proving fairly challenging!