Yining Ding
The University of Sydney
In 2022, Yining obtained a BSc in Applied Mathematics at The University of Melbourne. Furthermore, in 2023 he received an Honours degree with the University Medal in Financial Mathematics at the University of Sydney. From Dec 2022 to the present, Yining worked as a research assistant in Financial Mathematics and Teaching assistant at Monash University. He is now applying for a PhD position with a research interest in Financial Mathematics (Asset pricing and hedging, Backward Stochastic Differential Equations and related fields).
Can you give me a quick rundown about the type of mathematics you are studying and its potential impacts for the broader community?
Imaging that you are issuing financial contracts/ derivatives which are never appeared on the market before, what will be the fair price? This question can be answered in the theory of financial mathematics.
How did you get into mathematics? Was there someone or something that inspired you into this field?
Initially, I choose a Mathematics major simply because I am good at it. But the reason I’m pursuing some serious math is inspired by Prof. Barry Hughes from the University of Melbourne. He is the one that brought me the first glance at frontier mathematics, and his admirable spirit in doing mathematics will always inspire me.
You received a Travel Grant to attend AMSI Summer School 2023. How important was this in terms of your ability to attend, fully participate in the program and meet others studying in similar fields?
It was a great opportunity to receive a scholarship and study the subject I wanted to learn. Receiving a scholarship was very important, as it motivates me and requires me to be fully committed to studying during the 4-week period. In-person style is very important for me, especially after the pandemic and I really appreciate AMSI for providing such an opportunity.
What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
The course contents were a more valuable part of the program for me. The primary reason I applied for Summer School was to gain further knowledge for my future PhD research. The knowledge gained through the 4-week course helped me a lot to get exposed to more theoretical (non-linear PDE) and technical areas (Modelling with copula) In financial mathematics.
In the long-term, what do you think are the benefits of having attended Summer School?
In the long run, it increases knowledge and skills and networking opportunities. Summer school can provide students with the opportunity to learn new knowledge that they may not have been exposed to during the regular school year. It can also provide opportunities for students to meet and network with peers and instructors from diverse backgrounds.
Summer School included a special Careers Day program which aims to help give students an idea of the kinds of career paths available to maths graduates in industry and private sector research areas. Were you previously aware of the types of industry opportunities available to mathematical science graduates?
The occasions were beneficial and truly worthwhile. I especially valued Adrian Dudek’s talk on math employability opportunities at Optiver. His guide on obtaining a job in mathematics is immensely helpful and highly recommended for those in a comparable situation.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2024? Should they apply and why?
Definitely, I would highly recommend that anyone interested apply for Summer School in 2024. The course was well-organized for a 4-week program, with exceptional instructors providing valuable lectures. Even for students who are taking Summer School for non-credit purposes, it is still worth applying because it can be tremendously beneficial to learn new topics and remain motivated for future studies.
Where do you want the mathematical sciences to take you? Where do you see yourself in five, ten years time?
My current plan is to obtain a Mathematics PhD in the field of the intersection of Mathematics and Finance. In 10 years’ time, I will be applying my knowledge gained through a long study in the area of quantitative trading.