Sam Bahrami
Australian National University
I am a PhD student in Computer Science at the Australian National University in Canberra, and prior to this I was a machine learning engineer at the Australian Institute for Machine Learning in Adelaide, Australia. My research is focused on 3D reconstruction from 2D images, using data driven machine learning methods.
Can you give me a quick rundown about the type of mathematics you are studying and its potential impacts for the broader community (think how you would explain your work and studies to others who don’t study maths)
I am pursuing a PhD in computer science, focusing on machine learning for computer vision tasks. Machine learning relies heavily on mathematics, particularly calculus and linear algebra, to define how models learn from data. In research, innovation often comes from refining key mathematical components of these models, such as loss functions and optimizers, which play a crucial role in improving their performance
How did you get into mathematics/statistics/data science? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?
I always had an aptitude for it, and I always felt like calculating things was kind of like a super power. It lets you go into situations with much less ambiguity and a plan. Also, being better at maths makes a whole lot of other science much easier to understand
You received a Travel Grant to attend AMSI Summer School 2025. How important was this in terms of your ability to attend, fully participate in the program and meet others studying in similar fields? Do you think it was an advantage to attend the program in-person?
The AMSI Travel Grant was crucial in enabling me to attend the Summer School. Without it, travel and accommodation costs might have been a barrier. Attending in person provided a significant advantage, as it allowed me to engage directly with lecturers, collaborate on problems with peers, and build connections that would have been difficult to establish in a remote setting.
What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
In person events, networking with the other students, experiencing life in Sydney.
In the long-term, what do you think are the benefits of having attended Summer School?
Coming from a computer science background, I had previously learned bits and pieces of the mathematics covered by the courses (Elliptic PDE from an elementary viewpoint, and Optimal Transport and Monge-Ampere equations) I did in the summer school. However, attending allowed me to organize that knowledge into a more structured framework and see connections between concepts that I hadn’t realized before.
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. Do you feel better equipped to explore career options in the mathematical sciences after attending AMSI Summer School?
Yes
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2026? Should they apply and why?
Definitely apply, apply early, do something you have an interest in which you can’t as easily learn back at your home institution. It is a good way to have a small break in the PhD program specifically and learn some useful tools for the rest of your career.
What are your current career ambitions in the mathematical sciences sector?
Finishing the PhD, working in some kind of research scientist position or machine learning role. Something like that
How did connecting with the community at AMSI Summer School support your experience?
A lot. Getting help from the other people regarding the assignments, really supported the experience and my learning. Everyone that attended was fun and had a huge interest in maths. I think the summer school attracts a really great type of person.
Any other feedback/comments you would like to provide on the AMSI Travel Grant or AMSI Summer School 2025?
Loved it, that one month program was probably the highlight of my PhD so far. We were in such a great location as well, it really made socialising easy and there was a lot to do and see very close to the accommodation.