Bailey Whitbread
The University of Queensland
I am an Australian graduate student in pure mathematics, beginning a PhD under the supervision of Geordie Williamson. I am most interested in representation theory, geometry, and combinatorics.
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 interested in the discovery-conjecture-proof workflow of a pure mathematician. Advances in pure mathematics often arise when one discovers a pattern in some structure, and then precise statements about these patterns are conjectured and proved. Recently, machine learning models have been used to create technologies which excel at human-like tasks surprisingly well. Research in pure mathematics is another human-like task, so I am interested in the potential for machine learning in the workflow of a pure mathematician.
How did you get into mathematics/statistics/data science? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?
My advisors and mentors inspire me regularly. Their attention to writing and speaking about mathematics has changed how I view mathematics.
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?
I would not have considered attending an AMSI Summer School without a travel grant, so receiving this grant was crucial. I attended online in 2021, and the in-person experience this year was by far the best aspect of the program.
What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
The most valuable part of the program was meeting all the mathematics students located around Australia. We made many new friends at the AMSI Summer School and I look forward to catching up with them at future Australian mathematics events.
In the long-term, what do you think are the benefits of having attended Summer School?
I have benefited from gaining friendships and connections with other mathematics students, and from spending time on the USyd campus. Spending a month at USyd was an enjoyable way to learn some new mathematics.
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?
I enjoyed the presentation given by the Bureau of Meteorology. The presentation convinced me that working at the Bureau of Meteorology would be a similar experience to researching mathematics at a university.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2026? Should they apply and why?
They should apply if they want to meet mathematics students from all over Australia, and if they want to spend a month at a different university and city. Both were invaluable experiences that I look back at with no regrets.
What are your current career ambitions in the mathematical sciences sector?
I am starting a PhD in representation theory, and I will research mathematics for the rest of my life.
How did connecting with the community at AMSI Summer School support your experience?
Without the connections made, much less mathematics would have been done. We often spent nights and weekends in the common rooms working on problems together while watching a game of tennis.
Any other feedback/comments you would like to provide on the AMSI Travel Grant or AMSI Summer School 2025?
Thank you for the grant and thank you for the effort towards the AMSI Summer School