Sean Malton
The University of Melbourne
I am an Australian graduate student, currently undertaking a Master of Science in Pure Mathematics at the University of Melbourne. In particular, I’m interested in arithmetic geometry and its relations with theoretical computer science.
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)
My major is in pure mathematics, particularly in the areas of abstract algebra and combinatorics. My motivations for my studies especially revolve around an interest in the theory of computation, and such focus has a large impact on how we use computers to solve many kinds of problems.
How did you get into mathematics/statistics/data science? Was there someone or something that inspired you to this field?
From a young age, mathematics always seemed to be most clear to me of all my studies in school. From there, I figured I’d just continue taking mathematics until I’d had enough of it, which somehow led me this far. I was particularly intrigued by pure mathematics from my first semester of university level mathematics, deriving much joy from the over-simplified beauty of linear algebra, leaving me wanting more.
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?
Being a student barely living off of money from tuition jobs, finding a place to stay in Sydney is a very tall ask. Being provided a place to stay was instrumental in my in-person participation in the event. Getting to interact with not only the lecturers and tutors, but also many other mathematics students from across the country (and some even international) was a great experience, allowing me to learn all kinds of little things about abstract algebra I hadn’t heard before, and reinforcing the knowledge I already had.
What was the most valuable part of the program for you?
For me, the most valuable part of the program was getting to discuss mathematics with new people, seeing what motivations other people have in the field and where they’re hoping to go with their studies. As someone who’s never (and still hasn’t) had a clear picture of what I want to do with my studies, I enjoyed seeing other people’s contexts for their studies.
In the long-term, what do you think are the benefits of having attended Summer School?
The AMSI Summer School has really strengthened my love for mathematics, especially my appreciation of the beauty of the study, and has assured me that no matter what direction I go in life, my interest in abstract algebra will always play some role in how I view the things in front of me.
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?
As a pure mathematician, I’ve always felt quite pessimistic about STEM careers days, as many industries tend to treat the discipline as some novelty, but the AMSI Careers Day really surprised me, and showed me some career paths that I would genuinely be interested in pursuing that respects and appreciates my studies.
What advice would you give to someone who is considering applying for Summer School in 2026? Should they apply and why?
Anyone considering applying for the Summer School in 2026 should go for it. Being given the opportunity to give a more specialised class in their research interests, the AMSI Summer School lecturers are very knowledgeable and interested in the content they give in the classes, giving students an opportunity to delve surprisingly deeply into special topics and understand their intrigue, which is not a very common opportunity in the current state of academia.
What are your current career ambitions in the mathematical sciences sector?
Having started my tertiary studies in computer science, my career motivations particularly lie in technology, especially coding theory. Ultimately, all of that is built on the foundation of rigorous mathematics and algebra, so I hope that at some point in my career, I’ll be able to use the mathematics I’ve studied to produce useful results in these fields.
How did connecting with the community at AMSI Summer School support your experience?
Getting to connect with the AMSI Summer School community helped to broaden my appreciation of the mathematics I study, exposing me to all kinds of people and their ambitions with their studies.
Any other feedback/comments you would like to provide on the AMSI Travel Grant or AMSI Summer School 2025?
Thank you to all of the AMSI staff for providing such a great experience this Summer, and for providing me with the grant to make my attendance in it possible!