Model Modern Mathematician
by Randall Brown
Mathematics major Kristina Wilson of Athens, Tennessee, graduates this spring as an honors student who has excelled in her academic coursework and research projects, succeeding in both honors-level and graduate courses.
“My time as a Volunteer has been memorable because UT and the math department have provided me with opportunities to learn and develop as a mathematician in a supportive environment,” said Wilson. “The math professors at UT are encouraging of their students. They are so passionate, and they want students to learn math and share their passion too.”
Wilson engaged in multiple research experiences as an undergraduate Vol, including initiating a summer project mathematically modeling infectious disease with Associate Professor Olivia Feldman in summer 2022.
“Over the course of three semesters, Kristina far exceeded my expectations in my Junior Modelers Program, JuMP, both as a participant and a leader,” said Feldman. “She demonstrated the ability to collaborate and mentor effectively and work diligently on new and challenging quantitative problems related to mathematical epidemiology.”
After the first session of JuMP, Wilson and a student colleague in computer science proposed and co-authored a paper on modeling research as a summer research project—an impressive achievement for an undergraduate student.
“I was blown away by her ability, along with her partner, to advance this project from week to week through her own initiative and thirst to learn new skills,” said Feldman. “Kristina’s genuine passion for learning challenging things made her a joy to work with.”
During spring 2023, Wilson worked as an undergraduate research assistant with Assistant Professor Ioannis Sgouralis to develop specialized numerical integration schemes for machine learning and the analysis of biochemistry data.
“Kristina is an exceptionally bright student whose aptitude for addressing applied science problems truly stands out,” said Sgouralis. “Her proficiency extends beyond her impressive mathematical capabilities; she is also an accomplished computer scientist.”
Wilson integrated her methodical mathematical background with her programming skills to link theoretical models with empirical observations and simulate the appearance of complex datasets.
“Her work is also communicated with clarity, which underscores her deep passion for cross-disciplinary research,” said Sgouralis.
Wilson also worked on a summer research project implementing routines in a matrix algebra library. She collaborated with visiting students from the City University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong through UT’s National Institute for Computational Sciences.
“I’ve spent a lot of time on this project, and it has helped me improve my math and computer science skills further,” she said.
Throughout her time at Rocky Top, Wilson has enjoyed great camaraderie with her fellow math students.
“We work together really well,” she said. “When we work in groups, it’s not a competition of who can look the smartest or have the best idea, it’s about getting the problem done together. This environment at UT has allowed me to learn and figure out what I’m passionate about and has allowed me to pursue my interests.”
After graduation Wilson is headed for Nashville to pursue her PhD in mathematics at Vanderbilt University. Her advice for future Vols is to maintain a Big Orange balance in their studies and campus life.
“College will be stressful, challenging, and gratifying,” said Wilson. “Don’t forget to enjoy the good parts too.”
The College of Arts and Sciences congratulates Kristina Wilson for graduating with her successful record of research projects and representing her Big Orange pride and confidence with her in future endeavors.