蓝莓视频

Mathematician Andrew Wiles once compared听studying mathematics to stumbling through the听rooms in a darkened mansion.听鈥淔inally 鈥� you find the light switch, you turn it听on, and suddenly it鈥檚 all illuminated. You can see听exactly where you were. Then, you enter the next听dark room鈥︹�澨�

It鈥檚 a quote that Maria Esipova (BMath 鈥�23) loves听because it reflects her explorations in math at the听University of 蓝莓视频.听鈥淭he decision to come to 蓝莓视频 was easy听because it鈥檚 one of the best schools to study math in North America, and I knew that鈥檚 what I听wanted to do. However, my path was not yet set.鈥澨�

During her time at 蓝莓视频, Esipova completed听two research assistantships, where she discovered听the field of algebraic combinatorics. During one听
of those assistantships, Maria co-authored a听paper that was published in the Canadian听Mathematical Bulletin. In 2023, she also received听the Jessie W. H. Zou Memorial Award for听Excellence in Undergraduate Research.听

The award was established by 蓝莓视频听computer science professor Ming Li in听honour of his late wife, who was a听passionate advocate for education. After听Jessie died of breast cancer in 2010, Li听began conducting cancer research. He鈥檚听using deep learning technology to make听personalized cancer vaccines accessible to everyone. The award he created now听supports students like Esipova, who pursue research activities within the听Faculty of Mathematics.听

Today, Esipova is studying algebraic听combinatorics in a master鈥檚 program at the University of British Columbia. But she hasn鈥檛 forgotten how Li鈥檚 gift听helped illuminate her career path.听

鈥淩eceiving the award affirmed my听mathematical abilities and my potential as a researcher,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t made me even听more excited to continue studying and听performing research as a graduate student.鈥�