Today our team member Anna Breger tells her story - “Many little twists and turns have brought me to where I am now and I am absolutely thrilled about my interdisciplinary research project working on image analysis and historical music manuscripts.”
➡️ Find her full story at https://hermathsstory.eu/anna-breger/
#AppliedMathematics #ImageAnalysis #Music #InterdisciplinaryResearch #NonTraditionalPathways #DataScience #HerMathsStory
“And I found a new way to use many of the skills I gained during my [Math] PhD. As an innovation manager (...) my fundamental knowledge about mathematical modelling is a key asset.” - Alexandra Edletzberger
➡️ Find her full story at https://hermathsstory.eu/alexandra-edletzberger
#Industry #PhD #Algebra #MathematicalModelling #InnovationManager #NonTraditionalPathways #Empowerment
Born in Vienna, Austria • Birth year 1995 • Studied Mathematics at University Vienna, Austria and Journalism at University of Salzburg, Austria • PhD in Mathematics from University of Vienna, Austria • Lives in Vienna, Austria • Innovation Manager at UBIMET Group When I handed in my bachelor’s thesis in 2017, I couldn’t believe it – I thought to myself, Well, here is my math degree. I’m finally done studying. Little did I know that seven years later, I would be celebrating the completion of my PhD in mathematics and embarking on new research endeavors. Since I had always been good at math in school, and since a math degree typically opens doors in finance, insurance, or consulting, I made my decision: I would become a mathematician as well. My original career plan was set. Ever since my teenage years, I knew that I would become a sports journalist, most likely for a major newspaper or magazine. So after high school, I enrolled in a specialized program at the University of Salzburg to become an Academic Sports Journalist in two years. And so I did. But at the same time, I was aware that the writing business could be tough. As a Viennese girl, I knew it would be challenging to find my place in Austria’s ski-obsessed and male-dominated sports scene. So, I decided to be strategic and enroll in a second study program – one with secure and stable job prospects – just to be on the safe side. Since I had always been good at math in school, and since a math degree typically opens doors in finance, insurance, or consulting, I made my decision: I would become a mathematician as well. There had already been very few women in my bachelor’s program, and I wondered if I would fit into the master’s program at all. Everything went as planned. I completed my sports journalism degree, found a job at a newspaper in Vienna, and finished my math degree on the side. But then, with a very heavy heart, I realized that I am not supposed to attend math lectures any more. At the same time, I wasn’t sure whether I even had what it takes to continue with a higher degree in math – especially as a woman. There had already been very few women in my bachelor’s program, and I wondered if I would fit into the master’s program at all. A sneaky look at the master’s program curriculum got me excited – there was a specialization in algebra, my absolute favorite area of math. So I decided to enroll – just for fun. I am very thankful for the Austrian education system, where there are no entry exams and studying comes at no cost. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to take this opportunity. The more courses I took, the more I enjoyed studying. And when I realized that this could also be my chance to move abroad for half a year through an exchange program, I took a leap of faith. I quit my job as a journalist, went to Sweden, and decided to try my luck as a mathematician. Once again, I didn’t feel ready to end my math journey just yet. When I was completing my master’s degree, a familiar feeling crept in. Once again, I didn’t feel ready to end my math journey just yet. I was fortunate enough to be offered a PhD position by my master’s thesis supervisor, and I accepted with excitement. My math journey that had started as a practical decision, continued out of passion. While I enjoyed doing research and the freedom of an academic position, I realized very early in my PhD studies that I did not fit – and did not want to fit – into the academic system. The structural discrimination of women, the exploitation of early-career researchers, and the lack of opportunities to make meaningful change wore me down. I felt like a flower expected to bloom with far too little water and sunlight. But when I was done, for the first time, I felt truly content with my math chapter coming to an end. And I found a new way to use many of the skills I gained during my PhD. Don’t get me wrong – I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to complete my PhD, meet incredible people, do exciting research, and contribute to diversity and inclusion in STEM. But when I was done, for the first time, I felt truly content with my math chapter coming to an end. And I found a new way to use many of the skills I gained during my PhD. As an innovation manager at an Austrian medium-sized company with a focus on natural sciences and its own Research and Development department, I design and develop research projects, find project partners, write proposals, and manage ongoing projects. My fundamental knowledge about mathematical modelling is a key asset. Plus, this role combines my interest in storytelling, investigating new leads and juggling several projects - talents that once led me to journalism - with the skills that steered me to mathematics. In the end, the two plotlines of my career have merged into one in an unexpected yet fulfilling way. Published on May 7, 2025.Photo credit: Nora Kramml
“I love being able to apply mathematical thinking to problems perhaps not thought of as classical mathematical problems...I could not have predicted the path that I’ve been on, and certainly would never say that I had a plan all along. I am happy to do lots of different things, but it matters a lot to me who I spend my time with.” - Michelle Snider
➡️ https://hermathsstory.eu/michelle-snider/
#Industry #AppliedMathematics #DataScience #DataScientist #ResearchScientist #NonTraditionalPathways #Outreach
Studied Physics & Mathematics at Smith College, Northampton MA, and Mathematics at the University of California San Diego, CA USA and at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY USA • Highest Degree: PhD in Mathematics • Lives in United States • Occupation: Senior Data Analyst at SRT Labs and Adjunct Research Staff Member at Center for Computing Sciences, Institute for Defense Analyses I was always interested in math and science, maybe because I was just good at it. I chose to go to a women’s college because even at the high school level, I had been the only girl in the class, and experienced some unhealthy dynamics that can occur in a gender-imbalanced environment. Finishing my double major in Math and Physics in an enthusiastic and supportive environment, I decided I was happy to keep learning for the sake of learning, so I started applying to graduate school. I went to the University of California, San Diego because they had big math and applied math departments, and since I didn’t have a specific area of focus yet, this would give me lots of options. Two years in, I realized I had not narrowed down the list of mathematical topics I was interested in so much as the list of professors I was not interested in working with. I set up meetings with potential advisors across the departments, who did work in numerical analysis, representation theory, combinatorics, and even math education research. Rather than giving me an impromptu lecture, one professor spent 5 minutes setting up a problem, then handed me the chalk and said “Go up to the board and work out an example.” I thought to myself, I guess I’m an algebraic combinatorialist now! My specific expertise seemed to be less relevant than my willingness and ability to jump into new research areas and tackle hard problems. Six years and a cross-country move later, I finished my PhD. I had determined that I didn’t want to pursue an academic track, but with such a pure math background, I wasn’t sure what other options I would even have. That is, in academia, it is quite common that you have no idea what else to do except be an academic because no pure math professor I have met has ever done anything other than be a pure math professor. While I had a wonderful opportunity learning how to think mathematically, I had no guidance about how to transition my research to real life. After sending my resume to companies and national labs across the spectrum of options, I landed an interview at the Center for Computing Sciences in Maryland, a federally-funded research and development center, where the organizational ethos seemed to be to hire a bunch of smart people and remove all the administrative distractions so they can just focus on solving hard problems for the US government. The people I met at my interview were excited about their work, but also had interesting hobbies and work-life balance. My specific expertise seemed to be less relevant than my willingness and ability to jump into new research areas and tackle hard problems. The AWM is a community of mathematicians from around the world who care about building up a network to help us all succeed and I love being a part of it. Along the way, I had an opportunity to join the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) on a day trip to the US Capitol in Washington, DC, to meet with the offices of elected officials and advocate for supporting underrepresented minorities in STEM. The AWM is a community of mathematicians from around the world who care about building up a network to help us all succeed and I love being a part of it. These visits give us a chance to let our voices be heard, and to bring awareness to the importance of STEM across society---many politicians have never met a mathematician before, and we had the chance to try to counter some of the stereotyped images in the media. I met an amazing group of mathematicians, and before I knew it, I was the one organizing these Capitol Hill visits, then serving on several committees. A few years ago, an opportunity came up to work with a small technology company with a great company culture. My job title is Senior Data Analyst, but again I was hired not for specific expertise but for my flexibility in taking on new challenges. I get to work across a broad swath of the company, talking to clients, designing solutions, and yes, analyzing some data along the way. I love being able to apply mathematical thinking to problems perhaps not thought of as classical mathematical problems, like how to help universities save energy by connecting their air conditioning system to their class scheduling system. I could not have predicted the path that I’ve been on, and certainly would never say that I had a plan all along. I am happy to do lots of different things, but it matters a lot to me who I spend my time with. Picking each step based on the people I enjoy spending time with seems to be working just fine so far.
“(...) I switched to studying #mathematics at the university and went my way to diploma, #PhD, being a mother, a teacher, a developer of final exams in math, to leadership in the climate and sustainability working group.” - Ricki Rosendahl
➡️ https://hermathsstory.eu/ricki-rosendahl/
#Industry #ActuarialConsultant #OptimalControl #NonTraditionalPathways #WomenInMaths #WomenInSTEM #HerMathsStory
Born in Germany • Birth year 1975 · Studied Maths at University of Hamburg • Highest Degree PhD in Optimal Control • Lives in Hamburg, Germany • Occupation Senior Business Consultant I am sitting on the train. The ICE drives from Cologne to Hamburg. In this dark evening. My head is spinning after four days of learning about actuarial subjects in a seminar. I use my time to reflect. Thinking a little about the past, a little more about the future and a lot about this moment right now. I am happy. Grateful. I like being here and in this moment. I am thankful for my talent for mathematics my mom and dad gave me. Thankful for meeting other people in my life, so I could learn and grow and become the person I am right now. Thankful for all the nice people who believe in me and support me. One of my mottos: you are what you have made of yourself. I will never be finished. This would result in stagnation. The solution of any mathematical problem seemed so easy and elegant to me when I was young: true or false. Nothing else. Like a central theme, my interest and my ability in mathematics affect my whole life. I love mathematics! The solution of any mathematical problem seemed so easy and elegant to me when I was young: true or false. Nothing else. I wanted to immerse myself in this subject. It was not easy to continue with this wish in a male-dominated world: unmotivated teachers, incompetent advisors at the job center, traditionally-thinking professors at the technical college. Thus, my central theme evolved in a different direction. One constant in my life stayed: me reflecting on my current situation - Who am I? What have I made of myself? I grew up in a family where natural sciences and logic discussions were welcome. My parents met at the university, later becoming a math high school teacher and a physicist. In highschool, I have always been interested in math and natural sciences. I once asked my math teacher about the mathematical olympiad but I felt completely left alone by him when he didn’t show much interest and asked me to contact the organizers instead of telling me about it. It was frustrating that the lessons in math neither prepared me for the kind of exercises solved at mathematical olympiads nor showed me the possible career paths in science. The job center employee I talked to did not recommend studying math either. Thus, I chose a different path at first. While preparing for my engineering studies, I worked at a locksmithery. In this men’s world, the break room was decorated with a calendar with “aesthetic” images of women. Some old-established professors at the technical college weren’t pleased about women studying engineering. Remember: if you love something, you will get great at it. I am grateful for being able to realize what I love. I love mathematics. Finally – I just couldn’t get enough of math – I switched to studying mathematics at the university and went my way to diploma, PhD, being a mother, a teacher, a developer of final exams in math, to leadership in the climate and sustainability working group. I left the “typical” career path of mathematicians again. And came back to my profession: Now I have developed my skills in actuarial subjects working in insurances. And I will continue looking for new challenges. Right now, I am sitting on the train. Driving from Cologne to Hamburg. And I am happy living in this moment. Happy with my talent for mathematics. It helps me developing, being curious and following interesting new paths. My path leads me further to being an actuarial consultant. I am sure I will encounter interesting tasks, opportunities and people in my future. And I want to show my beloved children: it is worthwhile to look deep within yourself. Be true to yourself. Find a subject that interests you and follow your ambition. Yes, there will always be drawbacks. Fortunately, the world is not as men-dominated anymore as it has been. Remember: if you love something, you will get great at it. I am grateful for being able to realize what I love. I love mathematics.
“(...) Your unique interests and capabilities, even when they may not fit easily into a clear label, do have a place in this world where they will be valued.” - Anna Konstorum @akonsto
Studied Biology/Bioinformatics at McGill University, Canada, and University of California, Los Angeles, USA, and Mathematics at University of California, Irvine, USA • Highest Degree PhD in Mathematics • Lives in United States • Occupation Research Staff Member at Center for Computing Sciences, Institute for Defense Analyses I came to applied mathematics slowly, and circuitously - but sometimes that makes for the best stories. When I was young, I fell in love with the complexity of biological processes, and thus I chose to study biology for my BSc. My grandmother was a math teacher and I have fond memories of us playing all sorts of educational math games growing up, which instilled in me a joyful, non-competitive view of math. But I never saw myself as a mathematician, it was just something I enjoyed ‘on the side’. I sat there in complete astonishment of the beauty and power of math to describe a world that I had realized I had always wanted to see in a mathematical light. It was only when doing my Master’s, when I took a course focused on using dynamical systems to study the life sciences, that I came to see that mathematics needed to be more than a hobby for me. I sat there in complete astonishment of the beauty and power of math to describe a world that I had realized I had always wanted to see in a mathematical light. And, I felt then, everything clicked. That my love for math and complex systems such as biology were not separate, but actually completely intertwined. It was this realization that led me to do my PhD in mathematics. I performed research modeling interactions of growing tumors with their microenvironment and took classes in a wide range of mathematical subdisciplines. It was very difficult as I knew I had less experience with mathematics than many of my peers, but I also had complementary skills in working on real-world scientific problems, which gave me a unique vantage point to think about the methods I was studying. When I kept my focus on the subject matter, I knew I was where I needed to be. It was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my life. I work at the interface of data science and applied mathematics to help address challenging problem sets in national security, and more generally in the computational and data science realms. Something you come to understand by taking a strong pivot, is that both you and the world have the capacity to honor a new stage in your life and career, especially if you approach the challenge thoughtfully and creatively. I had come to understand that for me, the next stage that I wanted to reach was to expand my applied mathematics capabilities to new domains in addition to the life sciences. And, really, I was ready! Studying the life sciences from a mathematical perspective prepares you to handle a variety of complex data problems. The field is full of extremely noisy data - but data that has, if you chip at it long enough, fascinating patterns and meaning underneath the noise. I now get to do just that as a Research Staff Member at the Center for Computing Sciences, Institute for Defense Analyses (CCS/IDA). I work at the interface of data science and applied mathematics to help address challenging problem sets in national security, and more generally in the computational and data science realms. I’ve used approaches ranging from applied dynamical systems (PDEs and ODEs) to, more recently, unsupervised learning methods employing matrix- and tensor-decomposition frameworks. I also hold an adjunct faculty role in the Laboratory for Systems Medicine at the University of Florida, which allows me to continue to collaborate on projects in mathematical and systems biology. I wish I had known to take advantage of all [professional societies] have to offer earlier in my career. What I’ve come to realize is that your unique interests and capabilities, even when they may not fit easily into a clear label, do have a place in this world where they will be valued. My background in mathematical biology has given me a unique perspective on the challenges I face in my current role, both from a mathematical and applied sense. And it makes for some fun intersectional research. Finally, I’d like to make a quick shout-out to the power of professional societies. I wish I had known to take advantage of all they have to offer earlier in my career. Societies like the American Mathematical Society (AMS), Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM), and Society for Mathematical Biology (SMB) all provide opportunities to network via conferences and meetings, and to learn more about opportunities in and outside of academia utilizing the skills you learn. You don’t need a minimum degree to join - just an interest to connect with like-minded researchers.
Her Maths Story