In CHOOSEMATHS grant winner profiles
CHOOSEMATHS Grant recipient profile: Hadil Alhazmi

Hadil Alhazmi

Australian National University

Hadil Alhazmi is a PhD student in Mathematics at Australian National University. Her Masters in Mathematical Sciences at the University of Adelaide in Australia was awarded in 2012. Her major fields are differential geometry and partial differential equations (pde). In particular, working on some hypersurfaces into space forms of constant curvature. Besides, she is also studying some non-linear pde’s.

1. Can you give me a quick overview of the type of mathematics you are studying and its potential impacts for the broader community (think how you would explain your work and studies at a BBQ)

I am currently working on some classes of hypersurfaces embedded into the sphere and that satisfy some curvature equations.

2. You received a CHOOSEMATHS Grant to assist your attendance at AMSI Winter School 2018. How important was this in terms of your ability to attend and fully participate in the sessions throughout the program?

I would never have attended the AMSI Winter School without the CHOOSEMATHS grant. Not only did this grant assist me to attend, but also the team’s encouragement due to my pregnancy.

From the moment of receiving an email about the Winter School, the team were caring about my situation, and provided me with all useful facilities to help me to attend and fully participate in the session during the program.

3. How important are initiatives such as the CHOOSEMATHS Grants in terms of fostering the participation and achievement of women in mathematics, particularly in terms of access to networking opportunities and further training opportunities?

The CHOOSEMATHS grant is very useful. Communication with other mathematicians in my field and exchanging experience are great opportunities.

4. In what ways has the experience impacted your maths studies? Has it influenced the direction of your research?

Yes, of course. The discussion with the experienced and professional lecturers in the area curvature provides me with a lot of information and knowledge in different interesting directions to extend my current research.

5. What was the most valuable part of AMSI Winter School 2018 for you in terms of furthering your career in mathematical sciences?

Most lectures and discussion are valuable in my research area. They covered various topics about curvature and introduce us with some open problems that will be effective in further work in the future.

6. A presentation on the AMSI Intern program was included as part of the Opening Ceremony. One of the aims of the AMSI Intern program is to maximise employability and help prepare research graduates to drive industry/private sector research. Are you hoping to work with industry? How important is this experience for researchers? Particularly in terms of offering career flexibility for women?

It is a great chance for all higher education students especially Phd students for working with industry. The AMSI intern talk shows us some important private sectors that students can do an internship with and help to increase their experience.

7. The CHOOSEMATHS Grants are part of a broader program being delivered by AMSI Schools with support from BHP Billiton to turn the tide on Australia’s maths deficit and strengthen maths education and participation of women across the discipline. What do you see as the big challenges facing maths in Australia, particularly for women?

The biggest problem for women studying maths is that they normally have some duties with their families, and sometimes a long break due to parental leave. As doing research requires a lots of time and energy, for some women they have to sacrifice their personal lives.

8. Where do you see yourself in five, ten years time?

I would like to work as a researcher at university and some private sector to connect the research with the workplace.

9. Any other feedback/comments you would like to provide on the CHOOSEMATHS grant or AMSI Winter School 2018?

I am really appreciate all the efforts, and arrangement and support from the CHOOSEMATHS grant and the well-organized team: Philip Isaac, Andree Philips and Anna Muscara. In my opinion they do not only represent the AMSI Winter School, but also the University of Queensland.