Student Spotlight: Lydia Engle
Mon. 10/28/2019
Lydia Engle is a High School senior with the Mathematics and Science Academy at UTRGV. She is an aspiring Mathematician and is already working on research with her mentor, Dr. Brandt Kronholm. Lydia began her research through the High Scholars Research Program, which allows high school students to participate and engage in genuine research with UTRGV Professors every summer. Their research is on integer partitions, which straddles number theory and combinatorics. Lydia is currently waiting to hear back on the status of her abstract submitted to the Undergraduate Student Poster session sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) which is to be held at the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) in Denver, CO in January 2020.
Where are you from, and what year in school are you? What is your anticipated graduation year?
I am from Wilma, Minnesota and am a Senior in high school currently. I anticipate to graduate in May of 2020
What brought you to UTRGV?
There are a few factors that brought me to UTRGV. The first being the Mathematics and Sciences Academy (MSA) which allows me to be a fulltime college student while working towards my high school diploma. The second is simply that UTRGV is a nice escape from the awfully long winters in Minnesota
What inspired you to choose your major and your specific area or research?
I have always loved math and was drawn to it naturally, but my inspiration mostly comes from the math professors I have had here at UTRGV. Dr. Kronholm has been a main guidance in my journey through mathematics and the research process. I got into this specific area of research through Dr. Kronholm. I was intrigued after learning about his studies and inquired further. Being able to have figures in my life that encourage me and help me is a huge blessing.
What aspect of the major in Mathematics do you find most exciting?
There are many aspects of Mathematics that excite me, but I would have to say the factor that stands out to me the most is the duality math has with creativity. Math tends to be perceived as operations without emotion, but through the research process I have come to realize how much creativity is utilized in the field. Being able to express yourself through math is an idea that is beautiful to me. Another aspect that is very exciting is how math can be applied in almost every discipline of science. Being able to study a subject that is at such a high need is very exciting and gives me the potential to work in many different areas.
How did you learn about the research opportunities that you ended up pursuing?
Dr. Kronholm gave a presentation at the Mathematics and Science Academy on his area of research. I was intrigued after his presentation, so I got in contact with him and through the High Scholars Program we began research right away.
Are there other faculty or staff who have helped or inspired you?
Dr. Kronholm has been the main mentor through my academic journey, but there have been others that have inspired me. Dr. Incera, the Dean of the College of Sciences, has been a huge influential figure to me. She inspires me to be academically strong as she herself is a woman in the sciences. Also, Dr. Smetter, my principle at the Mathematics and Science Academy, has brought me countless opportunities. I look up to both of these women for guidance and inspiration.
What on-campus resources/departments or offices have helped you prepare for academic success?
MSA has shaped me greatly for academic success. They have guided and encouraged me through my educational journey. The Science department has helped me as well by supporting me and giving me opportunities to expand my knowledge. Lastly, the Math department has been very welcoming to me and given me a home on campus.
What do you like to do when you’re not doing schoolwork or research?
Next to school and mathematics, my passion is dancing. I have danced for as long as I can remember. I feel so much joy when I dance and can’t think of a better way to spend my spare time. Dancing contains the same creativity that math has which is why I love both so much.
After graduating, what are your plans?
After graduating high school, I plan to attend college and get my undergraduate degree. After getting my bachelors I plan to move on to graduate school and do research in a specified area. I have enjoyed doing research and would like to explore different areas with the goal of expanding my curiosity.
What has been your favorite/most memorable moment in the program? This does not have to be academic--examples include connecting with a professor, working on a research project, volunteer work, etc.*
Besides the whole experience of getting to work with Dr. Kronholm, there have been a few moments that have been exceptionally memorable. A moment that comes to mind is when Dr. Kronholm and I discovered that using a type of geometry would thoroughly complete our result in number theory. This was very unexpected as number theory is generally quite different from geometry, but it beautifully concluded our findings. We were both very surprised at this and couldn't’t believe how perfect it fit into our results. This is a small example of how being open-minded and creative is an essential part of doing research.