Profile

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Kaitlyn Ries

    • About Me:

      I am currently doing a PhD. I live in Newcastle, and I enjoy driving and reading. I love going for walks with my mum. I enjoy coding in Python and R.

    • Read more

      I drive a Polo GTI and I enjoy modding my car. Last year I read 30 books and I am hoping to read 30 this year too.

    • My pronouns are:

      she/her

    • How I use Maths in my work:

      I use Maths all the time in my PhD work. My work focuses on modelling the spread of moths. I use probabilities to define how each moth moves (e.g. 50% chance of moving left and a 50% chance of moving right) and I can add more rules for the moths to follow in the hopes of making the spread look realistic.

    • My Work:

      I model the spread of moths. I use Python to do so. I hope that my model can predict where the moths will be spread next year so that people can get rid of them. For example, if you had an oak tree that was very important to you, and my model said the moths that eat the leaves on oak trees, which damage the trees, were likely to live on your tree next year, you might want to invest money in protecting your tree.

    • Read more

      My work is particularly interested in the oak processionary moth. These moths are small and their diet consists of the oak tree leaves.

    • My Typical Day:

      I wake up and have breakfast, specifically porridge and a coffee. I go for a walk before work with my mum. I get to work just before 9am where I spend my day writing code and looking at graphs. I have lunch with my friends around 12pm and I set off home at 5pm.

    • Read more

      In the evenings I enjoy watching tv with my mum and sister. I also enjoy reading and chatting over dinner.

    • What I'd do with the prize money:

      If I won the £500 prize money, I would put it towards the Newcastle outreach program. This program helps get primary school students into Newcastle University where researchers and lecturers give presentations to show them the importance of maths and the benefits of doing Mathematics at university. It also tries to decrease the stigma of Maths being ‘too hard’ for people to do.

    CV

    • Education:

      I went to college in Leeds where I studied Maths, Physics and Psychology. At university I studied Mathematics and Statistics. I then did a Masters in Research and now I am doing a PhD at Newcastle University.

    • Qualifications:

      I got 10 GCSEs ranging from 5-8. I then did three A-levels where I got A*, A and a B.

    • Work History:

      I have worked as a bartender, a waitress and a receptionist.

    • Current Job:

      I am currenlty a PhD student at Newcastle University.

    • Employer:

      Newcastle University

    • My Interview

      • What did you want to be after you left school?

        An accountant

        Were you ever in trouble at school?

        No

        If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?

        A lawyer

        Who is your favourite singer or band?

        The Weeknd

        What's your favourite food?

        Fajitas

        If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!

        Unlimited money, solve world hunger, world peace

Questions answered by Kaitlyn

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