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Mathematical Science student Joshua Creegan is participating in the summer research programme at the Faculty of Science and Engineering. We recently met with Joshua to ask about the programme and what he was investigating.

Course: Mathematical Science

Supervisor: Associate Professor Clifford Nolan

Name of Research Project/Activity: Estimating sources of radiation using microlocal analysis.

Why did you decide to study Mathematical Science at UL? 

I’m a second-year undergraduate studying mathematical science. During secondary school I developed a strong interest in maths and was encouraged to pursue the subject beyond the leaving cert. I chose this degree in particular because I liked the common entry pathway and how I got the chance to discover what I was interested in studying before committing to certain subjects.

What motivated you to apply for the Summer Bursary Programme? 

I felt the programme offered a unique opportunity to focus on a single problem for several weeks and to have all the work and learning I do be in the context of that problem. This is quite different to anything I’ve experienced in my studies during my course where I have to constantly juggle several modules all with different motivations to their material.

 What are you doing as part of your research here at UL? 

So far I’ve been doing background research so that I have the tools to be able to attempt to study the problem outlined in the research title. We’ve also been decomposing an auxiliary problem to test building models around wave propagation and reflection.

What skills have you developed over the summer? 

So far I think the most important skill I’ve developed is the ability to learn in a more hands off environment, I think my understanding of mathematics in several areas has improved too but I feel being able to study topics especially quite abstract ones without having to have the structure of a module is a big advantage to doing the programme.

What has this experience taught you and what would you recommend it to others? 

In terms of maths and course relevant material it taught me a lot. It has also taught me to coordinate with others and how to do more self-motivated work.

As for whether I’d recommend it to others, I think it would depend on the person. If you’re interested in the topic you’re researching and ready and able to set aside time yourself to focus on it then yes I think it will be a very rewarding experience. I also think your supervisor plays a big role in what you get out of the programme and finding someone you work well with is important.

What are your future career plans, would you consider a career in research? 

So far I have enjoyed my experience with the research program and so would definitely consider pursuing a career in research in the future.