Best day at Mac for student leader combined research, learning and friends

Emma Naguit had a blast celebrating her 21^st birthday. The next day was even better and ranks as Emma’s all-time favourite at McMaster.

The day was packed with everything she loved about being an undergrad – doing research, going to lectures and getting together with friends. First up was a morning meeting to talk about her research thesis project with her supervisors – assistant professor Jenna  Rajchgot  and postdoctoral fellow Sergio Da Silva. Emma then headed off for a couple of in-person lectures. After class, she met up with friends she’d only seen over Zoom during the pandemic – they filled every seat around one of the long common tables on Hamilton Hall’s upper floors. The perfect day ended with the first Math & Stats Society social event of the year in the Phoenix Bar & Grill. That’s where Emma met tons of new people who’d soon join her ever-growing circle of friends.

“I was smiling so hard that day.”

Emma got involved in the student-run society on the recommendation of professor Adam Van Tuyl. “It’s where I’ve met all my closest friends.” Emma started volunteering as a first-year mentor, ran the society’s mentorship program the following year and then took on the role of president this past year.

Emma’s proud of the society’s work in helping math and stats students feel welcome and connected. A couple highlights stand out. Professors wrote their favourite equations that were then reproduced on coffee mugs. And this year, the society brought in math drag queen Kyne Santos for a sold-out Math in Drag book signing event on the recommendation of assistant professor Greg Cousins. “My parents went and my dad bought the book to help make sense of what I’m studying at Mac,” says Emma.

She also heeded one other game-changing piece of advice from Adam – get involved in research as an undergrad. “Maybe Dr. Van Tuyl offers this advice to every first-year student but I took it to heart.” Securing three Undergraduate Student Research Awards from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada let Emma spend her summers doing algebraic research. She also completed a senior research thesis with Jenna and Sergio. Jenna, who taught Emma in two courses, said their research meetings with were always enjoyable and productive – Emma came prepared and ready to do the work.

Emma presented her research on toric ideals of graphs at the Canadian Undergraduate Math Conference. It was a great experience, says Emma. “Everyone at the conference was interested in what everyone else was doing and you spent the entire time talking about math.”

Emma says she’s indebted to Sergio and Jenna. “They believed in me from the start. They’re the reason I decided to go to graduate school and pursue a career in academia.” She’ll began graduate school this fall at McMaster, with Jenna continuing as her supervisor.

Emma’s also grateful for the faculty, staff and students who greeted her during McMaster’s open house for prospective students. Going to McMaster seemed predestined – both her parents and cousins are alumni. Yet she still checked out other universities during her last year of high school. She says the meet and greets at other universities felt like a handshake. “McMaster was a hug. And it’s felt that way ever since.”