“Cool people, cool research,” is one of the main reasons Rayan Ibrahim, Ph.D. (M.S.’21, Ph.D.’24) enrolled in VCU’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics’ Systems Modeling and Analysis doctoral program. After years in the program, which included marrying the puzzle-solving aspects of research with the gratification of teaching undergraduate students, Ibrahim knew choosing a career in lecture halls instead of industry was the right synthesis of his interests.

“One of the most fulfilling parts of academia is the impact you have on the lives of some students,” Ibrahim said. “I'll never forget the feeling I got the first time I received a letter of gratitude from a student when I was teaching precalculus at VCU.”

Now, as an assistant professor at Hamilton College, Ibrahim relishes the opportunity to help the next generation of college students fit the pieces of their educational journey. “[When] I think of who I admire the most in my life and who my heroes are, most often what comes to mind are all the teachers I've had up until this point.”

What inspired you to pursue a graduate degree and then your Ph.D.? What drew you to VCU to do so?

I felt a natural draw to graduate school; I knew that this is something that I wanted to accomplish in my life, and given that I was fortunate enough to have options, I seized the opportunity. I'm always looking to learn and grow, and I knew that I needed to be in an environment that was conducive to this goal. It's really less of an inspiration, and more of a natural, "Why not?"

When I was applying to graduate schools, I happened upon VCU somewhat by chance. One of my professors received a pamphlet from VCU advertising the Systems Modeling and Analysis doctoral program, and sent it my way. He noted that there are people working on things that match my field of interest, so I naturally applied. What really drew me to VCU, however, was my campus visit. Everyone, from the students to the faculty, were warm, welcoming, honest, and down-to-earth. One faculty member that I had a meeting with that day would eventually become one of my advisors, Craig Larson, Ph.D. I don't think we really talked about that much math, but rather basketball and something about honey badgers. 

Another thing that drew me to VCU was the number of faculty doing research in my field of interest: discrete mathematics. I could not pass up the opportunity to be somewhere with this much vibrant research activity in my favorite kind of math, from the weekly seminars to the annual research workshops.

Cool people, cool research.

Was there a faculty member that made a particular impact on your education and/or career journey? How so?

I'd have to name both of my advisors, Allison Moore, Ph.D., and Dr. Larson. Sometimes on the internet, or through the grapevine, I hear horror stories of graduate students with incompatible advisors. When I hear these stories, I'm reminded of how lucky I was (or am) to have two world-class mentors in graduate school. They molded me into the mathematician I am today, and without them I would not have been afforded the many opportunities to grow and learn. Their willingness to guide me, motivate me, and the time they've invested in me was my most invaluable asset. I don't think I would have made it through graduate school without them.

My advisors are the first to come to mind, but there are many more faculty members that have had all sorts of impacts on my journey. As I get further along in my career, I realize more and more that my accomplishments are never my own, but rather a product of my efforts and the help I've received along the way.

Tell me about your current role as an assistant professor at Hamilton College. What does your day-to-day look like?

My day-to-day work varies. As an assistant professor, my main responsibility is to teach three courses a semester. So, I'm teaching three days a week, with the other two days set aside for office hours, research, and prepping. Besides that, I enjoy tea with my colleagues as we swap stories or compare our approaches to mathematical pedagogy. Furthermore, I love interacting with students and getting involved, whether that's by attending events that they perform in or organize, or simply inviting them over to my office to put together a jigsaw puzzle.

What inspired you to work in academia?

I realized that academia is the environment that I can thrive in the most. There was a brief moment in time where I entertained the idea of moving to industry, however any time I thought of acquiring the skills to do so, my mind always returned to, "How can I package this and teach it to students?"

I enjoy the freedom to learn, and in particular to learn what I want to learn. I enjoy being able to create things. Most of all, I enjoy the opportunity to share what I create and learn, especially with students. Even if I've taught a course before, teaching always leads to a more solidified understanding of some concepts, often in an enlightening way. And you never know, students can surprise you in unsuspecting ways, and become the teacher themselves. 

Then there is research, where I can work on problems for months on end, keeping my brain occupied. If someone loved solving sudoku puzzles and crosswords, would they not like to be paid to do them?

Besides this, I want to do something with my life that leads me to a feeling of fulfillment. This can be quite hard to quantify. One of the most fulfilling parts of academia is the impact you have on the lives of some students. I'll never forget the feeling I got the first time I received a letter of gratitude from a student when I was teaching precalculus at VCU.

How did the curriculum in the Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics prepare you for your professional work? 

I loved how the curriculum emphasizes breadth early on. As someone who is interested in mathematics as a whole — both applied and pure, as many would split it — I appreciated that I was required, and encouraged, to dip my toes in fields far from my field of interest. This experience has helped me bridge the gap with colleagues who may not study the same things I do. Later on in the curriculum, I was able to take multiple topics courses in my area that prepared me for research. It's something that I look back on, and can't help but feel I've taken it for granted!

Besides course work, I was required to participate in seminars, give talks, and prepare a publication. This prepared me for participating in conferences and professional workshops.

What’s your why?

Learning, creating, and having an impact. I feel an inner drive to constantly grow my inner knowledge base and body of work, as well as to push the boundaries of what is known. I find the feeling of having an impact on someone's life to be one of the most fulfilling, perhaps because when I think of who I admire the most in my life and who my heroes are, most often what comes to mind are all the teachers I've had up until this point.