Over the next two weeks, as we approach the commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Class of 2025, we will be sharing some senior spotlights of outstanding students from each CEMS department.
Chapel Hill, NC, native Erin Silver is a double major in Mathematics and Statistics with minors in Computer Science & Chinese.
How did you choose your major?
I took a year off due to COVID before my freshman year. During that year, I discovered a fascination for math I'd never had the chance to pursue because I'd struggled with math in high school. I switched to a statistics major from anthropology and added the math major after finding a love for proofs.
Do you have a memorable research experience from your time in CEMS?
In Basics of Data Science, I had this great partner project where I worked with someone from the USDA who was taking the class as part of professional training. It was just such a delightfully smooth experience, and I loved getting their perspective as someone who regularly used the principles in the class.
Is there a class or professor who had a significant impact on your academic journey at UVM?
There were so many. However, the one class with the most significant impact was definitely Jean-Gabriel Young's Statistical Network Analysis because that class introduced me to my biggest research interest, which is also why I'm going to graduate school.
"Erin asked to join a course—the graduate course in Network Analysis—as a junior, and I couldn't find a good reason to say no! She was already so accomplished, and her interest in the topic was contagious. She quickly became an integral part of the class.”
– Dr. Jean-Gabriel Young
Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Have any internships or work experience helped to guide you on your career path?
I was a teaching assistant for 6 out of 8 semesters while I was here, so that definitely got me comfortable with the ins and outs of an academic department
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be pursuing a Master of Mathematics in statistics at the University of Waterloo, in Ontario. CEMS was a really welcoming environment, and I think that the knowledge that relationships with faculty and my cohort are my greatest asset for the challenges ahead will be pivotal in my ability to succeed.
Is there any advice you would share with incoming first-year students?
Rest! Oh my god, there's nothing more important than rest. I can count on one hand the number of Saturdays I've spent doing classwork, and I get seven or more hours of sleep almost every night. The hit to your grade from late work is nowhere near the hit from shoddy work due to chronic exhaustion.
Is there an achievement that you are particularly proud of?
Not really! While I'm super proud of my general academic performance, I don't think there was anything remarkable.
“Erin’s coursework in Network Analysis led to a summer internship with Pr. Alice Patania and I, during which she continued to excel. I think that when she attended the international conference in Network Science in Québec in summer 2024, everything clicked—she had truly found her future field.”
– Dr. Jean-Gabriel Young
Assistant Professor
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
How do you envision your future in the next five years?
I'm hoping to pursue a doctorate after the master's degree. Unless the miraculous or extremely unfortunate happens, I'll be still working through that!
Can you share a fond memory of living on campus?
In my freshman year, there was a guy who was trying to build an igloo one of the times it snowed that year. A few friends and I joined in. We never got the whole thing finished, but it was cool.