Gillian
Taylor
Hometown: Concord, NC
Major: Math, with minors in Computer Science and Religious Studies
Research Interest: Knot theory; representation theory
“Before starting college I was unsure if making a life in academia was the right path for me, but after getting involved in undergraduate research work and having opportunities to help my peers discover the joy of mathematics, I have found that it's hard to imagine myself doing anything else!
WHAT DREW YOU TO THE CSS PROGRAM?
I was drawn to CSS by the opportunity to be a member of a community of likeminded peers, providing me with a relatively small yet incredibly beneficial network of students, staff, and faculty amidst the backdrop of a much larger university.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR FAVORITE CSS EXPERIENCE SO FAR?
My favorite CSS experience so far has been getting closer to all the people I’ve met through the program! I feel like CSS has really provided me a home here at Carolina and I couldn’t be more grateful for that.
HOW HAS CSS SHAPED YOUR CAREER GOALS?
My experiences with CSS have solidified my desire to pursue a career as a professor. Before starting college I was unsure if making a life in academia was the right path for me, but after getting involved in undergraduate research work and having opportunities to help my peers discover the joy of mathematics, I have found that it’s hard to imagine myself doing anything else!
WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY RESEARCH INTEREST?
I’m interested in Representation Theory and Knot Theory. I’m currently working with Dr. David Rose’s research group in the UNC Math Department. I am collaborating on extending a certain method of construction for 3-manifold invariants to a specific type of web calculus. A web calculus can be thought of as a set of diagrams related to a mathematical category along with relations that can be used to do calculations with these diagrams.
AWARDS AND HONORS
- CSS Distinguished Scholar Award