“Challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey”: From Swabi to King’s College. Masood’s Mathematical Beginnings

IMM Pakistan

Masood’s journey stands as a powerful testament to the IMM programme’s aim to cultivate international mathematical excellence and equip students for the most competitive postgraduate opportunities. This piece celebrates Masood’s transformation as he journeyed from Swabi, through the highs and lows of academia, to the global academic stage, and how the IMM program set him on a course to both inner and outward academic achievement. His story is a reflection of perseverance, fondness for math, and the
programme’s dedication to shaping future leaders in the field.

Masood at IMM

Masood began his journey in the IMM program while completing a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Peshawar. He was instantly attracted to the prospects the program held; most notably its international faculty, the fellowship it provided, and the active alumni network reaching out to prospective students. Like many, Masood started seeing mathematics as an assortment of abstract problems without any real-world connection. IMM did away with this notion, showing mathematics to be a live, cutting-edge field with strong connections to both real-world problems and other fields. Beyond fortifying his technical foundation, the program had imparted to him the importance of collaboration, creativity, and resilience in mathematical research. It had broadened his view of what the field’s possibilities were.

IMM to King’s College

While completing his Master’s degree in the IMM programme (expected graduation in late
May), Masood achieved a significant milestone: a full scholarship for a PhD at King’s College. Masood’s accomplishment highlights the transformative power of the IMM programme and its ability to serve as a launching pad for budding mathematicians to soar to the dizzying peaks in the academic world. IMM’s international nature, taught by leading experts in the field, results in a phenomenal percentage of successful graduates.

Beyond Academia: Research & Education in Pakistan

Having been accepted at King’s College, Masood plans his future in mathematics openly and ambitiously. Masood’s first goal is to pursue a PhD and a postdoctoral research position to become an expert researcher in Mathematics. Masood, however, is not satisfied with individual academic success. He aims to create a positive impact in his home country and region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Masood understands firsthand the difficulty of studying in a region beset by political instability that leaves many students unable to pursue secondary education. His plan includes partnerships with universities and fellow educators to create a system-wide mathematics programme. The goal of this project is to encourage
mathematics education and research, and to nurture the next generation of mathematicians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, thereby helping to develop the region academically.