From Peshawar to Liverpool: Dr. Wajid Ali’s Journey from Mentee to Mentor

Some stories are about academic success, others are about personal resilience. But the journey of Dr. Wajid Ali from the bustling streets of Peshawar, Pakistan, to the lecture halls of the University of Liverpool is about something greater: the power of mentorship, global collaboration, and the transformative beauty of mathematics.

Today, Dr. Ali is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour at Liverpool. His work spans vaccine hesitancy, eco-evolutionary dynamics, time-series forecasting, and genomic data analysis bridging mathematics, biology, and data science to tackle real-world problems. But his path to this interdisciplinary career began with a simple childhood fascination for numbers and patterns.

“Mathematics allows us to uncover the hidden beauty and patterns in the world,” he reflects. “It helps us visualise concepts that are beyond our everyday intuition.”

A Foundation Built in Pakistan

Dr. Ali’s love for mathematics took root at the University of Peshawar where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. His studies gave him both a solid theoretical foundation and a growing appreciation for the subject’s relevance to understanding nature and complex systems.

A turning point came in 2019, when a friend encouraged him to attend a lecture by Professor Stefano Luzzatto at the Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences in Lahore. That meeting introduced him to the International Mathematics Master (IMM) program an initiative dedicated to nurturing problem-solving, creativity, and global academic exchange.

The IMM Experience: Growth Through Challenge

Accepted into the 2019–2020 IMM cohort, Dr. Ali began his studies in person, learning from distinguished international professors and engaging with peers from around the world. Courses such as Algebraic Topology, Dynamical Systems, and Machine Learning would later prove crucial to his research.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the program online midway through, but the IMM community adapted, maintaining its collaborative spirit. His performance earned him a spot in the Master 2 program in Marseille, France, a leap that expanded his academic horizons and personal resilience.

A Global Career Takes Shape

From Marseille, Dr. Ali’s path led to the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellowship at the University of Liverpool, where he explored mathematical models in epidemiology, behavioural ecology, and evolutionary game theory. Upon completing his PhD, he was offered a postdoctoral position continuing his mission to blend mathematical theory with real-world impact.

Giving Back: The Maths Volunteers Foundation

Beyond research, Dr. Ali is deeply committed to mentorship. As the founding director of The Maths Volunteers Foundation, he offers free guidance to students especially those from underprivileged backgrounds on scholarships, academic planning, and career opportunities.

“I started Maths Volunteers because I know how difficult it can be to navigate academic opportunities without proper guidance. I wanted to create a platform where students feel supported, seen, and empowered to pursue their dreams.”

Looking Ahead

Dr. Ali envisions a career that balances research, problem-solving, and community engagement. Whether in academia or industry, he aims to remain interdisciplinary and impactful continuing to inspire the next generation of thinkers.

His story is a reminder that mathematics is more than formulas and theorems it’s a lens for understanding the world, a tool for solving urgent problems, and a bridge that connects communities across the globe.

To learn more about Dr. Ali’s research and mentoring work, visit wajidali30.github.io.