Julia Shapiro

Why did you choose the Mathematics Department at Virginia Tech?

I came to Virginia Tech to pursue my graduate degree because of the research being conducted in the Applied Algebra Research group led by my advisor Gretchen Matthews, the opportunities for interdisciplinary work in the mathematics department and the community at VT. The mathematics graduate students and faculty here are welcoming, supportive and very open to collaboration. I am also passionate about getting involved, and there are many outreach opportunities at VT such as Blacksburg Math Circles and Association for Women in Mathematics. The opportunity to work with the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia and the Virginia Tech National Security Institute gives me amazing connections with government and industry and expands my network that will be crucial for my future career in mathematics.

Tell us about your research project.

My area of research is in algebraic coding theory with focus on communications over adversarial networks and my advisor is Dr. Gretchen Matthews. This project is also under the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative secure, distributed computing and communications project. My master’s thesis title is: Multishot Capacity of Adversarial Networks.

Congratulations on your recent 2024 COS Outstanding Master's Student Award! What are some of the ways that you've become involved as a graduate student?

I am a graduate student ambassador for the mathematics department, I am a senator for the mathematics department on the Graduate Professional and Student Senate and am a Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia Innovation Scholar. I won honorable mention at the SIAM SEAS at VT and Most Astute Presentation in connection with my presentation Multishot Capacity of Adversarial Networks at the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia Graduate Student Summit. I am also highly involved with the community through Blacksburg Math Circles.

What is one of your favorite memories as a graduate student?

My favorite memory as a graduate student is getting the opportunity to present my work in front of VT president Tim Sands and the amazing conferences I have been able to attend such as SIAM Conference on Applied Algebraic Geometry 2023 in Eindhoven, the Netherlands!

What is a fun fact that most might not know about you?

An interesting fact about myself is I learned how to fly a plane in high school (took an AOPA course) and hope to some day get my private pilot's license.

What are you doing when you aren't working on research?

Outside of math you can find me playing intramural sports, shopping, making potlucks and game nights with the graduate students or eating at Gaucho Brazilian Grille!