Darsh Gandhi 

Bauman Headshot
Research Area: Mathematical biology/numerical analysis
Undergraduate Institute: University of Texas at Arlington
Hometown: Fort Worth, TX
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/darshgandhi/

Why did you choose AMSC?
AMSC had all of the things I was looking for in a graduate program! The department is home to the advisor I wanted to work with, is active in the areas of research I'm interested in, and its graduates place well in academia and BIG careers. Also, the closeness to DC and having the Brin Center at UMD are really exciting aspects of being here. Another big factor was how welcoming and lively the students, the faculty, and especially the administrators were when visiting (and still are today).

What are your research interests and why? How did you discover this interest?
I like to work on problems which can have real-world impacts in biology, medicine, and public health, and my research interests fall broadly into the field of mathematical biology. My collaborators and I develop, analyze, and solve mathematical models to understand why biological phenomena happen the way they happen or to predict clinical outcomes. Before choosing to do math, I was mainly interested in medicine, so this field allows me to continue being curious about human health. I was very fortunate to find great mentors who help me explore this area.

What do you do in your free time to keep a work/life balance during graduate school?

I enjoy exploring around DC and soaking up as much sun as I can! There's always something to do, and I've met some really interesting people through run clubs, comedy shows, and music. Also, lots of the graduate students in the program are very talented and creative too, so I've been inspired to start drawing and painting again and want to learn to crochet.

What is your favorite thing about University of Maryland and why?
I'm enjoying getting to know the other students in and out of the Math Department! Because of the interdisciplinary nature of our program, it has been easy to meet people from many different backgrounds. Everyone has interesting stories to share!

What advice would you give to incoming students?
Always be kind to yourself and to others! You and everyone around you are all intelligent, capable, amazing human beings who deserve patience, love, and respect.