NGOC MAI TRAN
3rd Year student in Statistics (Berkeley)
Bachelor of Mathematics 2007
On first arriving in Newcastle as an 8th-grader from Vietnam, Ngoc Mai Tran says she was identified as a “geek with ‘fitting-in’ issues.” Now doing her PhD at UC Berkeley, Ngoc has come a long way, and even goes so far as to say her time as an undergraduate in Newcastle defined her as a person.
An early acheiver, Ngoc started taking First Year Math classes under the guidance of her teachers at Newcastle High and Professor Jacqui Rammage from the University. “Jacqui even went as far as giving me private lessons on group theory with another young student, and she offered to drive me home. I concluded ‘Mathematicians are so nice!’”
At the age of 16 Ngoc entered the Bachelor of Mathematics program at the University of Newcastle. She says, “My positive academic experience continued at UoN, along with a newly formed social experience. I took classes in Math, Computer Science, Chemistry and Biology, and was very lucky to have supportive professors. Jacqui and Professor Iain Raeburn continued to be my mentors and friends. In fact, I am visiting them this summer. I also lived at International House for three semesters, played for the soccer team, participated in the sports club and made life-long friends from many countries.”
Ngoc graduated in 2007 and went on to do Honours at Melbourne University. She is now a third year PhD student in statistics at Berkeley. “The undergrad experience at Newcastle defined me as a person. I have fond memories of the town, the beach, the University and most of all the people who inspired me to consider Mathematics as a career. I sincerely hope to contribute to the Newcastle community one day.”