Carli Peterson

Carli Peterson
Mathematics
College of Science
3rd-year
Inez, TX

What inspired you to pursue graduate school?
Toward the end of my bachelor’s degree, I was curious about graduate school but lacked confidence in myself. After graduating, I started a full-time job that did not challenge me in the way I had hoped. After a few months, I realized I wanted something more demanding. That experience pushed me to trust myself and pursue graduate school.

Why did you choose your current program or area of study?
I struggled with math when I was younger, but something clicked in middle school and I began to truly enjoy it. From that point on, math became my favorite subject. Even though I did not always know exactly what I would do with it, I knew I wanted to continue studying it, which ultimately led me to this program.

What motivates you on challenging days in graduate school?
The “Dr.” title is definitely motivating! More than that, my support system keeps me going. My family and friends constantly remind me how far I have come and why I chose this path when self-doubt sets in.

Please provide a brief description of your research or current project.
My research focuses on Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by ticks. I study how tick populations change over time, what influences their survival, and how those factors affect disease transmission.

What impact do you hope your research or work will have?
I hope my research helps inform management or prevention strategies for Lyme disease by identifying factors that influence tick populations. From a mathematical standpoint, the model we developed is relatively novel and produces interesting dynamics. I hope this work encourages future exploration of similar modeling approaches in mathematical biology.

What has been your favorite part of your graduate experience so far?
Graduate school has helped me discover a new side of myself. I have always been introverted, and the pandemic pushed me further into my comfort zone. Through presentations, networking, and collaboration, graduate school has encouraged me to step outside that comfort zone. I am grateful for that growth because it has helped me become not only a better student, but a more confident and connected person.

What achievement during grad school are you most proud of?
I am most proud of how much I have accomplished over the past three years. When I began graduate school, I had little understanding of what research entailed. Since then, I have written and submitted three research papers, presented at multiple conferences, and even given presentations to help new students learn about research.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a graduate student?
Everyone’s journey is different. It is easy to compare yourself to others, but we all come from different backgrounds and face different challenges. A quote I like is: “The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.”

How has your perspective on your field changed since you started your program?
When I started graduate school, I did not know which area I wanted to pursue. I joined a mathematical biology research group without fully understanding what it involved and was nervous since biology had never been my favorite subject. Over time, I realized how powerful and broadly applicable mathematical biology is, from disease modeling to cancer research and neuroscience.

What career path are you hoping to pursue after graduation?
I am still exploring my path. I have discovered that I truly enjoy research—ironically, the aspect I was most nervous about at the beginning. I am especially interested in public health and applying mathematical models to real-world data. Academia also feels like a strong fit, as I enjoy working with students. For now, I plan to continue learning, gaining experience, and exploring opportunities to find the path that fits me best.