Abdullah Malik
Hometown: Islamabad, Pakistan
Fall 2018 – present
PhD in Mathematics
Fulbright Scholar
Educational/Professional Background
In high school, I chose subjects to help me get into medical school but I was fortunate enough never to make it to a public medical school. I enrolled for a bachelor's in mathematics to pass my academic year and try my luck for the next round of applications in med school but I was so enamored with math that.. well, I not only completed my bachelor's in mathematics but I have a master's in mathematics, too, and now, here I am for a PhD. I have mostly been affiliated with the academia. I have also worked for a few magazines and one journal as a subeditor.
Research and Teaching Interests, or Professional Field
I am mostly interested in foundational issues, whether they be of mathematics or physics. I am always told that I will outgrow them, as I get exposed to more serious math but that hasn't happened, yet. I am always drawn back to the same questions. These days, I am working my way through the formalism of factorization algebras for quantum field theory.
Experience as A Graduate Student at FSU
FSU is such a rich place with plenty of opportunities and events for everyone. Heck, we even have a cinema and a circus! The libraries are well-equipped and I have been able to find gems in there. The strolls I have taken in the evening with my family on Landis Green are one of the most memorable experiences, so far.
Experience as A Member of The Fellows Society
The Fellows Society continues to draw people close together and it does a pretty good job of it, too. The current problems humanity faces are multidimensional and will require various tools and expertise to be brought together to work in unison. The Fellows Society's events in general and, in particular, the the experiences and expertise of the fellows has certainly provided me with such a perspective. I hope that I can take this legacy forward.
Future Plans/Aspirations
After my PhD, I am certainly sticking with the academia. There is a lot to work for, not only in terms of research output but in terms of connecting people and touching lives.