Media contact: Brianna Hoge
Kiersten RatcliffKiersten Ratcliff is all-in on mathematics. Since choosing to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham for her studies, she has been exploring the many research and mentorship opportunities the department has to offer.
Ratcliff is a sophomore in the Department of Mathematics’ fast-track program which allows students to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree within four years. She was drawn to this program for its research offerings and mentorship opportunities, and her accomplishments in just the two years she has been a Blazer demonstrate how rapidly the fast-track program can accelerate students into meaningful careers.
For the Huntsville native, math was a subject she excelled in throughout grade school; however, the transition from high school to college life was not always straightforward for Ratcliff.
As a first-generation college student, she found there were occasions when she had to navigate the requirements of higher education on her own, so she decided to utilize one of the many resources available to UAB students.
Ratcliff joined the First Blazers organization, a group that offers peer mentorship for first-generation students. Ratcliff was able to speak with her upperclassman mentors and discuss the future and uncover possibilities available to her — a theme that would echo into her studies in the Department of Mathematics.
During the second semester of her freshman year, Ratcliff joined the research team of Milena Stanislavova, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Mathematics, where she discovered the versatility of math in real-life scenarios.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do engineering, science or pre-med, so I started with math because I felt it would be an easy transition to anything,” Ratcliff said. “I found math to be a useful tool on its own instead of just using it as a tool for physics or a tool for biology.”
Seeing Ratcliff’s potential, Stanislavova alerted her to an opportunity to participate in a highly selective Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at Boston University. This past summer, Ratcliff was accepted and attended the six-week program, where she researched the dynamic bifurcations of patterns with the goal of publishing the findings — which are set to publish in March 2025.
In January, she will co-present her summer research at the American Mathematical Society Joint Mathematics Meeting in Seattle, Washington. While at the conference, Ratcliff hopes to form connections with other mathematicians to learn about career opportunities as she aspires to pursue her Ph.D. in mathematics or her other love, economics. Regardless of the path she chooses, Ratcliff knows math will be involved.
To learn more about the Department of Mathematics and the fast-track program, click here.