What did you study at A-level equivalent and why did you select those subjects?
Life is full of surprises and unexpected gifts. During high school, I was fortunate to be admitted into a Public Exemplary School (Magnet school) through a national entrance exam — an opportunity that truly changed the course of my life. This school gave me the freedom to explore different subjects and discover my true interests. It was there that my maths teacher — one of the most influential people in my life — recognised my talent and passion for mathematics. With their encouragement and support, I began to study maths more seriously.
By the age of 16, I knew I wanted to pursue mathematics at university. In Iran, admission to top public universities requires passing a highly competitive national entrance exam at the end of 12 years of school. I took this exam in 2014 and earned a strong score, which allowed me to study in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department at Amirkabir University of Technology — one of the highest-ranked polytechnic universities in the country and internationally recognised. What started as a spark of interest in high school has now grown into a major career goal in mathematics.
What PhD do you study?
I have been a PhD student in Financial Mathematics at the University of Liverpool since October 2023. My primary supervisor is Dr Ehsan Azmoodeh, and my secondary supervisor is Dr Youness Boutaib. My research focuses on the application of machine learning in financial mathematics, with an emphasis on studying implied volatility surface and asian options.
What inspired you to choose and study your degree subject?
"So you have chosen to study Divination, the most difficult of all magical arts... Books can take you only so far in this field... many witches and wizards... are yet unable to penetrate the veiled mysteries of the future.” I was 14 when I first read these lines in Harry Potter, and they stayed with me.
At the time, I was also preparing for the International Mathematics Olympiad — exploring abstract concepts and solving challenging problems daily. The idea of predicting the future fascinated me. I began asking myself: Is magic real? Can we really foresee what’s to come? And then I realised: yes, we can — through science.
Mathematics, to me, became the real magic. Its formulas, logic, and patterns felt like spells capable of revealing truths about the world — even predicting the future in meaningful ways. As Marcus du Sautoy put it: “Mathematics is a place where you can do things which you can’t do in the real world.” And isn't that, in a way, the very definition of magic?
Since then, my dream has been to use the “magic” of mathematics to make the world work better — to find beauty in logic and power in precision. That inspiration is what drives my academic path today and fuels my desire to take my mathematical journey to the next level.
What key skills did you learn at university?
Whenever I face a problem, my instinct is to try to solve it — not avoid it. University taught me not to be afraid of challenges, but to approach them with persistence and creativity. If I lacked knowledge, I turned to textbooks and taught myself. If resources were limited, I found alternative solutions. I learned to keep moving forward, even when the path wasn't easy.
Through my academic journey, I developed essential skills: effective time management, staying organised under pressure, and working hard to achieve long-term goals. More importantly, I learned how to turn challenges into learning opportunities — and that determination and discipline are just as important as talent.
What jobs have you had during your career?
During my studies, I have worked as a personal trader in the Tehran Stock Exchange since December 2015. This role led me to explore many books and research articles on finance and investment, and I spent countless hours learning, testing, and analysing different financial systems and market behaviours.
This experience taught me the importance of patience, persistence, and disciplined decision-making. It also helped me gain a deeper understanding of how financial systems operate — the way numbers, charts, news, and managerial decisions interact to drive market outcomes. I found it fascinating to see how mathematical models could be applied to predict trends and improve financial strategies.
Working in this field showed me how mathematics isn't just abstract — it’s a powerful tool that can be used to make informed decisions in the real world. It was exactly the kind of connection between theory and application that I had been looking for.
What is your current role and what do you enjoy about it?
I’m currently a PhD student, and what I enjoy most about this role is the opportunity to deeply explore a subject I’ve been passionate about for years. Studying at the University of Liverpool not only allows me to gain a strong formal education in my field, but also helps me develop as an independent researcher.
I value the balance between theoretical learning and practical application — it allows me to expand my knowledge, sharpen my problem-solving skills, and contribute meaningfully to my area of study. The process of asking questions, investigating ideas, and discovering new insights is both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
Do you have an area of research?
My research focuses on the application of machine learning in financial mathematics, with an emphasis on studying implied volatility surfaces and Asian options.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
‘’Growth doesn't happen inside your comfort zone’’
Any advice you’d like to share?
“Failing is not the opposite of success — it’s part of it.”
I truly learned the value of this during my PhD, where failure isn’t just common — it’s expected. Experiments don’t always work, theories break down, and ideas often need to be rethought entirely. At first, it was frustrating, but over time, I realised that each setback was actually a step forward.
It taught me resilience and patience. Each mistake deepened my understanding and brought me closer to better solutions. This mindset — that failure is part of progress — has been essential not only in research, but in life more broadly.
More resources: