A passion for interdisciplinary research

Award-winning University of Saskatchewan (USask) graduate Vyom Patel (BSc’23) sees the strength and potential of research partnerships, as scholars from a wide variety of disciplines seek solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.

“The importance of interdisciplinary studies will only grow in research in the coming years, as complex global challenges require diverse perspectives and collaborative approaches,” he said.

Patel, who grew up in Vadodara, India, came to USask after completing high school at Gujarat Public School. He studied computer science and mathematics in USask’s College of Arts and Science, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree with high honours during spring Convocation in 2023. As an outstanding undergraduate student, Patel earned numerous scholarships and awards, including the Richard Blum Award in Mathematics, the Carman E. Miller Undergraduate Mathematics Competition Prize, the Prof. H.H. Ferns Scholarship, the Bhupinder Kaur Basran Memorial Scholarship, and many more.

A highlight of Patel’s time at USask was the opportunity to work at quanTA, the Centre for Quantum Topology and Its Applications. The centre, led by director Dr. Steven Rayan (DPhil), brings together experts from mathematics, physics, chemistry, computing, and other disciplines to work on all aspects of quantum materials, quantum information and computing, and quantum technology development in general.

Patel expressed gratitude for the invaluable academic support he received from Rayan, a professor and deputy head of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics in the College of Arts and Science. Rayan also serves as the lead for the university’s Quantum Innovation Signature Area of Research and as the university’s director of interdisciplinary programming, a position housed in the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Rayan described Patel as a highly accomplished undergraduate student and published researcher who accumulated tremendous research experience during his time at USask, ranging from time with quanTA, where he spent two consecutive summers under Rayan’s supervision, as well as time at the health informatics lab of Department of Computer Science faculty member Dr. Nathaniel Osgood (PhD) and at the hydrology lab of Department of Geography and Planning faculty member Dr. Cherie Westbrook (PhD). Patel excelled throughout his undergraduate studies, and, during the 2021/22 academic year, he wrote an honours thesis that earned him the Thesis Prize (Interdisciplinary) in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

“Personally, I have never seen a student as multi-talented as Vyom in so many fields at once: mathematics, both pure and applied; computer science; physics; and biomedical sciences,” said Rayan. “His ability to translate mathematics and theoretical science into practical use cases rivals those of people already established in long-term positions in academia or industry.”

Patel is now a fully funded graduate student at the Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, where he is continuing to pursue his passion for interdisciplinary research. The Green&White recently asked Patel about his time at USask and his plans for his master’s degree.

I chose to study at USask for several reasons, but one of the key factors was the smaller class sizes and the opportunity for more personalized attention from faculty. I felt that this would allow me to form stronger connections with my professors and peers, fostering a more collaborative and supportive learning environment. The approachable academic community and the chance to explore interdisciplinary research made USask a great fit for my academic and personal growth.

One of my fondest memories from my time at USask is the late-night astronomy labs. In my second year, I took ASTR 113, which had lab sessions that ran until 10 pm. What could have felt exhausting became an incredibly fun and memorable experience, thanks to working through the labs with friends and making the most of those late nights on campus.

My involvement with the Math & Stats Student Society (MS^3) stands out as one of the most rewarding parts of my time at USask. I joined as an executive member in fall 2020 and remained active for three years. Being part of MS^3 not only allowed me to forge lasting connections but also to participate in and help organize fun events, making it an integral part of my university life.

I initially started with a major in computer science, but my decision to add mathematics as a second major was inspired by two of my favourite instructors and a budding interest in math. As I progressed through my program, I realized how well these two disciplines complemented each other and how perfect this combination was for me. Mathematics trained my mind to think abstractly and tackle complex problems in a flexible, adaptable way, while computer science pushes me to apply these ideas in practical, implementable ways, bridging the gap between theory and real-world problem-solving. This combination has reshaped my cognitive approach, enhancing my ability to learn new concepts and apply them effectively.

My honours thesis focused on leveraging machine learning techniques within mathematics, specifically in data-driven dynamical systems. Under Dr. Rayan’s mentorship, I learned how to connect these disciplines in innovative ways, revealing the potential of applying these new computational techniques to natural sciences. This experience introduced me to the emerging discipline of scientific machine learning, which not only deepened my technical knowledge but also fuelled my passion for using machine learning as a powerful tool for advancing research in this area.

We explored the use of quantum algorithms to predict RNA secondary structure, which plays a vital role in RNA folding. This was primarily motivated by our strong shared interest in interdisciplinary research and the potential applications toward accelerated drug and vaccine discovery. To this end, we developed a library utilizing quantum algorithms that can run on both quantum “annealers” and gate-based quantum computers, two different types of quantum computers that are currently available. This work is particularly relevant in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a deeper understanding of RNA folding can help in advancing treatments and vaccines for viral infections.

In my third year of undergrad, I worked with Dr. Nathaniel Osgood on a project aimed at building machine learning-driven predictive models to track and report the transmission of COVID-19 across all provinces in Canada and in First Nations communities. This work involved collaborating with health agencies such as the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch at Health Canada. It was a powerful opportunity to apply my mathematical and computational skills during a critical period of the pandemic, where our work had real-world implications for public health decision-making. In my fourth year, I collaborated with (fellow students) Aaron and Timothy on a computational behavioural science project supervised by Dr. John Howland. We developed a machine learning library, DIBS, which automates the classification of animal behaviour. Both of these major projects resulted in academic publications and pushed my understanding of applying machine learning in interdisciplinary research.

What has been most fulfilling for me, however, is my role as a teaching assistant, which I’ve held since 2020 in both the math and computer science departments. I truly enjoy breaking down complex topics for undergraduate students and watching their understanding grow. Dr. Rayan, whom I greatly admire, has been an inspiration to me in terms of teaching, and I aim to model my approach after his by fostering deep and meaningful interactions with students.

As a master’s student in the MMath Applied Mathematics - Quantum Information program at the Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo, I am focused on developing quantum algorithms for Numerical Partial Differential Equations (PDEs) as part of a collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada, under the Applied Quantum Computing theme. Our focus is on designing implementable and provably stable algorithms that have a strong theoretical foundation and potential real-world impact. In addition to this, I have a keen interest in fault-tolerant quantum compilation and am actively involved in learning and contributing to projects in that area.

I will start my internship in November with BEIT Inc., a quantum programming firm that aims to push the limits of quantum computation through fundamental research in optimization, error correction, and chemical simulation. During my internship, I’ll be working on a project called CodeQraft, which serves two main purposes: it’s a computational playground for discovering and manipulating quantum error-correcting codes, and it’s also an optimizing compiler that generates fault-tolerant logical circuits based on specific hardware and user requirements.

I’m always fascinated by the elegance of mathematics and theoretical science. But what really drives me is the opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application. Translating mathematical principles into tools that solve practical problems is like solving a complex puzzle that has a meaningful impact. Whether it’s designing more efficient algorithms or optimizing processes, the beauty lies in seeing how something that starts as pure theory can create tangible benefits.