Centres

SET Women - Leicestershire Women in Science Engineering & Technology

e-Book - Dr Nicole Snashall - Mathematician

"Mathematics is beautiful and creative."

Nicole's love of mathematics started when she was in school. "I've always enjoyed mathematics, and puzzles, and have been fortunate to have had inspiring mathematics teachers." She says that learning algebra from an accessible woman maths teacher gave her an enthusiastic role model early on who treated her as an individual, and gave her a sense of personal support and encouragement. This prepared her well for her A-levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics, and her acceptance into a Mathematics degree at Oxford University.

During her time at Oxford, Nicole had to decide what to do next with her love of Maths. "I hadn't seriously considered an academic career until my university tutor, a woman and an outstanding mathematician, encouraged me to do a PhD."

Nicole chose the University of Leicester for her PhD, and has remained in the Department of Mathematics ever since. She is now a senior lecturer in Pure Mathematics, doing research in her favourite subject, algebra. Her Oxford tutor is now a research partner, and the two have published several papers together on the subject of Hochschild cohomology, a cutting edge tool for understanding representations of algebras.

In addition to her research, Nicole teaches undergraduates and supervises postgraduates. "I enjoy seeing students' realisation when they understand and appreciate some part of mathematics! " Her successes in teaching are influenced by her positive experiences of being a student, and she says, "It's important when teaching to remember that everyone is different and has to understand the topic for themselves."

In particular, she knows that students are better motivated and achieve more in subjects they enjoy, so she's quick to encourage sixth formers to choose their university courses carefully. "Don't pick a subject that you think you ought to do. Follow your dreams!"

Learn more about Dr Nicole Snashalls' work: Dr Snashall's Homepage