About Me
Hi! My name is Cam and I am a PhD student in applied mathematics at the University of Guelph. I am interested in creating mathematical models to study the dynamics of how diet can affect the gut microbiota. In my Master’s, I studied the theoretical behaviour of deep ReLU networks on initialization – specifically why networks tend to become more “degenerate” as they get deeper. Outside of school, I love running, spending time at my cottage, playing guitar, going to concerts, and the odd karaoke night!
My Interests
Mathematics
I am yet to find an area of mathematics that I don’t find fascinating. I am particularly experienced in mathematical and statistical theory of neural networks, real and functional analysis, and calculus.
Artificial Intelligence
My past research experience was primarily focused on the theoretical behaviour of neural networks, but I am also interested in other areas of AI such as AI ethics, computer vision and generative models.
Teaching
I wouldn’t be where I’m at today if it weren’t for a few outstanding teachers who showed me the beauty of math. I aspire to teach in a way that inspires and promotes holistic understanding rather than memorization.
Research Projects
Scholarships & Awards
- Nominee, Governor General’s Gold Academic Medal (University of Guelph, 2024)
Considered the most prestigious award that students at Canadian schools can receive. Awarded to students with the highest academic standing at the graduate level at their respective university. - Teaching Assistant of the Year (University of Guelph, 2023)
This award was voted on by engineering students at the University of Guelph and awarded by the Guelph Engineering Society. The award recognizes an outstanding TA who has had a positive impact on the students. - Ontario Graduate Scholarship (University of Guelph, 2022-2023)
Recognizes academic excellence in graduate studies. - Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence (Vector Institute, 2021-2022)
Merit-based award which recognizes exceptional candidates pursuing a Master’s program recognized by the Vector Institute. - Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology (University of Guelph, 2021-2022)
This scholarship is designed to encourage excellence in graduate studies in science and technology. - University of Guelph Mathematics Graduate Scholarship (University of Guelph, 2022)
Awarded to the student with the highest average across any 3 departmental graduate courses. - Dean’s Scholarship in the College of Engineering & Physical Sciences (University of Guelph, 2020)
Awarded to students who achieved the highest academic standing in the college and received Dean’s Honours List in the previous academic year. - Arvind Ravi Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Mathematics (University of Guelph, 2020)
Awarded to a student in the department of Mathematics & Statistics with a high cumulative average and an outstanding performance in a number of mathematics courses. - R. C. Moffat Memorial Scholarship in Mathematical Science (University of Guelph, 2019)
Selection based on highest cumulative average out of students majoring in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, restricted to students who have completed 9.0-19.5 credits. - Wally Fraser Mathematical Science Scholarship (University of Guelph, 2018)
Recipient selected on the basis of highest average in the Mathematics and Statistics department on a minimum of 4.0 credits from semesters 3 and 4, restricted to students who have completed 9.0-14.5 credits. - T. D. Newton Memorial Scholarship (University of Guelph, 2017)
Selection is based on the highest average in the Mathematics and Statistics department for a minimum of 4.0 credits, restricted to students who have completed 4.0-8.5 credits.
Research Presentations
- Depth Degeneracy in Neural Networks: Vanishing Angles in Fully Connected ReLU Networks on Initialization (Feb 2023)
Presented to the Machine Learning Research Group at the University of Guelph. - The Angle Process in Deep Neural Networks and the Bessel Numbers of the Second Kind (Dec 2022)
Canadian Mathematical Society 2022 Winter Meeting, Toronto ON. In the session Stochastic Systems, Probability, and Other Mathematical Aspects of Data Science.
Teaching Experience
- Lab Instructor, First-Year Calculus (University of Guelph, 2021-2023)
Responsible for teaching lab sections of over 400 students, hosting weekly office hours, and answering questions via email. Labs involved instructing students through new and challenging concepts in a comfortable and collaborative environment. - Tutor, Math & Stats Learning Centre (University of Guelph, 2023)
My role was to provide drop-in help to students in a variety of first-year mathematics courses. - Tutor, First-Year Calculus and Linear Algebra (Self-employed, 2020-2023)
Provided one-on-one tutoring in person and virtually to University of Guelph students. - Lab Instructor, Numerical Methods (University of Guelph, 2022)
Responsible for running virtual lab tutorials in MATLAB, instructing students how to implement various numerical solvers. - Tutor, High School Math & Sciences (Paper Co. 2019-2020)
My role was to help high school students through homework problems in a text-based environment.
Cam Jakub 