Maike Anthony dos Santos Silva '28 interns at Princeton University

What did you do this summer in your internship?

This summer I researched topology, a branch of mathematics, at Princeton University.

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship?

I became interested in exploring opportunities to learn more about topology after taking geometry with Professor Jack Calcut. I really enjoyed the class, and it sparked my interest in studying the subject more deeply.

How does this internship align with your post-college goals?

Since I hope to attend graduate school in mathematics, this opportunity helped me explore different areas of the field and better understand what I may want to specialize in. It's also given me valuable research experience and helped me strengthen my mathematical background in preparation for graduate studies.

Is there anything you’ve learned this summer that surprised you or made a big impression?

One thing that made a strong impression on me was interacting with mathematics students from different institutions and learning about their academic experiences. I was especially surprised by how much many of them have studied independently outside of their formal coursework. It made me realize that I would like to incorporate more independent mathematical reading into my own studies.

What drew you to your major or area of interest?

The fact that mathematical ideas can be understood through logical reasoning and rigorous proof. I find it fascinating that even very abstract concepts can be built from precise definitions and justified step by step.

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