An Inside Scoop
For any current and aspiring mathematicians looking to advance their professional career by way of research, education, or community, this section highlights a few pieces of information that could make a world of difference.
HBCU Representation
Only three HBCUs in the country offer a PhD in Mathematics: Delaware State University, Morgan State University, and Howard University. If you want to earn this degree at an HBCU, you'll have to consider living on the East Coast in colder climates and a city-like lifestyle.
Black Women Math PhDs
Current research: We are documenting all Black Women who have earned a PhD in the Mathematical and
Statistical Sciences. So far we know that the majority of Black Women with a PhD in Math earned their undergrad degrees from Spelman College and their doctorates from Iowa State University and The Ohio State University. Click here if you know a Black Woman who should be included in our data.
#MetaMath
The #MetaMath research community is a group of scientists who use math and math-related sciences to highlight social injustices within the math community. Much of our work is in collaboration with engineers, data scientists, computer scientists, etc. and is often organized through workshops at various Math Institutes.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
As Clemson University's first ever HHMI Gilliam Fellow and Gilliam's first ever mathematician, it's only right that I share with you the amazing opportunities which exist in the HHMI pipeline for scientists interested in biomedical research.
Meyerhoff (left)
The Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC is a nationally recognized undergraduate initiative that prepares high-achieving students from diverse backgrounds for PhD-level training in STEM fields and the biomedical sciences. Scholars receive comprehensive support—including a summer bridge program, intensive mentoring, research experiences, and substantial financial assistance—to foster academic excellence and persistence in research careers. The program emphasizes leadership, community, and the advancement of underrepresented groups in science, creating a strong pipeline into graduate programs and research-intensive careers.
Gilliam (right)
The HHMI Gilliam Fellows Program supports promising PhD students in the biological and biomedical sciences and their thesis advisors as a mentor–mentee pair. Fellows receive up to three years of stipend support, a discretionary allowance, and robust professional development opportunities aimed at fostering inclusive, equity-oriented research environments. The program’s dual focus on scientific training and inclusive mentorship prepares fellows to become research leaders who advance both cutting-edge science and institutional change.
Hannah Gray (left)
The Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program provides long-term support for exceptional early-career scientists, spanning late-stage postdoctoral training through the early years of an independent faculty position. By offering sustained research funding and integration into HHMI’s multigenerational scientific community, the program allows fellows to pursue bold, high-risk questions at the forefront of their fields while building inclusive, healthy lab environments. As of 2026, postdoctoral researchers selected through the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars competition are appointed as Hanna Gray Fellows during their postdoc phase, strengthening the postdoc-to-faculty pathway within HHMI’s ecosystem.
Freeman Hrabowski (right)
The HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program supports outstanding early-career faculty, including physician-scientists, who demonstrate strong potential to become leaders in basic research and to build inclusive research groups where all scientists can thrive. Scholars, who may be within two years of starting or up to seven years into an independent, tenure-track position, receive an initial five-year appointment—renewable for a total of ten years—with salary, benefits, substantial research funding, and access to HHMI professional development as HHMI employees. This comprehensive, long-horizon support is designed to amplify both scientific impact and equity-focused leadership during the most formative years of a faculty career.
Dr. Freeman Hrabowski himself (front left)!
Unsolicited Advice for Grad School
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Get your Masters/PhD PAID FOR!!! Masters programs often are not funded. If you're even slightly curious about the PhD program, apply for it and if it doesn't work out after a few years, you can graduate debt-free with a Masters degree.
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This is the best path because it's a fully funded masters program (by way of your PhD assistantship) and news flash: "A masters is a shortened PhD" so you're taking all the same classes anyway.
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Be mindful of exams, advisors, course work, research, conferences, prep courses, graduation rates, etc.
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I was also given advice to be cautious of attending a school where you are "the first" of a marginalized demographic to earn the degree. ​There are likely many additional challenges that you will face beyond those that come with the degree program itself.
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​Make friends both in and out of your field of interest (other departments, other schools, etc.)
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Be well-acquainted with the student handbooks for both your department and graduate school. It's important that you know your rights as a student as well as the university's expectations.
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Picking a school based on location, local activities, distance from an international airport, etc. are IMPORTANT. They could grant you the solace you need WHEN things get hard/overwhelming.
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Create your professional website, have your CV updated AT ALL TIMES, and always be interview-ready!
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Dress to impress/make something notable about your appearance that reminds people of who you are
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Know your WHY; investors want to know why your research matters so start with that!
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This also helps when grad school gets tough so remember WHY you started. ​
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Allow for creative methods of self care that can change over time; what works for you now, may not work in the coming semesters, so be open to healthy alternatives.
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Live your life! Have as much fun as you can while you can, when you can! Treat yourself to things that bring you (and others) joy. You have to be intentional of a work-life balance. Academia will not give it to you.
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Conference travel is the easiest way to see the world. Take advantage and apply for every travel grant possible! You can often apply for them through your department, your school, and/or the conference itself.
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There are professors who prioritize research and professors who prioritize teaching. Learn who is who early on to save you time and misunderstandings down the road.
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Set healthy boundaries and know your limits. "Sometimes getting a PhD is not always about how hard you work or how smart you are, but whether or not you'll quit." - Jakini Auset Kauba​