A Passion for Math Research Leads to Goldwater Scholarship

A pole vaulter and three-time captain on Smith’s track and field team, Kerry Seekamp ’26 is fascinated by the intricacies of math and focuses on those in her student research work. Recently, Seekamp’s research helped her become one of three Smithies chosen for the Goldwater Foundation’s Scholarship Program, one of the most prestigious scholarships available for sophomores and juniors interested in pursuing STEM research careers. Annabelle Li ’26 and Sanjana Yasna ’26 were also chosen as 2025 Goldwater scholars.

“I remember the decisions came out at noon while I was sitting in class, which ended at 12:05. I opened [the announcement] during class and was so excited,” mathematics major Seekamp says with a laugh. “I called my parents and then went to Math Forum, where one of my professors asked if I had heard back yet. I was like, ‘Funny you should ask!’”

Seekamp’s introduction to research at Smith came by way of responding to an email. Back in 2022, her liberal arts adviser, Louise Wolff Kahn 1931 Professor of Mathematical Sciences Julianna Tymoczko, asked all of her advisees whether anybody was interested in doing math research. “I responded by saying, ‘Yeah, sure, this sounds interesting,’ and that’s how I got my start in math research,” Seekamp says. “Our advisers are randomly assigned, so I was really lucky getting her.”

In Tymoczko’s theoretical mathematics research lab, Seekamp began her research journey studying graphs called “webs” and algebraic combinatorics—“basically the study of counting things,” she explains. Seekamp focused on determining relationships between webs and other fields of math, including graph theory and representation theory. 

Outside of Tymoczko’s lab at Smith, Seekamp has completed research undergraduate experiences (or REUs) at East Texas A&M University, the University of South Florida, and the University of Minnesota Duluth. In Texas and Florida, she studied cryptography (how to encode digital information to secure it from cyber attacks and hackers) and coding theory (encoding and decoding information without errors or data loss); while in Minnesota, she continued her work on combinatorics, this time with a focus on operations within graphs.

“Over time, I realized I actually really like this or that part of math, that I think I could make a career out of this research,” Seekamp says. “There’s so much math out in the world; it’s a humongous realm. Every time I research something new, I just want to do more and see what else is out there to explore.”

Being good at math definitely comes in handy for a student-athlete like Seekamp, who has to juggle challenging research projects and coursework with track and field team obligations. It makes for a daunting schedule at first glance, but she and her teammates have found a way to ensure their academic and athletic pursuits complement rather than compete with each other.

“After practice, we all eat dinner together, and then we head over to the library together too,” Seekamp says. “We work hard but we love what we do and we support each other. We turn it into a scenario where instead of just going to the library, we’re going to the library with our 10 best friends.”

Smith students have many research opportunities to choose from, with the AEMES, STRIDE, and SURF programs among the options. Seekamp recognizes that it can be easy to feel intimidated by so many choices. Her advice? “Just open up your computer and send out a bunch of emails. People will respond because they want you to do research too. Smith is the most inviting place in the world if you want to do research as an undergraduate.”

After graduation, Seekamp plans to pursue a doctorate degree in mathematics, with the ultimate goal of securing a career in math research. “There may be this illusion that other people in the room know everything there is to know on a certain topic, but if they did, then there’d be no research to do,” she says. “There’s a question that needs to be answered, and [when] you’re an expert at something, you can definitely add to that picture.”