Yuki Takahashi ’22 Receives an Inaugural Quad Fellowship

Yuki Takahashi ’22 has been awarded a Quad Fellowship by Schmidt Futures. Takahashi, a May 2022 graduate with majors in mathematics and philosophy, is currently a PhD student in mathematics at University of California at Berkeley. She was among 100 candidates from 3,200 completed applications to receive the Quad Fellowship.  

The Quad Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind scholarship designed to spur interdisciplinary scientific and technological innovation while building ties among and empowering the next generation of STEM leaders. The Quad Fellowship is a joint initiative of the governments of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, sponsoring 25 exceptional Fellows from each Quad country. 

Fellows will receive access to unparalleled benefits including $50,000 funding, cross-cultural exchange, cohort-wide trips, mentorship, and participation in regular virtual and in-person workshops on various themes, including the intersection of STEM and society, ethics and innovation, and emerging technologies. 

“I am excited and extremely grateful for this opportunity because using mathematical research and education for social good has been an important goal of mine,” said Takahashi. “I also look forward to engaging in cross-cultural exchange and learning.” Takahashi plans to use the award for her tuition, fees, and living expenses; and is excited to interact with other Quad fellows to understand their academic interests and share her passion for mathematical research and education. 

Takahashi is a mathematician interested in combinatorics and mathematical logic with a professional goal to be a mathematics professor at a liberal arts college. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Grinnell College she worked on four research projects in combinatorics and has published research and presented at numerous conferences. Currently, she is a graduate student instructor for the course Single Variable Calculus at UC Berkeley; and while at Grinnell College she was a mentor for Linear Algebra and grader for Multvariable Calculus. Takahashi held leadership as the Grinnell College new student orientation coordinator and Mathematics and Statistics Student Educational Policy Committee member. 

“When graduating from Grinnell, Yuki had an incredibly strong background in undergraduate mathematics, had touched on a few areas of graduate mathematics, and had completed several research projects,” shared Joseph Mileti, associate professor of mathematics. “She is focused, curious, and insightful, and is one of the most promising undergraduate students that I have taught over my 13 years at Grinnell College.” 

“Yuki’s drive and determination to pursue mathematical research was evident early in her time at Grinnell, and as an adviser I didn’t have much to do other than point her in the direction of opportunities,” said Sarah Barks, senior director, STEM career community and analytics. “She made the STEM community at Grinnell a more inclusive and welcoming place and is sure to continue to do so in her research career; and the Quad Fellowship’s goal of fostering collaboration among scientists is a terrific fit for Yuki, as she was always eager to share her experiences and insights with her fellow students.” 

Takahashi is from Tokyo, Japan and a 2018 graduate of Pearson United World College of the Pacific, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She has been honored with two awards through Grinnell College’s mathematics and statistics department—Linn Smith Prize for Excellence in Mathematics as a senior and Pamela Ferguson Endowed Prize for Mathematics as a junior. 

SCHMIDT FUTURES, a philanthropic initiative of Eric and Wendy Schmidt, operates and administers the Fellowship program in consultation with a non-governmental taskforce, comprised of academic, foreign policy, and private sector leaders from each Quad country. The Fellowship program is supported by a group of industry-leading corporate partners with track records of driving innovation and technological advancement, including founding corporate sponsors Accenture, Boeing, Blackstone, Google, Mastercard, and Western Digital.  

For more information on the award visit www.quadfellowship.org and for advising contact Ann Landstrom, Grinnell College fellowship advisor, landstrom@grinnell.edu.