Roan Luikart, Class of ’25: Mathematics major finds the equation for success

How he got involved with undergraduate research

Luikart’s passion for math didn’t begin in a classroom. In eighth grade, after transferring schools and being placed in the wrong math track, he found himself catching up over winter break with a thick packet of make-up work. He was unmotivated — until his father brought him along to work and left him with nothing else to do but finish the assignments.

“Through that experience, I formed a greater appreciation for it and fell in love with math,” he said. “I found out how fun it can be especially when you have a higher level of understanding.”

By high school, he was even more enthusiastic about math. And once he discovered he could make a career out of it, he was sold.

Raised between Oregon and New Hampshire, Luikart chose Oregon State in part for in-state tuition and its strong research focus. He capitalized on this strength and completed two major research projects, one on campus and the other as a part of an NSF funded summer research opportunity.

Asking his favorite professor if he could do research with him snowballed into his Honors thesis project and a mentor for life.

Luikart approached assistant professor Nick Marshall, who is interested in mathematics problems that involve interactions between analysis, geometry and probability, especially such problems motivated by applications to data science.

“He is a fantastic teacher, and past that, a great research mentor. He’s given me a lot of advice, and I don’t know where I would be without it,” Luikart said.

Together with Marshall and a graduate student, Luikart co-authored a paper published in the SIAM Journal On Matrix Analysis and Applications. Their work focused on improving a numerical algorithm, relevant to fields like medical imaging and computer tomography (CT, also known as CAT scans), by adding a method known as “momentum” to speed the algorithm.

“We need algorithms that can quickly solve these linear systems of equations. We added a term that incorporates past movement of the algorithm so it can speed up,” he said.

Equipped with knowledge from multiple terms working with Marshall, Luikart applied for multiple REUs (competitive summer National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates programs), covering all sides of mathematics research.

He was accepted and spent three months in Illinois working on mathematical biology at Northwestern University.

His research mentor was studying circannual rhythms, a biological rhythm that happens annually in different species like birds or bears. While many of the models assume this behavior is intrinsic and doesn’t take into account environmental influences, his mentor theorized differently.

Luikart worked on the early development of a new mathematical model that incorporates external factors like temperature or duration of daylight.

“I improved my independent problem solving and learned how mathematical modeling works. I did most of it on my own and it was interesting because I could mathematically model the same biological observation in different ways,” he said.

Undergraduate research has not been the only way Luikart has gotten involved on campus.

He joined the Math Club as a first-year student and became president in his senior year, helping revive the organization after it dwindled during the pandemic.

“It has been a huge part of my time here,” he said.

Today, the club hosts weekly meetings and game nights for all students who love math or are interested in it. Luikart’s energy and passion for connecting with students led to him becoming a resident assistant in the dormitories for three years.

Studying abroad

Second to meeting Nick Marshall, studying abroad was a top transformative experience for Luikart. Similar to knowing he wanted a Ph.D., studying abroad was a no-brainer. Travel has been a huge part of his life, with his mother taking him to a new country almost every year since he was a young child. At last count, he has been to about 20 countries.

Working with OSU Go, he was able to tailor his experience and enroll in Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. Often ranked in the top 15 mathematics programs in the UK, Lancaster fit everything he was looking for.

His favorite detail was one he almost didn’t notice. On an evening walk home, he noticed covered walkways along campus buildings, designed to shelter from frequent rain. Between the supporting pillars were carefully tended flower planters. Careful not to damage them, gardeners were taking each planter down to water. This small attention to detail left a lasting impression.

“I really liked the university, and the campus turned out to be the biggest highlight for me. It is incredibly beautiful. I was already loving the campus, but as I was nearing the end of my time there, I started to take more time to appreciate things. I could go on and on,” he said.

A thirst for more math

This July, Luikart will head to Charlottesville to begin his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. While professorship remains his goal, the draw of graduate school goes further than fulfilling a career path.

“Even if I don’t end up becoming a professor, having that further mathematical understanding is something I desire. Right now, I know just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

For Luikart, math is a subject to explore. And thanks to the community, opportunities and mentorship he found at Oregon State, he’s ready for whatever comes next.