Please share a message for students who are considering pursuing graduate studies.

When I was a student, I never thought, “I’m absolutely going to master mathematics and become a mathematician.” I am where I am today simply because I threw myself wholeheartedly into what I loved, and I don’t believe that I’m blessed with any special talent. There are infinitely more talented people out there, and I truly believe, from the bottom of my heart, that I’m nothing special.

So, if I have any message for you students, it is this: once you find a topic you love, just throw yourself into it with all your might. My personal belief is that if you simply pursue pure mathematics with single-minded dedication, the results will follow.

As for my own future, I plan to take on the challenge of applying Ehrhart theory to solve problems in other areas of mathematics. I also believe that if problems in information theory involve polytopes, I might be able to solve them using my expertise. IST offers opportunities for researchers from various fields to interact, such as through lunch seminars. I would find it both interesting and rewarding if this could lead to outputs that contribute to real-world applications. I hope that students aspiring to join IST will make full use of this environment.