Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born in Tehran, Iran, and I did my BSc and MSc studies at the University of Tehran. I arrived in Canada in 1992 and earned my PhD in mathematics from the University of Toronto in 1997. I married my wife, Ying Zheng (currently a chemistry instructor at ULethbridge), in 1997 and had our first daughter, Roya, the same year. I then worked at Concordia University in Montreal as a term Assistant Professor from 1997 to 2000. In July 2000, I started an Assistant Professor position at ULethbridge. I received tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2004 and then to Professor in 2009. My second daughter, Mina, was born in Lethbridge in 2002.
How long have you been at ULethbridge, and what do you do here?
I have lived in Lethbridge for the last 25 years. I have taught a wide variety of courses at all levels, including graduate courses. I am a pure mathematician. My research area is number theory, an old and fundamental branch of mathematics that deals with the patterns and properties of integers, prime numbers and their associated equations. I am interested in using analytical methods stemming from differential and integral calculus in my research. Over the past 25 years, I have supervised several undergraduate summer and master's projects. Serving on various committees and fulfilling refereeing and editorial duties are other aspects of my responsibilities.
What's the best part of your job?
I enjoy teaching, especially the lecture component. It is the most rewarding part of my job. After 25 years of teaching, I often encounter students who were in my first-year calculus or linear algebra class and felt happy to see how they had grown. I also like our campus and spend many hours there. My favourite places are level 9 of the library (during the day) and my office (in the late afternoon and evening). We have a beautiful campus.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I walk every morning (about 40 minutes), play tennis during the year, hike in the summer, and curl in the winter. Since 2018, I have been a member of the Lethbridge Flying Dragon team, participating in the yearly Lethbridge Dragon Boat Festival. I love books and enjoy reading, but I am a slow reader. I listen to music and podcasts while walking.