Madeline Peters (she/her, they/them), Mideo Lab

What do you study? I use mathematical modelling to ask questions about disease ecology and evolution.  

What does this mean you do day to day? I spend most of my time either working through math problems on my iPad or coding models into R with my cat walking across my keyboard or curled on my lap. 

When you aren’t working with your cat, how do you spend your time? I enjoy cryptic crosswords (i.e., crosswords for which each clue is an anagram, play-on-words, or some other kind of riddle); drawing portraits; watercolour painting food; strength training; running; reading Kurt Vonnegut, Douglas Adams and Noam Chomsky; cooking and baking for Jewish holidays; watching YouTube; and looking for neighbourhood cats to pet. 

Why did you take on this committee work?  I feel like I have a fairly intense moral compass and strong opinions on right and wrong. I also grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So, if you take that moral compass and pair it with a bluntness characteristic of western Pennsylvania, I’m inclined to call out something I think is wrong. Academia has made a lot of progress in the past few years in supporting student mental health and wellness, but there is still work to do. This is especially true for students whose identities have been historically omitted or mistreated in academia. I have privilege along several axes, so I think I have a responsibility to take on some of this work. In short, I must put my money where my mouth is. 

How would I find you if I need to? I’m most reachable by email (madeline.peters@mail.utoronto.ca) pretty much any day of the week except Saturday, and at any time except sleeping hours. I also check Instagram and Twitter fairly often.