Troy Larsen is an award-winning educator, mentor and Goodnight Doctoral Fellow preparing for a career that brings together research, teaching and collaboration across disciplines. At NC State, he is expanding his expertise in applied and computational mathematics while building on a strong foundation in interdisciplinary scholarship. Through high-level research, collaborative problem-solving and a deep commitment to undergraduate teaching and mentorship, Larsen is working toward his goal of becoming a professor.

Tell us about your journey to graduate school and what led you to NC State.
My journey began at Washington and Lee University, where I double majored in Mathematics and Classics. That combination trained me to approach every problem with an interdisciplinary eye, looking for connections where others might see distinct fields. Following graduation, I was awarded a Fulbright grant to study math in Budapest, Hungary, which allowed me to expand my mathematical background while engaging in deep cultural exchange.

While I loved the theoretical depth of my early training, I wanted a doctoral program that would allow me to pivot toward applied and computational mathematics without losing that rigorous foundation. NC State was the perfect environment for this transition. The program’s flexibility allowed me to explore new interests in uncertainty quantification, while the generous support of the Goodnight Doctoral Fellowship and the opportunity to teach starting in my very first semester made it the obvious choice for my professional development.

Tell us about your research
My research operates on two distinct fronts: theoretical development and real-world application. Theoretically, my thesis work utilizes functional analysis to perform sensitivity analysis, which identifies the components of a mathematical model that most influence its output. On the applied side, I am a member of the NSF RTG: UQ4Life group. In this capacity, I collaborate with biomathematicians and statisticians to model the Valsalva maneuver, aiming to create a clinical diagnostic tool for autonomic dysfunction calibrated on real patient data. This project has also been a platform for mentorship, as I recently won a Young Scholars Grant from the Comparative Medicine Institute to lead an undergraduate research project on this model.

Equally important to me is my teaching. I have served as both a recitation leader and an instructor of record, a role that allows me to directly shape the undergraduate experience. My commitment to the classroom was recognized in my second year when I received three teaching awards: two from the Department of Mathematics and the university-wide Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.

How has the Graduate School and/or NC State helped you with your professional development?
The Graduate School’s teaching resources have been instrumental. I completed both the Level 1 and Advanced Teaching Certificates, which helped me refine the pedagogical skills that led to my teaching awards. These programs have set me up perfectly to pursue the Preparing the Professoriate program next, where I will work with a faculty mentor to teach my own advanced math course. This progression is directly aligned with my career goal of becoming a professor at a small liberal arts college.

What advice do you have for new or current graduate students?
Focus on your “soft skills.” In graduate school, everyone is smart and everyone can do the work. What sets you apart is your ability to communicate your ideas, write clearly, and collaborate across disciplines. Don’t just bury yourself in the lab or the library: learn to tell the story of your research and build a community. Those interpersonal skills are what turn a good researcher into a leader in their field.

What does it mean to be an NC State graduate student?
To me, being an NC State graduate student means bridging the gap between the abstract and the tangible. It embodies the ‘Think and Do’ spirit: taking the rigorous theoretical math I love and applying it to innovate in the life sciences. It means belonging to a community where researchers don’t stay in their silos; we collaborate across disciplines to solve real problems. Ultimately, being part of the Wolfpack means ensuring that my work doesn’t just exist on a chalkboard, but makes a measurable impact in the real world.

Tell us something interesting about you.
I was a soloist with the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale from ages 9 to 14! During that time, I went on four international tours and performed at Carnegie Hall, at Phillies playoff games, and on Good Morning America. I even shared the stage with Hugh Jackman and performed for the President of Finland!

Learn more our Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics program