TakeAIM Competition

Demonstrating
the potential of
mathematics

Showcasing the work of early-career mathematicians and data scientists
Generously sponsored by
TakeAIM Competition

TakeAIM

Established in 2011, the Smith Institute’s annual TakeAIM competition is an opportunity for university students to showcase their work on the industrial stage. TakeAIM’s goal is to highlight the crucial role mathematics and data science play in solving real-world problems, while rewarding the academic exploration of future innovators who undertake pioneering research.

From medicine to manufacturing, security to social media, mathematics and data science are evolving to play an increasingly fundamental role in the way we live. It is the fresh imagination and insights of young mathematicians and data scientists that help to understand and predict the behaviour of physical, biological, and social systems in today’s ever-changing world.

TakeAIM 2027

We are already looking forward to the TakeAIM 2027 competition opening at the end of November, and the prospect of receiving an array of fascinating, innovative entries from the next generation of postgraduate students studying mathematics or data science at a European University.

TakeAIM 2026 Winners

IN FIRST PLACE:
Nicholas Harbour
The University of Nottingham
Mathematical modeling of glionblastoma: dynamics, therapy and digital twins
RUNNER UP
Torin Fastnedge
University of Oxford (Mansfield College)
Microfibre release by washing machines

RUNNER UP
Alkaios Lamprakis
University College London
From guesswork to certainty: predicting spinal fractures in cancer patients
RUNNER UP
Tim Liu
Imperial College London
Physics-aware AI for early disease detection

Past Winners

Take a look back at some of the competition's previous winners and runners up.

Winner

Nicholas Harbour, The University of Nottingham

Mathematical modeling of glionblastoma: dynamics, therapy and digital twins

Finalist

Torin Fastnedge, University of Oxford (Mansfield College)

Microfibre release by washing machines

Finalist

Alkaios Lamprakis, University College London

From guesswork to certainty: predicting spinal fractures in cancer patients

Finalist

Tim Liu, Imperial College London

Physics-aware AI for early disease detection

Winner

Louise Baron, University College London

Harnessing generative AI to transform the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease

Finalist

Tanya Borah, University of Oxford (Keble College)

Advancements in deep learning techniques: A custom hybrid optimizer with versatile applications

Finalist

Oliver Cattell, University of Nottingham

Mathematical models of epilepsy and seizure progression

Finalist

Bethany Clarke, Imperial College London

The Beat of Life: Exploring the Role of Cilia

Winner

Kevin Michalewicz, Imperial College London

Neural Networks for Antibody Design

Finalist

Ziyang Yang, University of Lancaster

Smarter, Safer and More Sustainable Internet of Things Monitoring

Finalist

Daniel Stocks, University of Bristol

Mathematical modelling of the humoral response to COVID-19 vaccination

Finalist

Rosie Evans, University of Birmingham

Mathematical Modelling for Cortisol Replacement

Winner

Eleanor D’Arcy, Lancaster University

Accounting for climate change and seasonality in extreme sea level estimation

Finalist

Alissa Hummer, University of Oxford, St Catherine’s College

Machine learning to accelerate therapeutic antibody development

Finalist

Jennifer Power, University of Bath

Making cancer treatments safer with mathematics

Finalist

Fiona Young, University College London

Intraoperative diffusion MRI for improving brain surgery

Winner

Catherine Wells, University of Reading

Tracking the sustainability of long-haul flights

Finalist

Eleanor Russell, University of Manchester

Thermal metamaterials: The future of electronics

Finalist

Callum Barltrop, Lancaster University
The importance of combined extreme events for nuclear regulation

Winner

Finalist

Georgia S. Brennan, University of Oxford
40 years of Alzheimer’s disease dynamics in 14 seconds

Finalist

Maria Tatulea-Codrean, University of Cambridge
Know your enemy: Using mathematics to understand the movement of bacteria

Finalist
Benjamin Warmington, University of Bristol
Taking inspiration from nature's smallest machines to inspire better robotics

Winner

Sarah Brown, University of Nottingham
Using maths to combat potentially fatal asthma attacks

Winner

Enrico Gavagnin, University of Bath
A collective human challenge

Finalist

Arkady Wey, University of Oxford
The contamination crisis and a filtration fix

Finalist

Laura Wadkin, Newcastle University
Using mathematics to optimise stem cell experiments

Winner

Emma L Davis, University of Warwick
A zombie apocalypse...?

Finalist

Lisa Koeppel, Lancaster University
Predicting the spread and the risk of dengue

Finalist

Joseph Field, University of Oxford
X-ray reconstruction of moving bodies

Finalist

Adriaan Hilbers, Imperial College London
Keeping the lights on: robust design for decarbonised electricity systems

Finalist

Lisa Maria Kreusser, University of Cambridge
Using mathematics to make our digital world safer

Finalist

Amy Mallinson, University of Manchester
Finding the missing meteorites of Antarctica

Finalist

Maria Tang, University of Cambridge
Modelling the spread of a pandemic

Finalist

Mel Beckerleg, University of Oxford
Filling in the blanks

Finalist

Remus Stana, University of Leeds
Cellular mathematical modelling

Finalist

Oliver Sheridan-Methven, University of Oxford
Accurate answers from imprecise calculations

Winner

Elizabeth Holden, University of Nottingham
Informing tissue engineering design

Finalist

Roxana Pamfil, University of Oxford
Customers like you also bought...

Finalist

William Rowley, University of Manchester
Acoustic metamaterials for noise reduction applications

Finalist

Syed Rezwan Kabir, Heriot Watt University
Advanced machine learning for operational flood forecasting and mapping

Finalist

Kristian Kiradjiev, University of Oxford
Modelling removal of harmful chemicals from flue gas

Finalist

Marco Pietropaoli, Imperial College London
TOffee (Topology optimisation for fluid engineering

Finalist

Federico Danieli, University of Oxford
Chasing the sun

Finalist

Helen Fletcher, University of Oxford
Modelling the next generation of batteries

Join our mailing list to stay informed about TakeAIM

Get summaries of our latest insights delivered straight to your inbox.

Office Address:
Willow Court, West Way, Minns
Business Park. Oxford OX2 0JB
+44 (0) 1865 244011
hello@smithinst.co.uk

Quality Policy    |    IT Security    |    Health and Safety Policy    |    Environment Policy    |    Business Continuity    |    Privacy Policy    |    This website uses cookies    |    Terms of Use

© Smith Institute 2026. All rights reserved. Website by Studio Global

Smith Institute Ltd is a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales number 03341743 with registered address at 1 Minster Court, Tuscam Way, Camberley, GU15 3YY