Statistics Sensation Secures a Place at Oxford University

Mr Aaron Naidu, who completed his Honours in Statistics at UKZN in 2023, has secured a place at Oxford University in the United Kingdom (UK) for a Master of Science in Statistical Science beginning in October 2024.

Naidu enrolled at UKZN after he caught the attention of the University during his high school years at Eden College in Durban. A talented mathematics student, he won several awards at a national and international level, including in the South African Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO), Computer Programming and Physics Olympiads, and the International Mathematics and Informatics Olympiads. He also represented South Africa at the World Youth Chess Championships in 2014.

Naidu was the top student in the SAMO three times and finished in the top five on six consecutive occasions. He was the only student to win the Tertiary Mathematics Olympiad outright while still in high school.

He placed first in KwaZulu-Natal and second in South Africa in his matric examinations in 2019 and received offers of bursaries from several universities.

Familiar with UKZN thanks to the Siyanqoba Regional Olympiad Training Programme he participated in run by Emeritus Professor Poobhalan Pillay, Naidu enrolled for a BSc in Data Science because of the programme’s excellent reputation and the proximity it provided to his close-knit family in Durban. He completed his degree summa cum laude in 2022 and placed in the top 3% of every module, even after adding six modules to his study programme.

During his honours studies, Naidu was invited to present at the 2023 South African Statistics Association Conference and received the Zac Yacoob Scholarship for the best honours student at UKZN across all Colleges and Disciplines.

His intellectual prowess will now take him to the UK for a 12-month taught masters that includes a research dissertation. He applied to Oxford University and the University of Cambridge and awaits feedback from the latter.

Attracted to Oxford University thanks to its prestige and high rankings, Naidu is enthusiastic about the modules that form part of this programme, especially those on statistical machine learning and statistical programming that align with the data science programme he studied at UKZN.

He is also looking forward to being under the tutelage of world-renowned professors and researchers to develop his skills as a statistician. He believes his time at the university will open many doors as he progresses in his career.

While awaiting the start of his master’s course, Naidu will be completing actuarial science board exams and, in July, will participate in a 10-week long quantitative trading internship with Jane Street Capital in the UK before proceeding to university.

Looking beyond his plans for overseas master’s study, Naidu is considering continuing with PhD studies or entering the workforce as a statistician, data scientist, or quantitative trader.

Naidu gave ultimate credit and praise to God for the blessings he received as well as his family, especially his mother, Dr Anoshini Moodley, father, Dr Sean Naidu, and brother, Mr Jaedon Naidu, who have always supported, encouraged, and helped him. He also thanked his lecturers at UKZN for their instruction, particularly Pillay for nurturing his love of mathematics during high school and Professor Delia North for developing his interest in data science.

‘We are so proud of this amazing young man,’ said North. ‘Not only is he a top achiever, but he has participated in statistics outreach projects such as Women in Analytics and Dudes in Data every year and has been a wonderful role model to the next group of undergraduate students.’

Words: Christine Cuénod

Photograph: Supplied

Caption: Mr Aaron Naidu.

Published 16 February 2024