From Sweden to STEM: Evelina Gustafsson Blends Math, Soccer, and Global Exploration

Evelina Gustafsson, a junior at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), exemplifies the strong connection between academics, athletics, and international adventure. A Mathematical Sciences major, Gustafsson has built a college experience that bridges research, sport, and international exploration.

Originally from Sweden, Gustafsson was drawn to the United States by the unique opportunity to combine collegiate athletics with higher education. “After graduating high school, I wanted to travel, study, AND play soccer, so going to college in the U.S. as an athlete seemed like the perfect mix,” she says. “My twin sister went abroad in high school, so she was also a big inspiration for me.”

Evelina Gustafsson has presented her reserach on Lie algebra at multiple conferences.

Though she arrived at UAH without knowing much about the campus or the city of Huntsville, she quickly found her stride, both on and off the field. “I have now been here for two years and I am very happy with my choice!” Gustafsson says.

Gustafsson’s journey into mathematics began with an early love for the subject. “Throughout school, mathematics has always been one of my favorite subjects since it is hard and requires a lot of thinking,” she explains. “I have also been lucky to have had great math teachers throughout school who have inspired, challenged, and encouraged me.”

Initially, she considered majoring in engineering, but a deeper reflection led her to choose mathematical sciences major instead. “I realized that math is what I actually like about engineering, so being a math major was an easy choice that I am still very happy about.”

At UAH, Gustafsson has taken full advantage of undergraduate research opportunities to broaden her academic experience. She has contributed to two research projects, with her primary focus on a study under Dr. Alejandro Ginory, a part-time lecturer in the Mathematical Sciences department, examining the representation theory of Lie algebras.

“A Lie Algebra is a vector space equipped with a binary operation called the Lie bracket, which also satisfies certain other properties such as the Jacobi Identity,” Gustafsson explains. “This project has been great and we have been able to derive a new recursive formula that calculates the characters of Lie Algebras.”

She also participated in UAH’s Research and Creative Experience for Undergraduates (RCEU) program, where she worked with Dr. Summer Atkins and Dr. Satyaki Roy, both Assistant Professors in the Mathematical Sciences department, collaborating on a public health project. “I worked with Dr. Atkins and Dr. Roy on Mathematical Epidemiology. We created and analyzed a model of Hepatitis B to provide insights about how we can implement vaccination to reduce the spread of the virus.”

“Doing research has always been a dream of mine, and I am really happy for the opportunities here at UAH,” she says.

Gustafsson’s work has taken her far beyond Huntsville. “I have presented my research at the 2025 Joint Mathematics Meeting in Seattle, the 2025 MAA MathFest in Sacramento, and at the 2025 Horizon Research Week here at UAH,” she shares. “These opportunities have been super valuable to me, both for practicing presenting, but also for creating connections and learning more about the field of mathematics. It has also been fun to see other parts of the country!”

She attributes much of her success to the supportive faculty at UAH. “Working with faculty or research mentors here at UAH has been very inspiring and rewarding. They truly want us students to succeed and it really shows. They are also super friendly so do not be scared to reach out to them!”

As a student-athlete, Gustafsson acknowledges the challenges of taking on multiple roles. “Balancing academics, athletics, and being a student leader requires a lot of planning and communication, but it always works out (so far),” she says. “I just have to stay on top of my school work and make sure to get enough sleep/food/recovery since being an athlete requires very early mornings and traveling.”

Despite the demands, she says her time with the UAH soccer team has sharpened essential life skills. “Being a part of the UAH soccer team is very fun, but also very demanding,” Gustafsson says. “You cannot only do everything that is required of you, but you also have to do it as best as you can. As a team, we have to support each other, hold each other accountable, and work on ourselves in order to have a successful season. Naturally, we develop discipline, teamwork, and leadership skills.”

Adapting to life in Alabama hasn’t always been easy, but Gustafsson views the cultural transition as a learning opportunity. “Transitioning to Alabama has taken time, but it has really allowed me to gain new perspectives and learn a lot,” she shares. “Culturally, Alabama is very different from Sweden, and even though there are certain aspects I really miss from home, I especially enjoy how friendly and welcoming people are here!”

Academically, the shift was also significant. “The biggest change was the language,” she says. “I have only learned English in English class before, so English everywhere was a challenge in the beginning, especially with subject specific words in for example math.”

To students considering a similar path, Gustafsson offers encouragement: “I truly think everyone would benefit from studying abroad. Even though it is difficult at times, it is also pretty life changing,” she says. “UAH is a very welcoming and friendly community, and both faculty and other students are super helpful and understanding.”

“My biggest advice would be to not have any expectations and to be open to new cultures. It is easy to judge things you are not used to, but try not to! I also very much recommend getting involved in stuff, whether it is through sports, clubs, or some off-campus organization.”

From international student to emerging researcher, Gustafsson’s journey reflects the possibilities that open when curiosity, courage, and community come together. At UAH, she’s not only diving deep into complex mathematics, she’s also building a path shaped by ambition and a global perspective.