Laila El Ghandour

AIMS South Africa | 2010

Ms Laila El Ghandour, (Morocco), graduated from AIMS South Africa in 2010. She went on to complete a Research Master’s in Financial Mathematics at Stellenbosch University as well as tutoring at AIMS South Africa for 6 months.

“Through an AIMS review course I discovered mathematics applied to financial markets. This course really opened my mind to the possibilities of specialising in financial mathematics.”says Laila.
” Because of AIMS, I was able to complete my Research Master’s and then be accepted into a PhD program at Herriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.” She adds.

Her field of study is the application of financial mathematics to the energy sector, specifically to try to have a stock optimisation for a storage facility. In the United Kingdom, the government wants to meet the nation’s energy demand with at least 15% coming from renewable sources. Part of these renewable sources are produced by wind turbines, the problem with this source of energy is that the electricity produced by them, can’t be stored but have to be used straightaway.

In these cases the only solution that has been found is to use the electricity produced at night to accumulate energy which can be later released into the system, in case there is a lack of renewable sources, so as to avoid blackouts in the system. The object of the research team of which she is part of, is to develop a mathematical model which can be used to maximise the production and profits of these storage facilities

“My expertise is needed because renewable energies, like stock-markets have the same unpredictable pattern.” says Laila.

“I see renewable energy and specifically mathematics applied to it, as one of the best sources of development for the African continent. I know that my research and everything I learned at AIMS is going to have an impact. I am looking forward to contributing to Africa, the continent I love. “I believe AIMS has transformed mine and all graduates’ lives. If the institute continues to reach more young talented scientists, I am confident that the next Einstein will truly be African!



“There is a wide array of innovative aspects to the AIMS model and institute. If I could pick one it would be that AIMS doesn’t rely solely on point systems or marks but rather on academic and personal development; learning how to think, solve problems, apply skills and gain confidence. This holistic approach to a student’s development and the continuous training of the students is a much better approach to pure educational attainment.”says Laila.