About

Hello! My name is Jadyn Breland and I am a fifth-year PhD candidate, teaching assistant (TA), and graduate student instructor (GSI) at the University of California, Santa Cruz.



I grew up in Tucson, Arizona and promptly moved to Flagstaff, Arizona to escape the heat and (little did I know) begin my mathematical career. I earned my Associate of Science from Coconino Community College in 2017, and then my Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Northern Arizona University in 2019. Along the way, I was fortunate enough to do undergraduate research on the combinatorics of reduced words in Coxeter systems. This experience ultimately sent me on a path towards becoming a research mathematician. Most recently, I moved to Santa Cruz, California to pursue a PhD in Mathematics. I recieved the Master of Arts in Mathematics from UC Santa Cruz in Fall of 2020 and I advanced to candidacy effective Spring 2024.

My biggest passion outside of mathematics is music. I play electric guitar in a Santa-Cruz-based band called the Funktors. I am also known to make guest appearances in the Tucson-based cover band Classic Metal Overdrive which was started by my father and my younger brother. I am also huge fan of Buckethead, the worlds greatest guitarist. Other interests of mine include mountain biking and chess. Challenge me to a game on Lichess.