Background

John Griffith Moala is a Tongan national. He grew up in Tonga, where he did his primary and (part of his) high school education. He was awarded a scholarship to finish his high school education at a private boarding school in Putney, Vermont (USA). He started his university education at McDaniel College (Maryland, USA), and then transferred to The University of Auckland in 2011.

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He completed his BSc in 2012 majoring in Mathematics and Operations Research. He completed his BSc(Hons) in 2013. His honors dissertation ](supervised by of Associate Professor Igor Klep) focused on interior point methods in linear optimization . He completed his MSc in 2014 in Mathematics Education under the supervision of Emeritus Professor Michael Thomas. 

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He started his PhD in Mathematics Education in June 2015, under the supervision of Associate Professor Caroline Yoon and Dr. Igor' Kontorovich. His main area of research interest is in investigating mathematical thinking, learning, and understanding, particularly how students adapt their existing ways of thinking in order to cope with (relatively) novel mathematical tasks.

                 Academic CV

Education

[2015]: The University of Auckland, PhD, Mathematics Education (Provisional Thesis Title: Towards a Structural Characterization of Overcoming Cognitive Obstacles in the Context of Mathematical Tasks; Supervisors: A/Prof. Caroline Yoon and Dr. Igor’ Kontorovich)

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[2014]: The University of Auckland, MSc (Hons) with first class honors in Mathematics (Thesis: On Being Stuck: A Preliminary Investigation into the Essence of Mathematical Problem Solving); Supervisors: Prof. Michael Thomas and A/Prof. Caroline Yoon)

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[2013]: The University of Auckland, BSc (Hons) with first class honors in Mathematics (Honors Dissertation title: Interior Point Methods for Linear Programming); Supervisor: A/Prof. Igor Klep

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[2012]: The University of Auckland, BSc, Mathematics and Operations Research (double major)

Research and Teaching Experience

[2015]: Co-Principal Researcher on Making Mathematical Thinking Visible project, funded by the New Zealand Government’s Teaching and Learning Research Initiative Grant

[2015-2016]:  Co-Principal Researcher on Community Owned Stories of Mathematical Innovation and Success project, funded by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment “Unlocking Curious Minds Fund”, Auckland, New Zealand

[2015]: Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland.

[2013-2014]: Summer Research Scholar, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland (Supervisor: Dr. Judy Paterson. Project Title: Introducing Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues)

[2012-2013]: Summer Research Scholar, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland (Supervisor: A/Prof. Igor Klep. Project Title: Nonnegative Matrices–A Brief Introduction to Copositive Matrices)

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[2011-2012]:  Summer Research Scholar, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland (Supervised by A/Prof. Caroline Yoon. Project Title: Mapping Mathematical Leaps of Insight) 

[2012-2015]: Marker for Stage II and III undergraduate mathematics courses, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland

[2012]: Tutor for Maori and Pacific Island students, Tuakana Program, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland.

Research Funds and Grants Awarded

[2015]: Making Mathematical Thinking Visible. Teaching and Learning Research Initiative Grant ($200 000, Co. Principal Investigator)*

[2015]: Community Owned Stories of Mathematical Innovation and Success.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment “Unlocking Curious Minds Fund” ($19,700, Co. Principal Investigator).

* Initially co. principal investigator, later research assistant

Recent Academic Distinctions and Awards

[2017]: Best presentation, Department of Mathematics Student Research Conference, The University of Auckland

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[2017]: The Gloria Olive Travel Award, The New Zealand Mathematical Society

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[2015]: University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarship

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[2012-2015]: Tongan Government Funded Scholarship

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[2014]: The Faculty of Science Masters Award, The University of Auckland

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[2013]: Senior Scholar Award in the Faculty of Science for Operations Research, The University of Auckland

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[2014]: The Mathematics Education Prize, Department of Mathematics The University of Auckland

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[2014]: The Mathematics Education Technology Prize, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland

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[2013]: Certificate of Distinction for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement in Postgraduate Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland

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[2012]: Certificate of Distinction for Outstanding Scholastic Achievement in Operations Research, Department of Statistics, The University of Auckland. 

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[2012]: Certificate of Distinction for Top Maori and Pacific Island Student in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland

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[2011-2013]:  Summer Research Scholarships, Department of Mathematics, The University of Auckland.