Encryption Engaged
Mathematics is much more than what meets the eye, something that fascinates Florida State University student Bodie Cole. Math is a universal language, a way of explaining the world around us, and the foundation of fields ranging from physics to computer science to economics and even art and design.
“Many people see math as a field of cold calculations,” Cole said. “They have no idea it’s actually a discipline full of intuition, beauty, and complex, nuanced reasoning, and this is something that I try to help people understand through my passion for the subject. There’s something motivating about the potential to contribute to the world of humanity’s knowledge.”
Cole is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in pure mathematics through the Department of Mathematics with a minor from the Department of Physics, both in the College of Arts and Sciences, in hopes of eventually earning a doctorate in cryptography, the study of encoding information for secure and private communication. Private messages, computer passwords, and financial transactions are among the many assets protected by encryption, a cryptographic technique that relies heavily on mathematical concepts.
“Cryptography can be approached from a mathematical standpoint or a computer science perspective — I enjoy researching from the math side because of its versatility in different fields,” Cole said. “I can’t see myself doing anything else; math is a discipline in which putting in the work and seeing results is extremely gratifying, even in tutoring and teaching others.”
In 2024, Cole presented “Tiling Deficient Squares with L- and T- Tetrominoes” at the 2024 Joint Mathematics Meetings in San Francisco, California, the largest mathematics research gathering in the world, as part of FSU’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. The research, which examined how different square grids fit together like in Tetris, was conducted through UROP alongside mathematics professor Man Cheung Tsui and Cynthia Lester, former FSU postdoctoral scholar and current visiting professor of mathematics at the College of Wooster, Ohio.
From January 2023 to June 2024, Cole also applied his skills in FSU’s Office of the Provost as a member of its Accreditation Analytics Team, providing insights into the math involved in the processes that go into accrediting a university’s programs.
“Bodie has a lot of passion and talent for the subject, and he’s excelling simultaneously in several different pursuits. This quality is rare in someone this early in their studies, and this, plus Bodie’s enthusiasm, will serve him well in research and teaching.”
— Richard Oberlin, FSU associate professor of mathematics
“It was incredible being surrounded by brilliant people in different areas,” Cole said. “I worked on a project for reaffirmation of accreditation with local accreditors in which my team prepared and presented a quality enhancement plan for the next 10 years at FSU, including data points showcasing graduate student success, student retention and more. It was a great opportunity and learning experience.”
Early in his undergrad career, Cole had the opportunity to take the graduate course Modern Cryptography, inspiring his interest in the subject. He recently attended the 2025 Spring School on Symmetric Cryptography in Rome, Italy, a five-day workshop held in cooperation with the International Association for Cryptologic Research that provides intensive training for early master’s and doctoral students on topics in cryptography.
“The spring school was intense, as we learned a new topic each day, but it was an amazing experience that reaffirmed my interest in the subject,” Cole said. “Taking the Modern Cryptography course at FSU really prepared me for this opportunity, for which I’m thankful.”
While balancing his academics, Cole makes time for his extracurricular involvements, including his role as president of Pi Mu Epsilon, an organization dedicated to the promotion of mathematics, a role he assumed in January 2023.
“Bodie has a lot of passion and talent for the subject, and he’s excelling simultaneously in several different pursuits,” said Richard Oberlin, associate professor of mathematics. “This quality is rare in someone this early in their studies, and this, plus Bodie’s enthusiasm, will serve him well in research and teaching.”
With plans to earn his bachelor’s degree in 2026, Cole’s gaze is fixed on the future. After earning a doctorate in cryptography, Cole plans to become a university research professor or use mathematics to mitigate issues for an intelligence agency.
“Teaching has always been something I enjoyed, and I love the potential to contribute to the world through mathematics,” Cole said. “I’d also like to work for an intelligence agency that lets me apply mathematics to solve important problems, but overall, I want to do something with my life that ensures I’m constantly challenged and always learning.”
Lillian Gonda is a current FSU College of Business student working towards dual degrees in marketing and risk management/insurance with a minor in psychology.