MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
supported by the National Science Foundation (DMS-0353880)


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April 2008

Due to budget issues, NSF funding for many REU programs was delayed this year.   We have been recommended for funding and expect to offer the REU in summer 2009 but will not  offer this REU in summer 2008 due to scheduling issues.

The Iowa State University Department of Mathematics regularly hosts the summer program Mathematics and Computing Research Experiences for Undergraduates, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. 

More information about the ISU Math REU can be found in the article in the Proceedings of the Conference in Promoting Undergraduate Research in Mathematics or on the pages from prior years (
REU06,  REU05,  REU04).  Students in the REU publish their results (list of papers).

Participants spend eight weeks working on research projects as part of active research groups at ISU.    The projects are in a variety of mathematical areas, representing the diverse research interests of the ISU Mathematics Department, such as  mathematical biology, linear algebra, dynamical systems, numerical analysis, and graph theory, all utilizing computational methods.  

At the beginning of the summer the mentors explain the necessary background to the students and there are presentations on writing in LaTeX and using Matlab.  During most of the program, students conduct research, meeting frequently with their faculty and graduate student mentors.  In addition to their own research, students attend weekly REU Seminars, where they hear faculty lectures on a variety of mathematical topics and presentations related to attending graduate school.  The REU concludes with a symposium of student reports.

Participants are provided a stipend, accommodation in University student housing, some travel and meal expenses, and will have the opportunity to participate in social activities for REU students, both Math REU and campus-wide ISU REU activities (see general information).

Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will be undergraduates in Fall 2008 are eligible to apply  in early 2008 for summer 2008.  Applicants should have completed at least two years of undergraduate mathematics courses including at least two semesters of calculus and two subsequent courses, including at least one course involving reading and writing proofs.  Most projects also require specific courses such as linear algebra or differential equations.

Women and minorities are particularly encouraged to apply.  Women may also wish to apply to the Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering (PWSE) in addition to applying, in 2008, directly to the REU.  Minorities may  apply for summer 2008 to the AGEP/Alliance program. This page (that you are reading) describes only the application process for positions funded by the Department of Mathematics NSF REU site grant (direct application to the REU); PWSE and AGEP/Alliance programs offer additional sources of funding (and thus additional opportunities to be selected) for REU positions, including the projects listed on this page.  

Questions:
Sorry, we cannot accept any applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents.
For questions about the application process or general information, contact Kristy by e-mail, REU@math.iastate.edu with  "REU" in the subject of the email.
For questions about a specific project, contact the mentor for that project.
For other scientific questions only, contact the co-Director, Prof. Leslie Hogben, LHogben@iastate.edu with the word "REU in the subject of the email.  See also Advice to the applicant.
Telephone contact: Department of Mathematics, 515-294-1752 (ask for Kristy).


2006 all

Summer 2006 REU on the steps of Beardshear Hall


General Information for 2006 (N/A in 2008)

Program contact information

E-mail: REU@math.iastate.edu
 

Telephone contact: Department of Mathematics, 515-294-1752 (ask for Kristy).

Fax: 515-294-5454 (address to REU)

Mailing address:
Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Department of Mathematics
Carver Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
 

How to Apply: (2006) Not yet available for 2009   

All materials submitted directly by the applicant MUST be sent via e-mail.  Paper applications are not accepted.

Instructions to the applicant:   E-mail (REU@math.iastate.edu) with "REU (your last name)" as the subject of the e-mail is the preferred form of submission for all materials except the transcript, and is required for the information and statement that you submit.  Attachments may be used for formatted materials.  An e-mail body should contain plain text only- no graphics or styles.  The following attachment formats are accepted: PDF, MSWord, LaTeX, Postscript.   All attachments should contain your last name in the file name and at the beginning of the document.    Please suggest submission of letters of recommendation by e-mail.  US Mail or fax is acceptable for letters of recommendation if the writer of the letter prefers this format, but we ask you to offer electronic submission as an option to people who recommend you, as all materials will be reviewed in electronic format.  The official transcript should be sent  via US Mail (address below) directly from your institution.

Please submit the following materials to complete your application:

Applicants will be notified when all positions are filled.

Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled, but late applicants may not be fully considered.  We usually start reading applications on the day of the deadline.


Project Descriptions (2006)

Mathematical Systems Theory  Prof. Wolfgang Kliemann   The Mathematical Systems Theory group at Iowa State University consists of 13 faculty members from the departments of Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, and several engineering departments. The group collaborates on various interdisciplinary research projects in the areas of control theory, nanotechnology, national infrastructure, bioinformatics, and stochastic systems.  Increasingly, the role of an applied mathematician is that of a collaborator in large interdisciplinary teams, and students who join this team will have experiences in collaborative research that should make the transition to becoming a research mathematician easier.  Over the past 3 years nine students have worked on a variety of projects as part of this group (e.g., see 2005 projects) For the summer of 2006, possible topics include:

Advice to the Applicant

Students frequently ask what information is most helpful to us in making decisions and what they should do to improve their chances of selection.  Here is some advice based on what has happened previously (do not be discouraged if you can't follow all of it- not all successful applicants do).

Writing the personal statement
Our program has a strong project-fit element to the selection process: the project mentors have great influence on who is picked.  So the best advice I can give you  specific to our program is

This is of course in addition to answering the rest of the questions we ask.

General preparation:

Take the hardest math courses available.  We are looking for people who seek challenges and love math.  We are also looking for a strong foundation in proof based (theoretical) courses in which you read and write proofs- in some colleges this is all math courses, in others the first proof course might be abstract or linear algebra.  Having taken more theoretical courses is always good, whatever area.  Work hard in your math courses- having a high GPA in math courses definitely helps (we are also somewhat interested in science courses, but are not interested in non math/science grades).  Other ways to demonstrate mathematical interest include taking the Putnam Exam, membership in Pi Mu Epsilon, or participation in a selective mathematics study abroad program.

In addition to mathematics courses, some projects may have requirements in other fields of study (e.g., biology).

All of the following are useful skills (if you have them, say so), but are less important, as we can teach this if needed when you arrive: Matlab, Mathematica, statistical software, ability to write in LaTeX.

Get to know at least one or two faculty members at your college well- letters of recommendation play an important role in selection.

Being a freshman is a disadvantage, but we will consider you (unlike some programs) provided you are at least a mathematical sophomore, i.e., will have completed 2 years of college mathematics (calculus and above) by summer (however, the vast majority of students selected are at least mathematical juniors, although many are chronological sophomores). 

Another suggestion- apply to several REUs, as no applicant, however outstanding, can be certain of admission to one specific REU program.

Leslie
 
 

Mathematics Department Homepage
Web page maintained by Leslie Hogben
Last Update: 23-Apr-08