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Summer Research Program

Research Program Information | 2011 Summer Research Program Information

Research Program Information

Please note: Only continuing mathematics majors and graduate students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are eligible for this research program. Students who graduate in June are not eligible. Students from other universities may be eligible for a National Science Foundation REU.

The Cal Poly Mathematics Department summer research program allows students and faculty members to work together on interesting mathematics research problems. Students should expect to work at least 25 hours per week for eight weeks. The work weeks will depend on faculty and student schedules. The projects may also require work during the following academic year in order to prepare for conferences or publication. Each student participant will receive a $2400 stipend for their work. Funding for the projects is subject to approval by the College-Based Fee committee. Due to uncertainty about the fee proposal and budget problems, there is a chance this program will have less funding than in previous summers. If you have the opportunity for another research project or internship and you are counting on the money, you should strongly consider taking the other position. It is also possible that the stipend will be reduced due to budget cuts.

To be selected for a summer research project, students should have excellent grades (A's and B's in mathematics courses, including upper division work) and interest in learning difficult mathematics that goes beyond the scope of undergraduate coursework. You will work closely on a mathematics research project with a faculty advisor for approximately eight weeks. Each faculty project leader will work with two to three students.

The projects are chosen by faculty members because they are current open research questions that are also accessible to undergraduate and beginning graduate students.

During the academic year following participation in the REU, each student will be expected to present their research project at a national or regional mathematics conference, in addition to the College of Science and Mathematics Research Fair.

To apply for the research program, you will be asked to send the following information to Dr. Linda Patton:

  • A list of the upper-division courses you have taken, including grades.
  • A short paragraph describing your favorite courses and other mathematical interests.
  • All projects on the list below in which you are interested. If you are only interested in certain projects, be sure to say so.
  • Two professors we can consult as references (no letters needed).
  • Any other students with whom you would like to work.
  • Other REUs and internships to which you have applied that you would prefer. This does not hurt your chances of being selected - it just helps us plan finances.

Deadline for the Summer 2011 Research Program is Friday, April 22.

2011 Summer Research Program

The faculty advisors for the summer 2011 research projects will be Dr. Vincent Bonini and Dr. Jonathan Shapiro.

NOTE: Additional faculty projects may be added at a future date. In particular, if you are interested in a Mathematics Education project, please contact Dr. Patton.