REU Site: Undergraduate Mathematical Science Research at James Madison University

James Madison University, Harrisonburg VA

Investigators

Abstract

This award supports an REU program at James Madison University that will host eight undergraduates for eight-week terms over three consecutive summers. The program will recruit and select students from groups that are traditionally underrepresented in mathematics, as well as from institutions less likely to have resources available to support research activity. The program seeks to recruit "high potential / low opportunity" students who have not participated in student research before to develop an interest in pursuing graduate education and careers in the mathematical sciences. The program supports two cohorts consisting of a group of four students together with a pair of faculty who have complementary research programs. Our faculty are well proportioned between mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics. We leverage this breadth to produce REU problems that lie on the intersection of two domains of knowledge, in which both faculty members are likely to be able to make significant contributions. Over the course of the summer, each group will progress from teaching/learning new topics in mathematics or statistics, to developing questions and conjectures, to proving results as part of an authentic research experience. Since faculty have distinct but related research interests, they are able to model supportive scientific collaboration for the students and discuss technical topics from different points of view. The program provides professional development and outreach activities for students, and produces original research that is disseminated in peer-reviewed journal articles as well as talks at national, regional, and local professional meetings. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.