Undergraduate Research
The ASU mathematics program offers several opportunities for students to enhance their educational experience, including:
- Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs)
- Student Research Courses (MATH 4391)
- Research Excellence Fellowships
- Problem Solving
- The National Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM)
- Putnam Exam
- Math Lab Tutoring
Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs)
Many colleges and universities offer a summer employment opportunity that allows students from across the nation to spend a portion of their summer at the campus of a sponsoring institution. While there, they work with faculty on a research project. Read this list of REU opportunities sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for students in mathematics, the sciences and engineering. For other research opportunities, visit the Scholarships and Grants page under Student Resources.
Student Research Courses (MATH 4391)
The mathematics program makes available various opportunities for students to participate in research or independent study projects. These are usually most appropriate for junior or senior level students.
The simplest and most common way to start such a project is by contacting a faculty member to see whether he/she is able to supervise a MATH 4391 (research) course. Several students can enroll in the same research course and the format is flexible.
The course may entail a specific research project or may be conducted as either an independent study project or a traditional course, but only on a topic that is not covered in the standard curriculum.
These are some of our faculty members who may be interested in offering a MATH 4391 course, along with some of the topics that have been offered in the past or may be considered in the future:
- Dr. Dionne Bailey – “The Mathematics of Games,” “Mathematical Structures of Music,” “Applications of Graph Theory,” Abstract Algebra II,” “Exploring Hypercubes,” “Advanced Combinatorics,” “Abstract Algebra II”
- Dr. Charles Diminnie – “Advanced Problem Solving,” “Problems in Number Theory,” “Applications of Linear Algebra,” “Problem Solving”
- Dr. Karl Havlak – “MATLAB Modules for Calculus,” Mathematics of Finance,” Topics in Actuarial Science,” “Mathematical Modeling,” “The Mathematics of Diseases,” “Quantitative Modeling Techniques,” “Vector Analysis,” “Mathematical Modeling II”
- Dr. David Huckaby – “Numerical Linear Algebra”
- Dr. Andrew Siefker – “Calculus IV,” “Problem Solving Seminar I,” “Introduction to Fourier Analysis,” “Introduction to Fourier Analysis II”
- Dr. John “Trey” Smith – “Intuitive Topology,” “Fibonacci Cycles,” “Turing Machines and Incompleteness,” “Topics in Complex Analysis,” “Formalism vs. Intuition,” “Topics in Probability,” “Foundations of Real Numbers,” “Matrices mod P,” “Topics in Graph Theory,” “Probability and Fractals,” “Fuzzy Sets and Fuzzy Logic,” “Applications of Fuzzy Logic,” “Games and Determinacy”
- Dr. Paul Swets – “Advanced Number Theory,” “Ring Theory,” “Algebraic Structures, Codes, and Ciphers,” “Research in Number Theory”
- Dr. Roger Zarnowski – “Generalized Matrix Inverses,” “Wavelet Applications/Wavelets and Color Spaces,” “Partial Differential Equations,” “Complex Variables,” “Mathematical Physiology,” “Partial Differential Equations,” “Random Matrices and the Riemann Zeta Function,” “Discrete Wavelets”
Many other topics are also possible, depending on the interests of the students and the faculty supervisors.
Research Excellence Fellowships
(Formerly the Carr Undergraduate Research Scholarships)
Undergraduates who have completed 72 credit hours are eligible to apply for a Research Excellence Fellowship. These scholarships are offered university-wide on a competitive basis and provide a stipend of $2,000 for an academic year, during which the recipient undertakes a significant research project under the supervision of a faculty member.
Students who receive this scholarship are expected to make a commitment of time and effort to their project that is far greater than what would normally be expected in a regular research course. A formal presentation of results is made in the spring at the ASU Research Excellence Fellowship Symposium. Many students also present talks or papers at professional meetings.
Problem Solving
The mathematics program encourages all students to participate in our informal problem-solving seminars. Problems are selected from various math journals. If solutions are obtained, they are written and submitted for possible publication. This is a good way for students to acquire valuable skills and learn some mathematics of a different sort from what is usually covered in classes.
Students whose solutions are published have their work prominently displayed in our Rogues Gallery (a.k.a. bulletin board). For more information, contact Dr. Charles Diminnie or Dr. Andrew J. Siefker.
The National Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM)
This contest is an opportunity for students to solve a “real world” problem in a nationwide team competition. For more information about the contest, contact Dr. Karl Havlak or visit the Mathematical Contest in Modeling website.
Putnam Exam
The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition is administered annually on the first Saturday of December. This competition is open to all regularly enrolled undergraduate students who have not yet received a college degree. The examination tests originality as well as technical competence and places a special emphasis on abstract reasoning.
A list of the top finishers is given to all participating institutions and graduate schools in the United States and Canada. For full details, contact Dr. Charles Diminnie.
Math Lab Tutoring
Students interested in gaining some teaching experience while making a little money can help out in our “Math Lab” by tutoring students in freshman and sophomore level courses. The experience gained can be a valuable asset when looking for a first job or applying for admission to a graduate program.
