1 Mathematical Research: What Can You Do? For NSF CSEM Scholars November 9, 2004 Ginger Holmes Rowell, Ph. D. Department of Mathematical Sciences Middle Tennessee State University

2 Research  Research at MTSU < College of Basic and Applied Science < Department of Mathematical Sciences  Where Can Research Take You? < Outside of MTSU < During the Summer

3 Research Opportunities - MTSU  College of Basic and Applied Sciences  Undergraduate Research Awards/Presentations < McNair Scholars Program < MTSU Undergraduate Research Journal

4 Undergraduate Research Grants  Undergraduate Research Council College of Basic and Applied Sciences < Research Grants (Early Nov. deadline) < Undergraduate Research Symposium Poster Session (Spring) <

5 Undergraduate Research Grants  University Research < cholarsguide.htm cholarsguide.htm < Scholars & Assistants < General Timelines (a word document)a word document

6 McNair Scholars Program

7 McNair Program Eligibility  Undergraduate  First-generation college students & low-income OR a member of an underrepresented group in graduate education  Intend to pursue a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) after graduation  Completed 60 college credits, min. 2.8 GPA, US citizen or permanent resident,...

8 McNair Program Benefits  Work with faculty mentor  Academic, personal and career counseling  Course credit for research activities  Paid summer research internship  GRE prep. & graduate admissions prep.  Travel money for professional conferences

9 McNair Program Applications  Applications are accepted year round, until all positions are filled  Deliver in person to the McNair Office, Midget Bldg., First Floor

10 Undergraduate Publication  An electronic journal featuring the research of MTSU students 

11 MTSU Math Faculty Research  Physical Applications of Mathematics  Theoretical Mathematics  Discrete Mathematics  Mathematics and Statistics Education  Biostatistics & Mathematical Biology  Financial Mathematics & Risk Analysis ...

12 Applications of Mathematics  Differential Equations (DE) applied to Quantum Mechanics using Green’s function (Dr. Melnikov) (Visual Quantum Mechanics  Inverse DE / Partial DE used for non-linear optimization (Dr. J. Zijlstra) Hurricane Tomas, March 1994  Manufacturing R&D. Visualization Software (Dr. Worsey)  Non-Invasive Detection Theory (PDE) (Dr. Powell)

13 Discrete Mathematics  Graph Theory (Dr. Nelson, Dr. Zha, Dr. Luo) < Models for electrical and communications networks and computer architectures < Network optimization (scheduling)  Combinatorics < Steiner Triple Systems (Dr. R. Zijlstra)

14 Theoretical Mathematics  Algebraic Structures (Dr. Hart, Dr. Krishnamani) < Group and Ring Theory < Partial Ordered Sets with Semigroup Structures < Residual Lattices - Order Theory  Probability Theory (Dr. Bloomer)

15 Math/Statistics Education  Using writing to enhance understanding of mathematics (Dr. Miller)  Works with technology as an instrument used for learning (Drs. Enderson, Kimmins, Martin, Rowell)  Standards-based Curriculum Development (Dr. Chappell)  Research on teaching statistics (Dr. Rowell)

16 Biostatistics and Mathematical Biology  Cancer Biotherapy Research (Dr. Church)  Clinical Trails Analysis (Dr. Church, Dr. Zhang)  Mathematical Biology (Dr. Sinkala)

17 Financial Mathematics  Stock market analysis, financial investments, risk analysis (Dr. Kholodney)  Financial Modeling (Dr. Sinkala)  Statistical Cost Models for NASA (Dr. Rowell)

18 Statistics & Actuarial Science  Math/Statistical Problems (Dr. Walsh) < Fun Problems using Calculus & Probability  Actuarial Science (Dr. Barnwell) < Financial Analysis, Stochastic Modeling, Birth/Death Processes  Risk Analysis for Tornado Hazzards (Drs. Rowell, Bloomer, Sinkala, Khansari, Church)

19 Where Can Research Take You?  Where Do You Want to Go? < NASA ? < National Laboratories ? < Washington, DC ? < NYC, Baltimore, San Francisco, Phoenix, Toronto ? < Other Colleges ? < …..

20 NASA Internships  Opportunity to work at a NASA Center  10 weeks in the Summer  $5,000  Application Deadline: Received by January 31, Undergraduate_Student_Research_Program.html Top left: The Sharpest View of the Sun SST, Royal Swedish Academy of SciencesSSTRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences

21 Oakridge National Laboratory  Pre-Service Teacher Internships  Student Undergraduate Laboratory Internships 

22 Summer Opportunities - RUE  Research Experiences for Undergraduates  Search by subject (Math, Eng., CS, …)  30 universities offer summer research programs in math

23 University of Tennessee  June 6 – July 29, 2005  Stipend: $2,400 + housing + travel stipend  Application Deadline: February 18, 2003  Areas: algebra, analysis, math ecology, numerical analysis, differential equations, probability,statistics, topology, control theory, and differential geometry

24 Tulane University, LA  June 7 - July 31, 2002  Stipend: $3,000 + housing  Deadline: February 25, 2002  Differential Geometry < No previous study of this subject is required.

25 University of Notre Dame  June 23 – August 10, 2002  Stipend: $350 per week + allowance for room and board and travel  Deadlines: Early March  Background: Linear Algebra & Cal. 3  2002 Topics: < Algebra, Topology, Group Theory & Graph Theory

26 Conferences  National < Joint Mathematics Meetings (January) < Joint Statistical Meetings (August) < National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (April) < MathFest (August)  Regional

27 How Did You Get There?  Ask questions  Tell people you are interested  Talk to Faculty  Search the Internet, library  Look for Posters in the Hallway  Ask for Independent Studies  …