Mathematical Research: What Can You Do?

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) • http://www.mtsu.edu/~collbas/UndergradResearch/

5. Undergraduate Research Grants • University Research • http://www.mtsu.edu/~graduate/research/scholarsguide.htm • Scholars & Assistants • General Timelines (a word document)

6. McNair Scholars Program http://www.mtsu.edu/~mcnair/

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 • http://www.mtsu.edu/~scientia/

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 http://phys.educ.ksu.edu/) • 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 Modelsfor 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, 2005 http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/postsecondary/learning/Undergraduate_Student_Research_Program.html Top left: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html The Sharpest View of the Sun SST, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

21. Oakridge National Laboratory • Pre-Service Teacher Internships • Student UndergraduateLaboratory Internships • http://www.orau.gov/orise/edu/ornl/undergrad.htm

22. Summer Opportunities - RUE • Research Experiences for Undergraduates • Search by subject (Math, Eng., CS, …) http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm • 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 • …