Undergraduate Research and Internships

  Malori Cloys working on undergraduate research involving neighborhood-prime labelings of graphs, a discrete math research project conducted with Professor Brad Fox                   

The Presidential Research Scholars Program

The Presidential Research Scholars Program provides $3000 to student-faculty teams in support of scholarly and creative activity.  The APSU Mathematics department is proud of its Presidential Research Scholars.  They are

• Ryan Honea - worked with Dr. Matt Jones in 2017
• Jordan Taylor - worked with Dr. Samuel Jator in 2015
• Paul Watkins - worked with Dr. Ramanjit Sahi in 2015
• Krissy Knight - worked with Dr. Fola Agusto in 2014
• Andrew Kerr - worked with Dr. Samuel Jator in 2013
• Casey McKnight - worked with Dr. Matt Jones in 2011
• John Salter - worked with Dr. Samuel Jator in 2010

All full-time undergraduate students with the support of a faculty mentor are eligible to apply.  Learn more at http://www.apsu.edu/our/presidential-research-scholars-program.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (Summer REUs)

Interested in a really, really great summer job?  A summer REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) can be the experience of a lifetime.  REU participants typically spend several weeks at a host university working with a faculty mentor and other undergraduate students on a research problem.  Most living expenses are typically covered and most programs pay a stipend.

Programs are competitive, so students are encourage to apply to several and to apply early.  Most applications are due in early Spring, but some are due in late Fall.  Here is a link to the official National Science Foundation REU site:  http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/.

The AMS (American Mathemataical Society) also maintains a list of REU's.

The Office of Undergraduate Research at APSU can help you locate REU's which match your interests and can assist you with the application process.

Previous students who participated in REU's:

• Nathan Nickelson - Arctic Amplification at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2018
• Emily Stark - Social and Decision Analytics Laboratory at Virginia Tech in 2016
• Elisha Hall - Biomathematics and Bioinformatics at Fisk University in 2014
• Amy Dexter - 2008

Undergraduate Research on Campus

Instead of traveling to another campus to conduct research during the summer, you can work with APSU's very own professors on exciting research projects.  Students can work side-by-side with a research mentor throughout the summer with one of many active researchers in areas such as Numerical Analysis, Graph Theory, Knot Theory, and Statistics.  No need for applications or deadlines; just find talk to a professor whose field is of interest to you about starting an undergraduate research project.

Your work could result in a presentation at a regional or national conference including the MAA Southeast Sectional Meeting, the Southeastern Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics, or the Joint Mathematics Meetings, or potentially as a published research article.

Students that participate in supervised research activities with an APSU faculty member that go to present their work can register for MATH 490H: Independent Study with High Impact Practices that counts as up to 5 hours of honors credit as a recognition of your achievements.  Participation in an REU or in an internship (see more below) also can earn credit through this course.

Math majors that have conducted undergraduate research with a mentor in our department, most of which have earned credit through MATH 490H through undergraduate research:

• Joseph Mathews - with Dr. Sumen Sen in 2017
• Malori Cloys - with Dr. Brad Fox in 2017
• Kindyl King - with Dr. Samuel Jator in 2017

Study Abroad Programs

If you want to study math while seeing the world, you can apply for one of several study abroad programs that will broaden your horizons geographically and mathematically.  The Budapest Semesters in Mathematics features 8-week summer or 15-week academic year programs that allow you to take upper-level math courses in the beautiful and historic capital of Hungary.  The Math in Moscow program is another terrific opportunity to study and conduct mathematical research with high quality students and professors in Russia.  The APSU Math Department can provide funding support to help our students take part in these unique experiences.

For a great learning experience without the international travel, there are great programs such as the MASS (Mathematics Advanced Study Semesters) Program at Penn State or the Junior Year for Women at Smith College.  These are excellent opportunities to study math at an advanced level and prepare you for future research experience or graduate school while keeping you closer to home.  More information on these programs or other opportunities can be found at http://www.maa.org/programs/students/semester-and-summer-programs

Our students that have participated in study abroad programs:

• Katherine Kreuser - Budapest Semesters in Mathematics in Summer 2017
• Emily Stark - Budapest Semesters in Mathematics in Summer 2015

Internships

Internships are another great opportunity to further your education, develop your mathematical skills, and prepare yourself for a career after graduation.  They can be great sources of income during the summer break as well as providing valuable experience that will help set you apart from other graduates when entering the job market.  See below for some resources for information about internship opportunities.

• Purdue University Professor Richard Penney's List of Math Career Resources
• SMART (Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation Defense Scholarship for Service Program)
• The Washington, D.C.-London Internship Program
• AMS's List of Internship Opportunities

APSU mathematics or statistics students that have completed internships:

• Ryan Honea - Electrolux R&D in Springfield, TN in Summer 2017
• Sabrina Nieves - HCA Healthcare in Summer 2017