Applied Math Dept. receives $1.3M for undergrad research projects
Money not only makes the world go round, it is helping undergraduates in the Applied Math Department get early research experience.
The National Science Foundation has awarded the department $1.3 million to be used over the next five years. This money will support between 15 and 20 undergraduates -up to $6,500 per year – as they pursue research projects.
Anne Dougherty, the associate department chair, said the goals of the program, called Mentoring through Critical Transitions Program, are to get more students interested in applied math, as well as provide a greater understanding of what applied math is.
There are now about 10 students in the program, Dougherty said, with other students in the pipeline doing independent studies and taking special topic seminars to prepare for their own research projects.
There are five research projects currently underway, which show how varied the field is. One of the projects involves visualization and dynamical systems. In another, related to search engines, the student is using algorithms to determine search engine quality. A third project is dealing with mathematical biology.
Graduate students and faculty who are supported in part by the NSF grant, mentor the undergraduate students through the program.
The program is designed to transition students from “good student” to independent learner and researcher.
“The goal of the department is to train and educate scientists, engineers and professionals,” said Department Chair James Curry.
