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

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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

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Research Opportunities - MTSU

• College of Basic and Applied Sciences
• Undergraduate Research Awards/Presentations
• McNair Scholars Program
• MTSU Undergraduate Research Journal

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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/

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Undergraduate Research Grants

• University Research
• http//www.mtsu.edu/graduate/research/scholarsgui
  de.htm
• Scholars Assistants
• General Timelines (a word document)

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McNair Scholars Program
http//www.mtsu.edu/mcnair/
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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, ...

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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

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McNair Program Applications

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

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Undergraduate Publication

• An electronic journal featuring the research of
  MTSU students
• http//www.mtsu.edu/scientia/

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MTSU Math Faculty Research

• Physical Applications of Mathematics
• Theoretical Mathematics
• Discrete Mathematics
• Mathematics and Statistics Education
• Biostatistics Mathematical Biology
• Financial Mathematics Risk Analysis
• ...

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Applications of Mathematics

• Differential Equations (DE) applied to Quantum
  Mechanics using Greens 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 RD. Visualization Software (Dr.
  Worsey)
• Non-Invasive Detection Theory (PDE) (Dr. Powell)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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Biostatistics and Mathematical Biology

• Cancer Biotherapy Research (Dr. Church)
• Clinical Trails Analysis (Dr. Church, Dr. Zhang)
• Mathematical Biology (Dr. Sinkala)

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Financial Mathematics

• Stock market analysis, financial investments,
  risk analysis (Dr. Kholodney)
• Financial Modeling (Dr. Sinkala)
• Statistical Cost Modelsfor NASA (Dr. Rowell)

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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)

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Where Can Research Take You?

• Where Do You Want to Go?
• NASA ?
• National Laboratories ?
• Washington, DC ?
• NYC, Baltimore, San Francisco, Phoenix, Toronto ?
• Other Colleges ?
• ..

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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/postsecon
dary/learning/Undergraduate_Student_Research_Prog
ram.html
Top left http//antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropi
x.html The Sharpest View of the Sun SST, Royal
Swedish Academy of Sciences
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Oakridge National Laboratory

• Pre-Service Teacher Internships
• Student Undergraduate Laboratory Internships
• http//www.orau.gov/orise/edu/ornl/undergrad.htm

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Summer Opportunities - RUE

• Research Experiences for Undergraduates
• Search by subject (Math, Eng., CS, )
• http//www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cf
  m
• 30 universities offer summer research programs in
  math

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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

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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.

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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

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Conferences

• National
• Joint Mathematics Meetings (January)
• Joint Statistical Meetings (August)
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  (April)
• MathFest (August)
• Regional

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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