Program Description for Summer 2008: The Dr. Albert H. & Greta A. Bryan Summer Research Program in Mathematics at Simpson College is an opportunity to spend eight weeks of the summer doing undergraduate research in mathematics. Each summer six students will be selected and each student will work on a research project with one of two Simpson College faculty members. Each student will receive a stipend of $2400, paid on-campus housing during the program, and travel money for attending MathFest in Madison, Wisconsin. The program will also pay for various social activities such as an outing to a baseball game.
Dates: The program will be held June 4 to July 30, 2008. MathFest is July 31 to August 2, 2008, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Faculty Advisors and Research Topics: Rick Spellerberg's students will study auction theory and Deb Czarneski's students will research graph labeling. Click on each topic for an overview of the proposed research projects.
Requirements: To apply for the program, a student must satisfy the following requirements.
1. Complete Calculus II by the start of the summer.
2. Graduating from Simpson College in May 2010 or after May 2010.
3. Declared a major or minor in mathematics, although preference will be given to majors.
4. Must commit at least forty hours each week to the program. A participant may take a class or have a part-time job if approved by his or her faculty advisor.
5. Must participate in all required program activities including presenting your research at MathFest.
Application Process: Applicants must submit a mathematical resume and a personal statement by 3pm on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, to Deb Czarneski in Carver 331A. A description of the information that should be included in each of these documents appears below. The Mathematics Department will meet to review the applications near the beginning of March and applicants will be notified as soon as selections are made.
Mathematical Resume: Your mathematical resume should contain the following information.
1. Overall GPA and your GPA in the mathematics major. This information can be found on your degree audit.
2. All declared majors and minors.
3. List of the mathematics courses you have completed.
4. All participation in Mathematics Department activities.
5. Participation in other relevant activities since arriving at Simpson College.
6. The name and office phone number of one Simpson College faculty member who is not in the Mathematics Department to serve as a reference.
Personal Statement: Your personal statement should contain the following information and should be no longer than two pages.
1. Why should you be selected to participate in this program? How would you benefit from participation in the program?
2. What special skills would you bring to the program?
3. What are your goals for the summer? What are your career goals and/or graduate school goals?
4. Specify which project is most appealing to you.