Mathematics

Dr. Albert H. & Greta A. Bryan Summer Research Program

Program Description for Summer 2009: 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 four to 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 to attend a mathematics conference.  The program will also pay for various social activities such as a cookout and an outing to a baseball game.

Dates: The program will start on June 15 and end on August 7 for Dr. Schellhorn's group.  Dr. Berger has secured funding to take her group to a conference in Wyoming that starts on June 8 and they will depart from Simpson on June 6.

Faculty Advisors and Research Topics: Dr. Heidi Berger's students will research time scales in differential equations and Dr. Bill Schellhorn's students will study a biological application of knot theory.  Click on each topic for an overview of the proposed research projects.  The topics in 2008 included graph labeling with Dr. Deb Czarneski and auction theory with Dr. Rick Spellerberg.

Requirements: To apply for the program, a student must satisfy the following requirements.
1. Complete Calculus II by the start of the summer.
2. Graduate from Simpson College in May 2011 or after May 2011.
3. Declared a major or minor in mathematics, although preference will be given to majors.
4. 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. Participate in all required program activities including presenting your research at the conference.

Application Process: Applicants must submit a mathematical resume and a personal statement by 3pm on Monday, March 2, 2009, to Bill Schellhorn in Carver 331B.  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.

Last Updated: 5/25/09