Summer Undergraduate Mathematics Research (2024)

SUMaR 2022 - all spots are now filled. We intend to run again next year, and encourage everybody still eligible for next year to reapply. We are welcoming applications for SUMaR 2023.

We expect to continue offering projects in knot theory or related, in PDEs, and number theory. If this changes, we will update it here. We expect to have room for 10-11 students. We will start in the morning of 6/13/2022 and conclude with the our traditional student-organized REU conference on 8/5/2022.

To apply to SUMaR, email reuapplications@math.ksu.edu , with your name in the subject line, attaching as PDF files the following materials:

1. Your un-offical transcript(s). If the classes you will take in the spring don't show, mention them in your cover letter.
2. A cover letter, explaining why you are interested in participating in SUMaR, your future career plans, and how your participation in SUMaR would impact them. If you are a McNair, Math Alliance, LSAMP, etc scholar, or hold a scholarship, mention this here.
3. Demographics and contact info: Your address, e-mail, phone number, school you attend, major(s),expected time of graduation, citizenship/residency status, ethnicity or race, sex.
4. You may attach a vita or resume if you wish.

In addition, ask two faculty who know your math work to e-mail reference letters for you, with your name in the subject line, and as PDF attachments, to the same address reuapplications@math.ksu.edu .

Updating of this page will continue. Inquiries can be made to reuapplications@math.ksu.edu .

Overview:

During eight weeks, 10-12 undergraduate students will have the opportunity to visit K-State and carry out research projects under the mentorship of the mathematics department's faculty.

This REU encourages applications from students preparing for graduate studies in mathematics, and those from community colleges who might otherwise not have an opportunity to experience mathematics work and consider graduate studies.

Since a subset of the student population we plan to recruit will be early in their studies, and hence expected to have limited experience with mathematical proof, the REU will feature a series of talks by Philosophy faculty, and epistemology of mathematics and propositional logic.

SUMaR receives its support from the National Science Foundation. As such, according to NSF regulations, it is only open to US citizens and permanent residents.

Mission:
- Help students to be independent researchers;
- enhance their understanding of basic mathematics and the areas involved in their own project;
- develop a sense of sound mathematical reasoning;
- create a sense of community among the REU students and our own students and faculty.

The REU also offers panels on graduate school and how to apply, Math Subject Graduate Record Exam (GRE) prep workshops; class format lectures will be given on assorted topics of mathematics. Students will meet weekly to discuss progress, culminating in a closing conference in which students present their results.

All of our mentors have experience directing undergraduate research; often, and according to the student's investment, leading to publications, awards, and admission in Group I graduate programs. In the past, most REU students have prepared research papers, many becoming published. A list of papers from our earlier "Brainstorming and Barnstorming" REU can be found here. Results from SUMaR 2010 - 2017 can be found clicking on the links near the top of this page. Each results page contains a link to the Facebook group of that year's participants.

If you are a motivated math major, interested in furthering your mathematical education, you should APPLY!

SUMaR will have the following format:

- Each summer's the mentors will give a short series of talks leading into the problems that will be worked on that summer.
- Enrichment talks by faculty not leading projects and by senior graduate students.
- Workshops on mathematical exposition, typesetting with LaTeX, and use of MATLAB.
- Seminars on applying to graduate school.
- Social activities, including barbeques, outings to the Konza Prairie tallgrass prairie preserve, and shared social activities with several concurrent REUs and the university-wide Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (SUROP) and L-SAMP program, among others, on campus.
- Weekly progress meetings in which students from each project will report briefly on the work done that week.
- A student organized conference during the last day of the REU in which the participants will present their results.

Participants in SUMaR 2022 will receive room and board, a research fellowship of $4000. Limited travel assistance may be available for students with financial hardship.

See what others think about KSU and Research Experiences and watch our videos!

See the SUMaR 2010 poster here!

See the website of our old REU here!

SUMaR is sponsored by: