2004 MHC REU Projects and Application Procedure

GOOD NEWS! Our program has been funded for the next five years by the NSF so please apply for this summer. The dates for this years program will be June 21-August 13.

Application procedure: Three items need to be submitted:

1. An application form. There are several ways of obtaining this:
   • Download the application form.
   • Request the form by email: reu@mtholyoke.edu.
   • Send regular mail to: REU, Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA 01075.
   • Fax: 413-538-3035
   • Telephone: 413-538-2162
2. A grade transcript (does not need to be official).
3. A letter of recommendation from a faculty member.

Return these items (by any method you choose) by the application deadline of March 1 . Applications completed by this time will receive priority, though late applications will be accepted. Students who are accepted will be sent a letter with further details.

Plans for the 2004 REU: Giuliana Davidoff will run one of the groups this summer and Donal O'Shea and Alan Durfee will co-run the other group.

Here is a description of G. Davidoff's research topic.

Donal O'Shea's and Alan Durfee's group will study polynomial and rational knots. A description of their project will soon be added to this site but for now you can look at the description of their 2002 research group for some idea of the topic.

Prequisites: We are generally looking for students between their junior and senior year in college; we expect the student to have taken the calculus sequence, linear algebra, and at least one course beyond these such as abstract algebra. Of course, the more background, the better. Applicants are selected based on the courses they have taken, their grades, recommendations from faculty members, and the applicant's statement of interest. Each faculty advisor chooses his or her own work group in consultation with the other advisors. We try to form each group so that it has a variety of talents. In particular, we make sure that each group has one or more students with extensive computer experience. Lastly, we try to balance the number of men and women in each group. Minority students also are especially encouraged to apply. Since our support comes from the National Science Foundation, the students supported by our program must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. However, students with other sources of support are welcome to apply.

Stipend: $3,000 plus room.

Dates: The dates for the program will be June 21 - August 13. Students should arrive on June 20.

For more information, contact us by any of the above means.

[REU home page] [Past REU projects] [Description of the summer institute]