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MSRI-UP

The MSRI Undergraduate Program (MSRI-UP) is a comprehensive summer program designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are also eligible thanks to generous funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding.

The main objective of the MSRI-UP is to identify talented students, especially those from groups underrepresented in the mathematical sciences, who are interested in mathematics and make available to them meaningful research opportunities, the necessary skills and knowledge to participate in successful collaborations, and a community of academic peers and mentors who can advise, encourage and support them through a successful graduate program.

This objective is designed to contribute significantly toward meeting the program goal of increasing the number of graduate degrees in the mathematical sciences, especially doctorates, earned by U.S. citizens and permanent residents by cultivating heretofore untapped mathematical talent within the U.S. Black, Hispanic/Latino and Native American communities.

General Description

During the summer, each of the 18 student participants will:
  • participate in the mathematics research program under the direction or faculty and graduate student mentors;
  • complete a research project done in collaboration with other MSRI-UP students;
  • give a presentation and write a technical report on his/her research project;
  • attend a series of colloquium talks given by leading researchers in their fields;
  • attend workshops aimed at developing skills and techniques needed for research careers in the mathematical sciences;
  • learn techniques that will maximize a student's likelihood of admissions to graduate programs as well as the likelihood of winning fellowships; and
  • receive a $3,600 stipend, lodging, meals and roundtrip travel to Berkeley, CA.

After the summer, each student will:

  • have an opportunity to attend a national mathematics or science conference where students will present their research;
  • be part of a network of mentors that will provide continuous advice in the long term as the student makes progress in his/her studies; and
  • be contacted regarding future research opportunities.

MSRI-UP 2023: "Topological Data Analysis"

Applications are now open for MSRI-UP 2023. Visit the NSF ETAP website to apply.


Download MSRI-UP 2023 Program Flyer (PDF)

The theme of the 2023 MSRI-UP program is Topological Data Analysis and the research leader is Dr. Jose Perea, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University. The on-site program director is Dr. Mercedes Franco of Queensborough Community College (CUNY).

Topology is the branch of mathematics concerned with the study of abstract shapes. For most of its history it has been a purely theoretical discipline, but this has changed over the last couple of decades. Recently, topology has shown to be a powerful framework to tackle problems in data science, machine learning and engineering. The research program of the 2023 MSRI-UP on Topological Data Analysis will focus on how ideas from classic algebraic topology - like (co)homology and other descriptors - can be used in machine learning tasks such as dimensionality reduction, time series analysis and data alignment. Participants will contribute to research projects ranging from the needed mathematical foundations, to their algorithmic implementation, and subsequent application to specific scientific domains.

Students who have had a linear algebra course and a course in which they have had to write proofs are eligible to apply.

Familiarity with Python/Jupyter Notebooks, statistics, or the topology of metric spaces will be helpful.

Eligibility

Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students are also eligible due to generous funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding. In addition, students who have already graduated or will have graduated with a bachelor's degree by August 31, 2023 are not eligible to apply.

Application Materials and Deadlines

Applications for MSRI-UP will be done through the National Science Foundation's REU Common Application. The application period will open in Fall 2022. A link will be provided here when applications open.

Applications submitted by February 15, 2023 will receive full consideration. (Applications submitted after February 15, 2023 but by March 1, 2023 may still be considered in a second round of acceptances.) We expect to begin making offers for participation in late February or early March.

MSRI-UP Directors

The directors of MSRI-UP are:

Previous directors have included:

  • Dr. Duane Cooper (Morehouse College)
  • Dr. Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University)
  • Dr. Herbert A. Medina (University of Portland)
  • Dr. Ivelisse Rubio (University of Puerto Rico)
  • Dr. Suzanne L. Weekes (Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics [SIAM] / Worcester Polytechnic Institute)

Funding provided by:

National Science Foundation (NSF)Alfred P. Sloan Foundation


Previous Programs

Current MSRI-UP

No current MSRI-UP

Upcoming MSRI-UP

  1. MSRI-UP 2024: Mathematical Endocrinology

    Organizers: Alexander Diaz-Lopez (Villanova University), Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), Rebecca Garcia (Colorado College), LEAD Candice Price (Smith College), Robin Wilson (Loyola Marymount University)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

    In 2024, MSRI-UP will focus on Mathematical Endocrinology. The research program will be led by Dr. Erica J. Graham, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College.

    Updated on Mar 07, 2024 11:11 AM PST

Past MSRI-UP

  1. MSRI-UP 2023: Topological Data Analysis

    Organizers: Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), LEAD Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), Rebecca Garcia (Colorado College), Jose Perea (Northeastern University), Candice Price (Smith College), Robin Wilson (Loyola Marymount University)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

    In 2023, MSRI-UP will focus on Topological Data Analysis. The research program will be led by Dr. Jose Perea, Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics and the Khoury College of Computer Sciences at Northeastern University.

    Updated on Mar 07, 2024 12:48 PM PST

  2. MSRI-UP 2022: Algebraic Methods in Mathematical Biology

    Organizers: LEAD Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), Rebecca Garcia (Colorado College), Candice Price (Smith College), Anne Shiu (Texas A & M University; Texas A&M University)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

    In 2022, MSRI-UP will focus on Algebraic Methods in Mathematical Biology. The research program will be led by Dr. Anne Shiu, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Texas A&M University.

    Updated on Oct 20, 2023 12:41 PM PDT

  3. MSRI-UP 2021: Parking Functions: Choose your own adventure

    Organizers: Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), LEAD Rebecca Garcia (Colorado College), Pamela Harris (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Candice Price (Smith College)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

    In 2021, MSRI-UP will focus on Parking Functions: Choose your own adventure. The research program will be led by Dr. Pamela E. Harris, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Williams College.

    Updated on Mar 17, 2023 02:37 PM PDT

  4. MSRI-UP 2020: Branched Covers of Curves

    Organizers: Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), LEAD Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), Rebecca Garcia (Colorado College), Edray Goins (Pomona College), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

    In 2020, MSRI-Up will focus on Branched Covers of Curves. The research program will be led by Dr. Edray Goins, Professor of Mathematics at Pomona College.

    Updated on Mar 17, 2023 02:36 PM PDT

  5. MSRI-UP 2019: Combinatorics and Discrete Mathematics

    Organizers: Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), LEAD Rebecca Garcia (Colorado College), Pamela Harris (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

    In 2019, MSRI-Up will focus on the application of combinatorial arguments and techniques to enumerate, examine, and investigate the existence of discrete mathematical structures with certain properties. The areas of interest for these applications encompass a wide range of mathematical fields and will include algebra, number theory, and graph theory, through weight multiplicity computations, the study of vector partition functions, and graph domination problems, respectively. The research program will be led by Dr. Pamela E. Harris, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Williams College.

    Updated on Oct 20, 2023 04:19 PM PDT

  6. MSRI-UP 2018: The Mathematics of Data Science

    Organizers: Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), LEAD Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), Rebecca Garcia (Colorado College), David Uminsky (University of Chicago), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.

    In 2018, MSRI-UP will focus on the core role of (linear) algebra in current research and application areas of Data Science ranging from unsupervised learning, clustering and networks, to algebraic signal processing and feature extraction, to the central role linear algebra plays in deep machine learning.  The research program will be led by Dr. David Uminsky, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of San Francisco.

    Updated on Sep 14, 2023 04:04 AM PDT

  7. MSRI-UP 2017: Solving Systems of Polynomial Equations

    Organizers: LEAD Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), J. Maurice Rojas (Texas A & M University), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed to serve a diverse group of undergraduate students who would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences.
    In 2017, MSRI-UP will focus on Solving Systems of Polynomial Equations, a topic at the heart of almost every computational problem in the physical and life sciences. We will pay special attention to complexity issues, highlighting connections with tropical geometry, number theory, and the P vs. NP problem. The research program will be led by Prof. J. Maurice Rojas of Texas A&M University.
    Students who have had a linear algebra course and a course in which they have had to write proofs are eligible to apply. Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents may apply regardless of funding. Members of underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
     

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 02:56 PM PDT

  8. MSRI-UP 2016: Sandpile Groups

    Organizers: Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Maria Mercedes Franco (Queensborough Community College (CUNY)), Luis David Garcia Puente (Colorado College), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), LEAD Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply and the program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding. The academic portion of the 2016 program will be led by Prof. Luis Garcia-Puente of Sam Houston State University.

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 03:12 PM PDT

  9. MSRI-UP 2015: Geometric Combinatorics Motivated by the Social Sciences

    Organizers: Federico Ardila (San Francisco State University), LEAD Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Francis Su (Harvey Mudd College), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply and the program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding. The academic portion of the 2015 program will be led by Prof. Francis Su from Harvey Mudd College.

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 03:12 PM PDT

  10. MSRI-UP 2014: Arithmetic Aspects of Elementary Functions

    Organizers: Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), LEAD Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Victor H. Moll (Tulane University), Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply and the program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding. The academic portion of the 2014 program will be led by Dr. Victor Moll from Tulane University.

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 03:12 PM PDT

  11. MSRI-UP 2013: Algebraic Combinatorics

    Organizers: Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Rosa Orellana (Dartmouth College), LEAD Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply and the program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding. The academic portion of the 2013 program will be led by Dr. Rosa Orellana from Dartmouth College.

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 03:13 PM PDT

  12. MSRI-UP 2012: Enumerative Combinatorics

    Organizers: Matthias Beck (San Francisco State University), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), LEAD Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply and the program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding. The academic portion of the 2012 program will be led by Dr. Matthias Beck.

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 03:13 PM PDT

  13. MSRI-UP 2011: Mathematical Finance

    Organizers: Marcel Blais (Worcester Polytechnic Institute), Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), LEAD Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply and the program cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding.

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 03:13 PM PDT

  14. MSRI-UP 2010: Elliptic Curves and Applications

    Organizers: LEAD Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), Edray Goins (Pomona College), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP summer program is designed for undergraduate students who have completed two years of university-level mathematics courses and would like to conduct research in the mathematical sciences. The academic portion of the program will be led by Dr. Edray Goins.

    Updated on Aug 17, 2017 11:46 AM PDT

  15. MSRI-UP 2009: Coding Theory

    Organizers: Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), John Little (College of the Holy Cross), LEAD Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP is a comprehensive program for undergraduates that aims at increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups in mathematics graduate programs. MSRI-UP includes summer research opportunities, mentoring, workshops on the graduate school application process, and follow-up support.

    Updated on Jul 22, 2020 03:14 PM PDT

  16. MSRI-UP 2008: Experimental Mathematics

    Organizers: Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Victor H. Moll (Tulane University), LEAD Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP is a comprehensive program for undergraduates that aims at increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups in mathematics graduate programs. MSRI-UP includes summer research opportunities, mentoring, workshops on the graduate school application process, and follow-up support.

    Updated on Mar 13, 2024 04:31 PM PDT

  17. MSRI-UP 2007: Computational Science and Mathematics

    Organizers: Duane Cooper (Morehouse College), LEAD Ricardo Cortez (Tulane University), Herbert Medina (University of Portland), Juan Meza (University of California, Merced), Ivelisse M. Rubio (University of Puerto Rico), Suzanne Weekes (SIAM - Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics)

    The MSRI-UP is a comprehensive program for undergraduates that aims at increasing the number of students from underrepresented groups in mathematics graduate programs. MSRI-UP includes summer research opportunities, mentoring, workshops on the graduate school application process, and follow-up support.

    Updated on Mar 13, 2024 04:25 PM PDT