Mathematics Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program

Format & Requirements

• Faculty Talks: Students attend talks taught by Department of Mathematics faculty. The program consists of lectures and problem solving sessions; graduate student assistants run help and problem sessions. Some research problems and some problems aimed to aid understanding are introduced. No previous knowledge or study in the areas taught is required. In addition, opportunities for reading and research with graduate students and/or faculty are offered, and regular meetings with graduate student and/or faculty mentors are required.

• Apprentice Program: The apprentice program is similar, but includes material aimed at those with less mathematical experience. It is closely tied to the apprentice course. It lasts five weeks. Its participants are typically freshmen or sophomores who have not been in advanced mathematics courses. Apprentices, especially from the University of Chicago, often participate in the full program the following summer.

• Mentors: Graduate student and faculty counselors will be on hand ready and willing to offer help throughout the program. Moreover, each student will be paired with a graduate student or faculty mentor who will meet with the student on a regular basis and will be available to offer tutorials. All participants are required to meet with their mentors at least twice a week. Topics for papers must be discussed with the mentors, first drafts must be submitted to them for feedback, and final drafts must take their comments into account. This is an essential feature of the program.

• Final Paper: All participants in the program are required to write a short mathematical paper on some problem or topic of their own choosing, in consultation with graduate students and faculty. The paper may be either expository or research, but it must be substantial. Papers are encouraged to be on topics related to the lectures. Collaborative joint papers are very welcome.

• Final Presentations: There will be student presentations during the last week of the program. It is hoped that many participants will make presentations. These can be made by individuals or by groups working together.

• Learning Expectations: The program offers a wide variety of material at various mathematical levels. Some is problem oriented, some introduces areas that are not ordinarily encountered in the undergraduate curriculum. There will be lots of problems, including research problems, that students can work on in groups or alone throughout the program — and later!! Students are encouraged to work together and to organize evening and weekend study sessions. Students are expected to spend substantial amounts of time working on projects or problems outside of talks.