MSRI-UP

The MSRI Undergraduate Program (MSRI-UP) is an award-winning, 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.

Applications for MSRI-UP 2026 are now open.

Apply now via NSF ETAP website

The main objective of MSRI-UP is to identify talented students 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.

Please help us to spread the word about this opportunity to your undergraduate contacts by sharing this announcement. Download a 2026 MSRI-UP flyer to share with your department or networks (PDF).

Research Theme: Numerical Methods for Differential Equations

The summer projects will be directed by Dr. Johnny Guzman (Brown University), and Dr. Maurice Fabien  (MIT/University of Wisconsin-Madison). The research will focus on numerical methods for differential equations, exploring two main topics. One project will develop bound preserving numerical methods for flow in porous media, which is critical for addressing global challenges in energy and environmental science. The other will investigate finite element exterior calculus (FEEC), which uses exterior calculus to study traditional finite element methods. FEEC has connections to algebraic topology and geometric integration.

Students are required to have taken linear algebra and it is encouraged that students have taken a differential equations course. In addition, some exposure to a programming language will be useful.

General Description

During the summer, each of the 18 student participants will:

• participate in the mathematics research program under the direction of Dr. Johnny Guzman (Brown U.), Dr. Maurice Fabien  (MIT/U. Wisconsin-Madison) and two graduate students;
• complete a research project done in collaboration with other MSRI-UP students;
• give a presentation and write a technical report on their research project;
• attend a series of colloquium talks given by leading researches 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 round trip 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 their studies; and
• be contacted regarding future research opportunities.

For additional information, please contact the on-site director for the 2026 MSRI-UP, Dr. Alexander Diaz-Lopez .

How to Apply

Applications for MSRI-UP are managed through the National Science Foundation's REU Common Application at the NSF ETAP website. The application period begins in mid-November of each year.

Application Deadlines

Applications submitted by February 15, 2026 will receive full consideration. (Applications submitted between February 15 and March 1, 2026 may still be considered in a second round of acceptances.) We expect to begin making offers for participation in late February or early March 2026.

MSRI-UP Directors

The directors of MSRI-UP are:

• Dr. Alexander Diaz-Lopez - alexander.diaz-lopez@villanova.edu - 2026 on-site director
• Dr. Mercedes Franco - mfranco@qcc.cuny.edu
• Dr. Rebecca Garcia - rgarcia2023@coloradocollege.edu
• Dr. Candice Price - cprice@smith.edu
• Dr. Robin Wilson - Robin.Wilson@lmu.edu

MSRI-UP Sponsors

Funding to support MSRI-UP is provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the National Science Foundation (NSF).