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.  The main objective of the MSRI-UP is to identify talented students, especially those from underrepresented groups, 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.

MSRI-UP 2016: Sandpile Groups

General Description

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

• participate in the mathematics research program under the direction of Dr. Luis Garcia-Puente of Sam Houston State University, a post-doc 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 his/her 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 and
• learn techniques that will maximize a student's likelihood of admissions to graduate programs as well as the likelihood of winning fellowships
• receive a $3100 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 his/her studies
• be contacted regarding future research opportunities

Application Materials

Applications for MSRI-UP 2016 should be submitted via the MathPrograms listing, which lists the required application materials.  Due to funding restrictions, only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply, and the proram cannot accept foreign students regardless of funding.  In addition, students who have already graduated or will have graduated with a bachelor's degree by June 11, 2016 are not eligible to apply.  The application link will be available on this page starting November 29, 2015. Applications submitted by February 15, 2016 will receive full consideration. (Applications submitted after February 15, 2016 but by March 1, 2016 may still be considered in a second round of acceptances.) We hope to begin making offers for participation in late February or early March.

For additional information, please contact the on-site director for the 2016 MSRI-UP.

The directors of MSRI-UP are:

• Dr. Federico Ardila - federico@sfsu.edu
• Dr. Duane Cooper - dcooper@morehouse.edu
• Dr. Herbert Medina - hmedina@lmu.edu 
• Dr. Mercedes Franco - mfranco@qcc.cuny.edu
• Dr. Suzanne Weekes - sweekes@wpi.edu  - 2016 on-site director

Previous Years:

• 2020 MSRI-UP: Branched Covers of Curves
• 2019 MSRI-UP: Combinatorics and Discrete Mathematics
• 2018 MSRI-UP: The Mathematics of Data Science
• 2017 MSRI-UP: Solving Systems of Polynomial Equations
• 2016 MSRI-UP: Sandpile Groups
• 2015 MSRI-UP: Geometric Combinatorics Motivated by the Social Sciences
• 2014 MSRI-UP: Arithmetic Aspects of Elementary Functions
• 2013 MSRI-UP: Algebraic Combinatorics
• 2012 MSRI-UP: Enumerative Combinatorics
• 2011 MSRI-UP: Mathematical Finance
• 2010 MSRI-UP: Elliptic curves and Applications
• 2009 MSRI-UP: Coding Theory
• 2008 MSRI-UP: Experimental Mathematics
• 2007 MSRI-UP: Computational Science and Mathematics