Math/Stat Research Opportunities

Many of our faculty are active in research and work with undergraduate collaborators to discover and publish new mathematical results. Each faculty member belongs to at least one of the following speciality areas:

In the JMU Mathematics and Statistics Department we take undergraduate research opportunities very seriously. We encourage all mathematics and statistics majors to experience the process of exploring and proving new mathematical results. Many of our students publish papers with our faculty members and speak on their work at regional and national conferences.

Here are some ways to get started:

• Many faculty members offer undergraduate research courses for credit as MATH 297 or MATH 497, depending on the level of the project. Topics vary by instructor and student interest.
  
  
• Some undergraduates choose to turn their undergraduate research projects into Honors Theses. This opportunity is available even for students who are not part of the formal JMU Honors Program, through our sequence of MATH 499A/499B/499C courses. 
  
  
• In some special situations we are able to offer funded research positions to students during the academic year, for example if a faculty member has a grant or is in the CURM program.  
  
  
• Every year our department funds a select number of JMU summer undergraduate research students who work closely with faculty over 6-8 weeks. These weeks usually run alongside our department's national summer NSF REU program, which brings in additional research students from all over the country.
  
  
• We also encourage our students to apply for national REU programs at other institutions; see below.
  
  
• For information on projects faculty have available for students, see our Available Undergraduate Research Projects page or talk to faculty members with whom you might like to collaborate. (Work in progress)
  
  
• For information on current or past projects with students, see our Current and Past Undergraduate Research Projects page. (Work in progress)

The JMU Mathematics and Statistics department has offered an NSF-funded Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program almost every summer since 2002. In this program, two pairs of faculty members each supervise a team of four undergraduates who travel to JMU from around the country to explore new mathematical research.

These REU projects often lead to joint publications in national mathematics journals and student presentations at MathFest, the Joint Math Meetings, and other conferences. To find out more about the program at JMU, see our page on the JMU Math/Stat REU Program.

JMU students are encouraged to apply for external national NSF-funded REU programs, study-abroad opportunities, and other mathematical excursions. Our faculty can help advise you regarding writing applications and choosing programs that fit your needs. Here are some links to get you started:

• National Science Foundation list of REU sites
• Mathematical Association of America list of semester and summer programs
• American Mathematical Society list of opportunities
• A nice list of national mathematical opportunities compiled by Dr. Mark Tomforde, University of Houston

For both research and outreach to the JMU community, we support a variety of labs and special opportunites:

• The Statistical Consulting Center, staffed by faculty and in the spring assisted by students in the course Math 428, provides statistical expertise for JMU faculty, staff and students, and is also interested in working with members of the community or local industry. Either contact the center directly at statconsult@jmu.edu or contact its current head, Ben Ward.
  
  
• The Aeroacoustic Lab contains an anechoic chamber used for acoustic and optical measurements, and is run by Caroline Lubert.
  
  
• The WORM (Wriggling ORganisms and Modeling) Lab is an experimental space containing a wet lab and microsocope dark room designed to study worm locomotion. It is run by Eva Strawbridge.
  
  
• The JMU Experimental Mathematics Lab (formerly known as the JMU Math MakerLab) contains a collection of 3D printers the support experimental and exploratory research in mathematics for students who are early in their undergraduate careers. The JEM Lab is run by Laura Taalman.
  
  
• The Center for Computational Mathematics and Modeling (CCMM) concentrates on high performance computing and vizualization. It is run by James Sochacki.
  
  
• The Connections Lab is a space for hands on experimental projects to enhance understanding of mathematical modeling. It is run by Anthony Tongen. 
  
  
• The Math Connections Theater puts on an annual live sketch comedy show that offers a humorous slant on mathematical topics. It is run by Paul Warne.

We strongly support student travel and participation in regional and national mathematics and statistics conferences. Students taking part in significant undergraduate research are encouraged to present their work at either the spring sectional MAA meeting, or the joint AMS/MAA meeting. Check out the conferences listed below and then ask a faculty member how you can get involved, and maybe even get travel funding: 

• Fall and Spring MAA Maryland/DC/Virginia regional Section Meetings of the Mathematical Association of America (the Spring meeting in particular has many student events);
  
  
• The yearly national MathFest Conference hosted by the Mathematical Association of America, held in a different city every August; and
  
  
• The yearly national Joint Mathematics Meetings hosted by the American Mathematical Society, held in a different city every January.