History of REU and SPUR (Summer Program for Undergraduate Research) Programs

The Department has offered a summer research program for undergraduates for many years. Prior to 2015 the REU Program (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) funded by the NSF (National Science Foundation) was offered.  From 2015 - 2017 after the grant temporarily expired, the program transitioned to a non-funded program named SPUR (Summer Program for Undergraduate Research), which offers the same opportunity to undergraduate students, but the only difference in the two programs is funding.  Beginning in 2018 the REU Program returned, and the department has continued both programs.  These are 8-week programs that provide an opportunity for undergraduate students of mathematics to participate in leading-edge research.  Projects are offered every summer, each led by an expert in the field.

Previous Years' Projects and some Results

2023 - REU and SPUR
2023 REU and SPUR Project Descriptions
2023 project summaries are forthcoming.

2022 - REU and SPUR
2022 REU and SPUR Project Descriptions and Summaries

2021 - REU and SPUR 
Summer 2021 REU-SPUR Programs.pdf

2020 - REU and SPUR

  • Mechanics and Manipulation of Active Structures, directed by Andy Borum - SPUR

  • Analysis and Implementation of Spectral Methods, directed by Alex Townsend - REU

2019 - REU and SPUR

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz - SPUR

  • Computations in Derived Algebraic Geometry and Equivariant Cohomology, directed by Harrison Chen - SPUR

  • Mechanics, Control, Robotics, and Dynamics, directed by Andy Borum - REU

2018 - REU and SPUR

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz - SPUR

  • Topological Methods in Discrete Geometry, directed by Florian Frick - SPUR

  • Generating Sets of Finite Groups, directed by Keith Dennis - SPUR

  • Optimality and Uncertainty, directed by Alex Vladimirsky - REU

2017 - SPUR

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz

  • Topological Methods in Discrete Geometry, directed by Florian Frick

  • Generating Sets of Finite Groups, directed by Keith Dennis

2016 - SPUR

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz

  • Topological Methods in Discrete Geometry, directed by Florian Frick

  • On Reay's relaxed Tverberg conjecture and generalizations of Conway's thrackle conjecture

  • Nonlinear Heat Equations, directed by Xiaodong Cao

2015 - SPUR

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz

  • Harmonic Analysis on Stiefel Manifolds, directed by Raul Gomez

  • Graphs, Chip-Firing Games, and Algebraic Geometry, directed by Farbod Shokrieh

2014

2013

2012

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz

  • K-Forms on Carpet Type Fractals

  • Packings and Tilings, directed by Robert Connelly

  • The Heat Equation, directed by Xiaodong Cao

2011

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz

  • Generating Sets for Finite Groups, directed by Keith Dennis

  • Combinatorics of Triangulations, directed by Ed Swartz

2010

  • Analysis on Fractals, directed by Robert Strichartz

  • Geometric Differential Equations, directed by Xiaodong Cao

  • Optimality and Uncertainty, directed by Alexander Vladimirsky

2009

  • Analysis on Fractals (Robert Strichartz)

  • Solving Games on Graphs, Fast (Sasha Rubin)

  • Groups via Actions (Collin Bleak)

2008

  • Analysis on Fractals (Robert Strichartz)

  • Laplacians on Julia Sets

  • Games, Linear Orders, and Logic (Francois Dorais)

  • Topological Dynamics, Group Actions, and Cantor Set n-Cubes (Collin Bleak)

2007

2006

Older Work

Approximating the Laplacian on Fractal Domains as a Limit of the Plane Laplacian on Domains Approaching the Fractal

  • Conformal Energy, Conformal Laplacian, and Energy Measures on the Sierpinski Gasket

  • Geometry of Numbers Work 2001

  • Karl Papadantonakis Henon Mapping Work (and some other)

  • Medusa Program for Polynomial Matings

  • Finite Elements on the Sierpinski Gasket

  • Differential Equations on the Sierpinski Gasket

  • Harmonic Mappings of the Sierpinski Gasket

  • Sampling Theory for Functions with Fractal Spectrum

  • Sampling on the Sierpinski Gasket

  • Fourier Series on the Sierpinski Gasket

  • P-Energy on the Sierpinski Gasket (2001)

  • P-Energy on Sierpinski Gaskets (2002)

  • Pentagasket Research (Alex Smith)

  • Polynomials and Power Series on Sierpinski Gaskets

  • Levy's Dragon

  • FEM on Sierpinski Gaskets

  • Periodic Solutions to Forced Van der Pol

  • Forced VdP, Bifurcation Diagram, Canards

  • FVDP Summaries and Auto Work

  • Surfaces Related to Henon Maps and the Program Cubism

  • Work from 1998

Top