Student Resources

The library's link for math research resources: Mathematics research guide

Catalog descriptions of all MATH courses

All math students are automatically members of a mathematics professional society:

The Department of Mathematics has some funding available to support student travel to conferences. Attending conferences is a great way to learn more about careers in math, how to pursue graduate degrees, interesting topics in math (including active areas of research), and more, as well as to meet other mathophiles from around the region, the country, and the world. We strongly encourage you to attend a math conference at some point during your time as a student, and to take advantage of this opportunity to have us pay for some or all of the costs.

HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDING

To request funding to cover the cost of attending a conference, send an email to the Math Department chair with the following information:

  • Your name and CIN
  • The conference you would like to attend
  • The amount of funding you are requesting
  • Other sources of funding you are expecting or have applied for
  • A detailed itemization of costs. This could include:
    • Registration for the conference
    • Travel to and from the conference (For driving, use a reimbursement rate of 58 cents per mile)
    • Lodging (if it’s far away)
    • Food (if over 24 hours)
    • Printing a poster for a poster presentation

We understand that some of these costs may be estimates. Please be aware that we will not be able to approve funding for more than what you requested, so you should make sure that your estimates are large enough to cover whatever the final costs wind up being.  Funds are limited. First priority will be given to students presenting a talk or poster at the conference. The deadline to apply is one month before the date of travel to the conference.

In addition to the Math Department, there are other sources of funding available:

CONFERENCES

Below is information about some conferences you might consider attending. You can find more by Googling.

  • MAA sectional meeting: http://sections.maa.org/socalnv/Meetings.html Our regional MAA section (Mathematical Association of America Southern California – Nevada) usually has two meetings a year, one in the Fall, and one in the Spring. These meetings are often not too far from LA and typically feature accessible, interesting talks. The Fall meeting generally has student talks, and the Spring meeting generally has student posters.
  • MathFest: https://www.maa.org/meetings/mathfest  This is the annual national conference hosted by the MAA in the summertime. It is similar to the MAA section meetings but larger and in different locations around the country every year.
  • Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM): http://jointmathematicsmeetings.org/jmm  Every year, this is the largest mathematics conference in the world. It is run jointly (hence the name) by the MAA and by the American Mathematical Society (AMS). It is held in early-to-mid-January in different locations around the country every year. It is a one-of-a-kind experience to see thousands of mathematicians assemble in one place at one time.
  • Field Of Dreams: https://mathalliance.org/field-of-dreams-conference/  The Field of Dreams Conference is hosted by the Math Alliance, an organization that seeks to benefit current and aspiring mathematicians from traditionally underrepresented groups. It generally takes place in November in St. Louis, Missouri. Students who have attended have reported that it is a valuable place to learn more about applying to graduate school and about careers in mathematics. Please note that the Math Alliance has its own source of funding to support student travel to this event.
  • Pacific Math Alliance: https://sites.google.com/view/the-pacific-math-alliance  The Pacific Math Alliance is a regional branch of the Math Alliance.
  • SACNAS: https://www.sacnas.org  SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) is “an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM.” They host annual conferences both nationally and regionally. Conference attendees are from various STEM disciplines, not just math.
  • AMS section meetings:  http://www.ams.org/meetings/sectional/sectional.html  The American Mathematical Society (AMS), like the MAA, hosts regional conferences. Talks at these meetings tend to be higher-level and directed towards researchers in a particular field, compared to talks at MAA meetings.
  • CMC^3 South: http://www.cmc3s.org/conferences.shtml  CMC3-South (California Mathematics Council Community Colleges South) is “a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth of community college mathematics educators in Southern California.” It hosts two conferences a year.
  • DataFest: "The American Statistical Association (ASA) DataFest is a celebration of data in which teams of undergraduates work around the clock to find and share meaning in a large, rich, and complex data set."
  • Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics: The "overall goal is to arm participants with knowledge, self-confidence and a network of peers to help them become successful mathematicians."
  • RAMS conference at VCU.  "The Richmond Area Mathematical Sciences (RAMS) Conference at VCU will be held virtually and synchronously on Saturday, April 30, 2022. The conference promotes education and research in the fields of mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics and operation research. It is tailored for undergraduate and graduate students to present results of their research."

There are plenty of programs, usually in the summer, to guide undergraduates through the process of doing original research in math.  Career panels and other events of interest also take place from time to time.  Below are some we’ve found; you can find others by Googling.  In addition, several programs provide mentoring or other support for advanced studies in mathematics.

  • REUs: See < https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/list_result.jsp?unitid=5044 > and < https://sites.google.com/view/mathreu > and < http://www.ams.org/opportunities >.  (For that last one, click the box to filter by Research Experience for Undergraduates.)  Many of these summer research programs go by the name Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Visit the link above for a listing of these programs. There are often over one hundred REU programs at universities throughout the United States. The National Science Foundation, which funds REU sites, describes a typical REU experience as follows. “An REU site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel.” Application deadlines for REUs usually occur in February or March.
  • SURF at CalTech: https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/surf  Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships program
  • WAVE at CalTech: https://sfp.caltech.edu/undergraduate-research/programs/wavefellows  The WAVE Fellows program provides support for talented undergraduates intent on pursuing a Ph.D. to conduct a 10-week summer research project at Caltech.  The WAVE Fellows program aims to foster diversity by increasing the participation of underrepresented students in science and engineering Ph.D. programs and to make Caltech's programs more visible and accessible to students not traditionally exposed to Caltech. The program is extended, but not limited, to underrepresented minorities, women, first-generation college students, geographically underrepresented students, educationally and financially disadvantaged students, and students with disabilities.
  • Polymath Jr.: https://geometrynyc.wixsite.com/polymathreu  "Collaborative mathematical research for undergraduate students"
  • BAMM!  (Financial support and mentoring for Master's students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in the mathematical sciences)
  • Cal-Bridge: "seeks to increase the numbers of underrepresented students to pursue graduate studies . . . Cal-Bridge students are matched with two mentors - one at their home CSU and one at a UC campus. They are mentored through the remainder of their time as an undergraduate and, if they go to graduate school, will receive up to two years of funding."  Zoom Information Session on Thursday, December 8th at 4:00pm Pacific.
  • Causeway (The Causeway Postbaccalaureate Program is a yearlong experience that seeks to increase the number of graduate students in the mathematical sciences from historically under-represented groups.) 
  • The National Data Mine Network: "The data science community has a timely opportunity to reimagine the impact of the data sciences on the economy, and to improve outcomes for communities, by ensuring that students at Minority Serving Institutions have access to cutting edge courses, research opportunities, and industry partnerships . . . This project will enable undergraduate students to learn data science with hands-on work, in research or data science projects informed by industry partners . . . This program will provide $5000 research stipends to 100 students (per year) at Minority Serving Institutions."  Students and faculty can apply here to participate: https://datamine.purdue.edu/apply/
  • CUBE: Collaborative Undergraduate Biostatistics Experience.  "The Collaborative Undergraduate Biostatistics Experience (CUBE) is an 8-week training program designed to give motivated, underrepresented minority undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in a full-time (~40 hours/week) collaborative data science experience, along with related professional development activities."
  • Research Projects in Data-Enabled Industrial Mathematics.  "...provides undergraduate students with opportunities to participate in authentic research projects in data-enabled industrial mathematics. Industrial mathematics is a relatively recent discipline concerned primarily with transforming technical, organizational, and data-enabled problems posed by business, industry, or government into mathematical problems.  The ultimate idea is to model the real-world industrial research experience, focusing on student growth and getting the students to interact with material at a level that goes beyond the regular classroom. The students will work collaboratively on problems provided directly by business, government, and industry."
  • Cal State LA U-Rise program: "The U-RISE program seeks underrepresented undergraduate students majoring in a field related to the biomedical sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Kinesiology, Nutritional and Food Sciences, Psychology, Nutritional Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering...The eligible student is from a group traditionally under-represented in the health-related sciences and the ideal candidate is a sophomore with two to three years to graduation (though as we establish this program on campus, students with less time to graduation are also eligible). You should have completed the first semester of your major specific introductory science course (such as BIOL 1100 and CHEM 1100) with a grade of at least B- and have developed a strong interest in the research aspects of biomedical sciences. All applicants must be either a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident...RISE students receive up to 60% of their tuition and an annual stipend of up to $13,644, depending on their Cal State LA financial package. They also will receive up to $3,500 towards their off-campus summer research experience to cover travel and living costs. U-RISE students are also expected to present their research at a conference and will receive up to $1,000 to cover travel, lodging, and registration fees."
  • USC JumpStart Program: "USC's JumpStart Program aims to provide a pathway to PhD programs for underrepresented undergraduate students. JumpStart works with USC schools and programs to invite diverse candidates from outside institutions to apply for 10-week summer research opportunities in various PhD disciplines."  
  • Summer Research Early Identification Program: "The SR-EIP offers closely mentored research experiences in the life and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities at 20 research institutions across the country. SR-EIP Participants...

    - Spend 8–10 weeks at a Leadership Alliance institution.
    - Receive a stipend, and travel and housing expenses from the research institution.
    - Work under the guidance of a faculty or research mentor.
    - Gain theoretical knowledge and practical training in academic research and scientific experimentation.
    - Make oral or poster presentations at the Leadership Alliance National Symposium.
    - Gain access to ongoing resources, mentoring, and professional networks to support your career path as a part of the Leadership Alliance community.
    - Receive professional development mentoring on applying to graduate programs and learn about research careers from alumni."