REU 2006

In the summer of 2006 the Mathematics Department of the Pennsylvania State University will host a Research Experiences for Undergraduates site. Participants will be selected from qualified applicants. We encourage students to apply for both, Summer REU and our MASS program which runs in the Fall semester of each year. Participation in REU followed by MASS provides an opportunity for completing a more substantial long-term research project.

Application deadline is March 1, 2006.

The program will run for 6 weeks from June 26 to August 8, 2006. It will combine learning with research and include:

Each REU 2006 participant will recieve a stipend of $2,500, reimbursement for room and board, and travel reimbursement up to $500.

Application Materials

Applications will be considered as long as positions are still available.

  • Application Form
  • Transcript
  • Record of Mathematics courses
  • Essay describing student's interest in mathematics
  • Two Faculty Recommendations
Send your applications to:
REU Summer Program
111 McAllister Building
Department of Mathematics
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
Make other inquiries at:
Phone: 814-865-8462
FAX: 814-865-3735
E-mail: reu@math.psu.edu

Courses

LATIN SQUARES

INSTRUCTOR: Gary Mullen

COURSE SUMMARY:

Latin squares are n × n matrices based upon n distinct symbols and with the additional properties that each row and each column contains each of the n symbols exactly once. Inspite of their simplicity, they have many very interesting properties and connections to other areas of mathematics. In addition, they have numerous applications. In this REU course we will discuss some constructions for sets of latin squares and generalizations of latin squares as well as some of their properties and applications.

REGULAR SOLIDS AND SYMMETRY IN THREE AND FOUR DIMENSIONS

INSTRUCTOR: Adrian Ocneanu

COURSE SUMMARY:

The quaternion group, or SU(2), is arguably the most important non commutative group in mathematics and physics. Acting by rotations of three dimensional space, it has subgroups related to the symmetries of the Platonic solids. We shall discuss these structures, related to many areas of mathematics and physics, and will illustrate their connection with four dimensional regular solids as illustrated by the new sculpture in the mathematics department.

Suggested reading: the first chapters from Quaternions & Octonions by Conway and Smith