Mathematics REU at SMCM
The REU at St. Mary's College of Maryland will not run in summer, 2023. The information on this page is for last year's program.
The program will bring 12 undergraduate students to the Honors College to engage in mathematical research, and includes seminars designed to prepare them for advanced mathematics courses. Students will also benefit from academic and professional-development activities. This REU is only open to students early in their college careers. Our goal is to attract underrepresented students to mathematics by providing access to research typically only available to those who are already highly accomplished in the discipline. Research topics have been carefully chosen to be accessible to those with a modest background in mathematics.
Note well: This REU is only open to early-career college students. The expected prerequisites are Calculus II and desire to work hard. If you've had a course in Vector Calculus, Linear Algebra or a bridge course like Intro to Proofs, that's fine, but students who have already had a course in Abstract Algebra or Analysis will not be considered.
What you get
- Seven weeks conducting research on open problems in mathematics alongside prominent faculty members
- Access to St. Mary's College facilities, including the beautiful St. Mary's River
- A stipend of $3,500
- Travel expenses plus room and board
- Weekend outings to D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis
Applicant requirements
- Success in Calculus I and II
- No upper-level coursework
- Full-time undergraduate in 2021–22
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Willingness to work hard
- Willingness to work with others
- A love of (or at least a strong affection for) working on, thinking about and solving mathematical problems
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Nonsectarian since its founding in 1840, St. Mary's enjoys a unique status in higher education as Maryland's public honors college.
As Maryland's public honors college, St. Mary's offers an undergraduate liberal arts education and small-college experience like those found at exceptional private colleges. St. Mary's shares the hallmarks of private institutions: an outstanding faculty, talented students, high academic standards, a challenging curriculum, small classes, a sense of community, and a spirit of intellectual inquiry. But as a state institution of higher education, St. Mary's is also committed to the ideals of affordability, accessibility, and diversity. By combining these virtues of public and private education, St. Mary's provides a unique alternative for students and their families.
St. Mary's is named for the place it marks: the 17th-century capital of Maryland. The spectacular waterfront setting is in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay region. The campus is 70 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. and 95 miles south of Baltimore.
Values of the College
- Creative and intellectual exploration
- Diversity in all its forms
- Social responsibility and civic-mindedness
- Global engagement
- Environmental stewardship
- A spirit of community revolving around our students
Things to do
- Paddle the St. Mary's River from the SMCM docks on college-provided boats
- Sail with your professors or take a dinghy out on your own
- Explore the Smithsonian Institution's many world-class museums on weekend trips
- Visit the Maryland Science Center and Baltimore Inner Harbor
Apply
Applications are due March 15, 2022.
Your application will include
- a completed application form (linked here).
- a short essay (≤ 1000 words) responding to the following question: Why do you want to spend seven weeks this summer working on unsolved mathematics problems?
- two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your mathematical potential and ability
- a copy of your transcript (unofficial copies ok)
Essays, transcripts and letters of recommendation should be sent to reu2022@smcm.edu with the student's name in the subject line.
This site last updated February 10, 2022.
Information about COVID-19
In compliance with policies of St. Mary's College of Maryland, all participants (students and faculty) of the REU must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes a booster shot administered no later than 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the program. All participants will be required to show proof of vaccination status by May 31, 2022.
St. Mary's College of Maryland is a masked campus. Masks must be worn inside all campus buildings except when actively eating or drinking, or when alone inside an office or dorm room. Participants will be required to wear N95, KN95 or KF94 masks when indoors. Masks with vents are not permitted. Appropriate masks will be provided to participants if needed.
All participants will be tested for COVID-19 on the first day of the program and test a second time after five days. Tests will be provided.
Please contact Professor Ganzell (see below for contact info) for questions regarding medical exemptions.
Contact Us
Please direct all questions to professor Sandy Ganzell.
St. Mary's College of Maryland
Sandy Ganzell
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
47645 College Drive
St. Mary's City, MD, 20686-3001
Phone: 240-895-4371
Email: sganzell@smcm.edu
