URGE to Compute provides apprenticeships worth $10,000 to each of 12 students annually to conduct research of a computational nature in mathematics and the mathematical sciences. URGE stands for Undergraduate Research Group Experiences, and it is the implementation in Buffalo of the National Science Foundation's CSUMS program. It is a collaboration of the UB and Buffalo State Mathematics Departments, the UB Physics Department, the UB Center for Computational Research, and the Hauptman Woodward Medical Research Institute.

Students accepted to the program will conduct a year-long program of research, closely mentored by faculty, and engage in many activities that support the research and their intellectual and personal development.

To apply for the program you must

• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (but others should definitely talk to us about alternative research opportunities)
• be a student at the University at Buffalo or Buffalo State College
• be a Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or Mathematical Physics major (others should talk to us about double-majoring)
• have at least the next full calendar year (Jan-Dec) still to go as an undergraduate
• have good math grades

You should also have completed the following or their equivalents by January of the year you are applying for:

• Calculus I, II & III (e.g. UB's MTH 141, 142, 241, or BSC's MAT 161, 162, 263) )
• Differential Equations (e.g. UB's MTH 306 or BSC's MAT 315 )
• Linear Algebra (e.g. UB's MTH 309 or BSC's MAT 202 )
• One computing or programming course, preferably UB's MTH 337, BSC's MAT 366, UB's CSE 115, or something similar

and any theme-related prerequisites for the particular year:

• none for the 2011 program

• Close mentoring by a faculty member for a full calendar year
• An experience of working in a team towards a common goal
• A stipend of $10,000 which includes summer accommodation subsidy
• Access to the high-performance computing facilities of UB's Center for Computational Research
• A publication in a scholarly journal (not promised, but most likely)
• A trip to a national research conference
• Opportunities to make presentations of your work
• A laptop, office space, and use of a portable computer projector (1 per group of 3)
• The opportunity to be an Undergraduate TA in the Spring after the research year

• Take the Theme Support Course in the Spring semester - MTH 444 in 2011.
• Take a 2-credit once-per-week combined Tools and Methods course and URGE Seminar in the Spring semester, MTH 399.
• Participate in the URGE Seminar throughout the rest of calendar year
• Spend 15 hrs/week on collaborative research during the Spring and Fall semesters, and 40 hrs/week for 8 weeks during the Summer
• Not have any other job while receiving the URGE to Compute stipend

Each year has a theme, and 4 team research projects unified by that theme are carried out. For example, in 2009, the theme was modeling processes with randomness, and the projects will investigate agricultural pest populations, optical fiber communications, the functioning of the human kidney, and strategies in armed conflict. The theme for 2010 is computational discrete mathematics. And for 2011, the theme is modeling of materials, from growth of semiconductor films to landslides.

You can see some of what's going on currently by visiting the URGE to Compute wiki.
UB students: contact Prof. John Ringland (ringland at buffalo.edu, 645-6284 ext 147).
Buffalo State students: contact Prof. Joaquin Carbonara (carbonjo at buffalostate.edu, 878-6423).

We are now accepting applications for the 2011 calendar year.

(1) Fill out the application form, and send or deliver it to

URGE to Compute
Office of Undergraduate Studies
Mathematics Department
University at Buffalo
Buffalo NY 14260

(2) Request recommendations from 2 professors or instructors at a university or college, at least one in a Math Department. Download and fill out the top portion of two copies of this recommendation form, give them to your recommenders and ask them to send their completed recommendation to the address above.

The deadline for receipt of applications and recommendations is 9am, Monday, October 4, 2010.

Prof. John Ringland, PI & research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Joaquin Carbonara, PI & research project mentor, BSC Mathematics Dept
Prof. Bruce Pitman, Co-PI & research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Surajit Sen, Co-PI & research project mentor, UB Physics Dept
Prof. Deborah Moore-Russo, Co-PI, program evaluator, UB Dept of Learning and Instruction

Prof. Saziye Bayram, Research project mentor, BSC Mathematics Dept
Prof. Gino Biondini, Research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Valentin Brimkov, Research project mentor, BSC Mathematics Dept
Prof. Tom Cusick, Research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Richard Gonsalves, Research project mentor, UB Physics Dept
Prof. Brian Hassard, Research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Matt Jones, Research project mentor, UB Center for Computational Research (CCR)
Prof. Jae-Hun Jung, Research project, mentor UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. William Menasco, Research project, mentor UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. James Reineck, Research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Brian Spencer, Research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Hongliang Xu, Research project mentor, Hauptman-Woodward Institute
Prof. Peihong Zhang, Research project mentor, UB Physics Dept

Prof. Thomas Furlani, Consultant, Director of UB CCR

mentors in 2009
mentors in 2010
mentors in 2011

Our "Kick-off" event for 2011 will be in September or October 2010. If you'd like to be invited, contact Prof. Ringland or Prof. Carbonara.