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 (others can participate fully, but without funding)
• 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) )
• 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

For the 2013 program, the following would be very helpful for all projects, though they are not required. (Talk to Prof. Ringland about any difficulties concerning prerequisites.)

• UB's CSE 116 Intro to Computer Science II
• UB's CSE 250 Data Structures (offered Fall 2012, and taught by our 2013 mentor Prof. Ngo)
• An introduction to mathematical proof such as UB's MTH 311.
• And for Prof. Menasco's project: UB's MTH 427 Intro to Topology I.

• 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 and office space
• The opportunity to be an Undergraduate TA in the Spring after the research year

• Take the Theme Support Course in the Spring semester - MTH 438 in 2012.
• 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 was computational discrete mathematics. For 2011, the theme is continuum modeling of materials: semiconductor films, landslides, and blood. For 2012, the theme is numerical optimization. For 2013, data structures and algorithms will play a central role, and mathematical theorems will be developed.

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, 645-8773).
Buffalo State students: contact Prof. Joaquin Carbonara (carbonjo at buffalostate.edu, 878-6423).

We are now accepting applications for the 2013 calendar year.

(1) Fill out the application form, and send or deliver it to
Prof. John Ringland, Math Dept, University at Buffalo, Buffalo NY 14260 (UB students), or
Prof. Joaquin Carbonara, Math Dept, Buffalo State College, Buffalo, NY 14222, (BSC students).

(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.

Applications and recommendations should be submitted as soon as possible, and no later than Friday, Oct 26, 2012.

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. Jae-Hun Jung, Research project, mentor UB Mathematics Dept
Dr. Shawn Matott, Research project mentor, UB Center for Computational Research (CCR)
Prof. William Menasco, Research project, mentor UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Hung Ngo, Research project, mentor UB Computer Science and Engineering Dept
Prof. Atri Rudra, Research project, mentor UB Computer Science and Engineering Dept
Prof. Brian Spencer, Research project mentor, UB Mathematics Dept
Prof. Hongliang Xu, Research project mentor, BSC Math Dept & Hauptman-Woodward Institute
Prof. Eva Zurek, Research project mentor, UB Chemistry Dept
Prof. Thomas Furlani, Consultant, Director of UB CCR

mentors in 2009
mentors in 2010
mentors in 2011
mentors in 2012
mentors in 2013

Our "Kick-off" event for 2013, where applicants, mentors and organizers will have a chance to spend some time together informally, will be held Sunday, October 28, 2012, from 10am-2:30pm. If you'd like to be invited, contact Prof. Ringland or Prof. Carbonara.