Interconnecting Research and Education in the Mathematical Sciences at Stony Brook

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This award seeks to build meaningful interconnections among the variouseducational and research components of the mathematics enterprise at StonyBrook.The Departments of Mathematics and of Applied Mathematics and Statistics havedeveloped strongly but in largely divergent directions. This joint proposalenhances the instruction and research training in both departments through (i)cooperation in areas where the strengths of one department can benefit theother, and (ii) new initiatives that will benefit both departments. The proposal'semphasis on expanding research teams to include undergraduates ties in with theuniversity mandate to develop opportunities for undergraduates to participate inresearch. Its emphasis on developing pedagogy ties in with the universitymandate to revitalize undergraduate education. The proposal has four components:A. Broadening the Research Training of Undergraduates, Graduate Students andPostdocs;B. Developing Vertically Integrated Research Teams;C. Strengthening the Educational Experiences of Undergraduates, GraduateStudents and Postdocs;D. Promoting Greater Interactions Among Students, Postdocs and Faculty in TheTwo DepartmentsThe proposed initiatives in the Stony Brook VIGRE project will strengthen theeducation and research training of undergraduate and graduate students andpostdocs in both departments with better classroom learning, new opportunitiesfor research, and broadened career opportunities. Undergraduates will have avariety of new experiences involving independent thinking, culminating in theopportunity to participate in vertically integrated research teams. Graduate students andpostdocs in Mathematics will have an exposure to the types of mathematicsresearch that reach out to other disciplines and to industry with involvement in one suchresearch project. While most recent Mathematics Ph.D.'s have been successful infinding academic employment at leading institutions, it still makes sense forall Mathematics Ph.D.'s to be aware of a wider range of career opportunities.Applied Mathematics graduate students will develop a better appreciation of, andpreparation for, academic careers in (unified) mathematics departments. Theemployment of Applied Mathematics Ph.D.'s has swung too far in the direction ofnon-academic careers. As a result of this trend, liberal art colleges havegreat difficulty hiring qualified U.S.-citizen faculty in statistics and appliedmathematics. The summer internship program will build valuable ties with localindustry and business along with directly benefiting the training of the studentinterns. VIGRE Postdoctoral Fellows will share in the exposure of broadenedresearch and career opportunities. Some will also become involved ininstructional reform, particularly in the arena of teaching preparation. Allpostdoctoral Fellows will have extensive mentoring in launching their ownresearch programs.Funding for this award is provided by the Division of Mathematical Sciences and the MPS Directorate's Office of Multidisciplinary Activities.