Worcester Polytechnic Institute

WPI will hold its 11th annual REU program in Industrial Mathematics

& Statistics this Summer.

Program details, online application for admission and examples of

past projects can be found at the program website:

http://www.wpi.edu/+CIMS/REU.

The WPI/CIMS REU Program in Industrial Mathematics and Statistics

provides a unique educational experience for students of mathematics

and statistics by introducing them to research in an industrial

environment. Students spend 8 weeks working in teams of 3-5 on

problems provided by local business and industry. These industrial

problems rarely fit into one area of mathematics. Many projects

require some combination of classical analysis, statistics,

optimization, and computer programming. Once a solution is reached,

the students must communicate their results to the company in a form

that can be understood and used.

The research program is characterized by (1) daily meetings with

faculty advisors, which guide and focus the progress of the

mathematical research, (2) weekly presentations to fellow students

and faculty, which help understanding and communication of the

industrial problem and mathematical formulation, and provide

valuable feedback and suggestions and (3) regular meetings with

industrial sponsors, which guide and focus the research toward

results of practical significance and immediate value to the company.

Social activities are also planned for the Summer. Some past

activities have included a lobster dinner in Mystic, Connecticut,

Boston Red Sox games, trips to view the Fourth of July celebration

in Boston Harbor, as well as barbecues at faculty advisors'

homes. Students also typically visit places like Boston,

Providence, Cape Cod, etc. on their own on weekends.

Participants are provided housing and a stipend of $375/week ($3000

for the summer). Students are housed in townhouse apartments

adjacent to campus, with full kitchen and laundry facilities. All of

the participants have access to all facilities that are normally

available to WPI students, including the library and computer

facilities. In addition, each team is also provided with an office,

with 2 or 3 networked computers.