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Grand Valley State University

GVSU Math Major Newsletter

This will be the last newsletter of the semester. We hope you have a successful finals week and a relaxing and fulfilling break!

This newsletter comes to your inbox each week from the GVSU math department. You can find past newsletters and information about previously announced events and opportunities at the newsletter webpage.

 

Featured event

this friday! Student research presentations: Tuesday December 3, 4 - 5 pm and Friday December 6, 12-1 pm, all in the PCS (MAK A-2-610). Come see your classmates present their math-related research projects! Stop in any time, or come for them all. There will be 3 different groups presenting each day. Refreshments provided. See the poster for a schedule and list of topics.

 

Upcoming events

Find these on the calendar of math major events (add it to your calendar at http://gvsu.edu/s/25s).

  • Keep an eye on the calendar of math major events for events scheduled for next semester!
 

Featured opportunities

new! Mathematics Department Scholarship. If you have a GPA of 3.2 or more and have completed at least 45 credit hours, then you may qualify for the Math Department Scholarship. This award of at least $1000 is meant to provide all students of math with a resource to invest in their education. Eligibility requirements and more details can be seen on this flyer. Application deadline: Saturday March 1, 2025.

new! GVSU Math Office Student worker. The GVSU Department of Mathematics is seeking an undergraduate student to work in our department office in Mackinac Hall on the Allendale Campus. This position begins during the first week of the Winter 2025 semester. The opening is for approximately 6-10 hours a week. For more information, see the job posting. 

MTH 313 - Teaching Probability and Statistics in Grades 5-12. As a part of certification changes from the state, we are finally offering a course we have long wanted to teach, MTH 313, Teaching Probability and Statistics in Grades 5-12. Starting in the 24-25 catalog year it is required for secondary math education. But for those from a previous catalog year, the department is allowing this course as a substitution for the Math Elective. This is a great option for anyone interested in secondary math teaching. The prerequisites are MTH 229 and STA 312. It will be offered Fall 25 for the first time.

Math Department Apparel. The Math Department has had some inquiries about ordering apparel with the GVSU Math Department Logo and we want to know if you are interested! The options available to us are endless, so in the interest of narrowing down the choices, please let us know what you prefer to have available for order. If there is enough interest, we will set up an e-store for purchases to be made by the end of the semester with delivery of items in January. Please respond by Wednesday, November 13th. Link to survey: https://forms.gle/foCdonEw86uszYiK8

 

Internship, career, and job information

  • new! E.R.I.S.A. Inc. Retirement Plan Services is looking to hire a mathematics major for a full time position starting in January or June 2025 and/or possible intern for Summer 2025. This is a small Illinois-based company, where 4 out of the 8 employees have a bachelors degree in mathematics, including the president and owner of the company. This company has hired 2 recent GVSU graduates in 2021 and 2023 and has reached out because they would like to hire more! E.R.I.S.A. is a third party administrator for 401(k) and pension plans. The company's role is primarily with compliance which can include complex testing, government filings, interpretation of law, reconciliation of assets and income, etc. If interested, please send your resume directly to the president and owner of the company, Richard Perlin at richard@erisainc.com. 
  • Unpaid Internship Funding for Winter 2025. The CLAS Center for Experiential Learning has funding available to award $1,500 in Fellowship Funding to students completing unpaid internships during the winter semester. This funding is generously provided by the CLAS Dean's Office and the Robert Nelson Foundation. To apply for the CLAS Internship Support Fund, students will need to complete an application form detailing their internship, including information about the host organization, duration and scope of the internship, and a statement on how the experience aligns with their academic and career goals.
  • Brooksource is looking for a Junior Cobol Developer. Must have a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics (or related field) with a 3.3 GPA and have an interest in technology and a natural curiosity for learning & development. You can learn more and apply using this link. 
  • Amway has a number of Data Analytics internships seeking out students with math/statistics background. You can learn more and apply using this link. 
  • Capstone credit for your internship (MTH 490): Applied math majors who are planning to do an internship might be able to earn capstone credit! If your internship is "mathy" and meets some other requirements, you can get capstone class credit (MTH 490) for that internship. Click the link for more information. The process to get approved for MTH 490 takes time -- if you intend to apply for a MTH 490 internship capstone, email or talk to Dr. Short right away to get the process started. Don't wait!
  • GVSU Joint Applied Math and Data Science & Analytics MS degree program: Did you know about this combined bachelors-masters degree program you can take right here at GVSU? You can complete both an Applied Math major and a Data Science and Analytics MS degree together at GVSU! There's significant overlap between these degrees, and with careful planning they can take as little as 5 years together. If you'd like to make this happen, now is the time to plan. See Dr. Ortiz-Robinson for more information!
  • The Student Public Research Interest Group has internship opportunities that may involve data analysis and other mathematical skills.
  • Auto-Owners internships and jobs: Auto-Owners Insurance has hired several GVSU math graduates in the past. Click the link to see their current job and internship openings, including some in Grand Rapids and Lansing!
  • The GVSU Career Center can help you find career and internship opportunities:
    • Employer Showcases: Every week, different employers come to campus to talk about jobs and internships. Check out the STEM showcase in front of the Mackinac POD!
    • Career Communities: Receive direct communication about job & internship postings, events, and resources related to the industry area you are interested in.
    • CareerLab offers drop-in hours virtually and in-person.
 

Scholarships and Fellowships

ScholarshipUniverse is GVSU's main website for finding and applying for scholarships. You can search by all kinds of filters and find matches for your major, minor, or other criteria.

  • Student Summer Scholars/Modified Student Summer Scholars. The Student Summer Scholars (S3) and the Modified Student Summer Scholar programs provide funds for a student and faculty mentor to devote time to a research and/or creative project during the spring/summer semester. Generally, S3/MS3  grants provide a student stipend, a faculty stipend, and a small budget for supplies. Applications are due January 31, 2025.
  • Alayont Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Mathematics. The Alayont Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Mathematics has been developed to provide financial support to students pursuing rigorous, independent scholarship during the academic year, mentored by a faculty member.
  • MI Future Educator Fellowship. The MI Future Educator Fellowship offers a $10,000 scholarship for future educators, renewable for up to three years. There is a commitment to teach in a Michigan school as part of the fellowship.
  • MI Future Educator Stipend. This stipend is for students in their teaching apprenticeship and student teaching internship semesters. Click the link or contact CECI's Office of Certification and Accreditation (OCA) details.
 

Research and graduate school opportunities

  • Research Opportunity. Dr. Keough is offering a 1 credit course (MTH 399) in Winter 2025 for students interested in research. The class meets Wednesdays 12-12:50 to discuss and extend on a paper “How to Invert n Cups m at a Time”. All are welcome, though it would be valuable to have some experience with matrices and proofs. If you’re interested email keoulaur@gvsu.edu.
  • REUs and Mentorship Programs. Most REU applications for Summer 2025 are due in January or February 2025. If you are interested in doing a REU next summer, start working on your applications now! 
    • REU Master List. This page contains a listing of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs) aimed at mathematics students that will plan to run in the summer of 2025. It is in spreadsheet format to make it easier for people to copy and sort through what they need to find. Much of this information overlaps with what can also be found at the NSF maintained list of REU sites and the AMS list of REU summer programs.
    • Twople Mentorship Program. A free online mentoring program for undergraduates interested in pursuing a research-based graduate degree in math. Grad students and undergrads are paired together to work on a reading course based on their shared interests. Application deadline (for mentees and mentors): January 20, 2025.
  • Opportunities to present your research: Here are some upcoming conferences and events where you could share your work! Talk with a research advisor or Dr. Short if you have questions. 
    • new! The 2025 AWM Research Symposium. Date: March 16-18, 2025 in Madison, Wisconsin at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The symposium will showcase the research of women in the mathematical professions, featuring plenary talks, special sessions on a broad range of research in pure and applied mathematics, poster sessions for graduate students and recent PhDs, and events for undergraduates.” Applications to present research during a poster session are welcome from graduate students in the mathematical sciences or related fields, from undergraduate math majors who will be juniors or seniors in the Fall of 2025, and from mathematicians who have received their PhDs within approximately the last three years. Applications due January 15, 2025. Apply here. Partial funding will be provided to poster presenters whose abstracts have been accepted and are not otherwise funded.
    • new! OURFA2M2 2025. Mark your calendars! The 5th OURFA2M2 Conference will be held on February 8-9, 2025. Share information about the conference by sharing our year-round flyer! The registration is now open! Register Here!
    • The GVSU Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) provides travel grants for students. These are available for both students presenting at academic meetings and conferences, as well as for students who will be attending a conference with their faculty mentor. More information is available at the Academic Conference Fund and the Academic Professional and Educational Fund websites.
    • Underrepresented Students in Topology and Algebra Research Symposium (USTARS). Date: April 4 - 5th, 2025. Deadline: December 13, 2025. Location: Portland, Oregon. Dedicated to furthering the success of underrepresented students, USTARS seeks to broaden the participation in the mathematical sciences by cultivating research and mentoring networks. USTARS is open to all people interested in the topological and algebraic fields.
    • Latinx in the Mathematical Sciences Conference. Date: March 6 - 8, 2025 in Los Angeles, California at the University of Los Angeles, California. “IPAM will host a conference showcasing the achievements of Latinx in the mathematical sciences. The goal of the conference is to encourage Latinx to pursue careers in the mathematical sciences, to promote the advancement of Latinx currently in the discipline, to showcase research being conducted by Latinx at the forefront of their fields, and, finally, to build a community around shared academic interests.” Apply here (through mathprograms.org). Deadline: 11:59pm Eastern Time on February 7, 2025. Travel funding is available. Deadline: 11:59 pm Eastern Time on December 22, 2024
    • The Joint Mathematics Meetings will be held in Seattle, WA, January 8-11, 2025. Considered the largest mathematics gathering in the world, the JMM partners with several math organizations, including the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and the American Institute of Mathematics (AIM), to give mathematicians opportunities to promote their research. Full Program. Registration deadline is December 23, 2024, midnight EST to be eligible for discounted registration fees. After this date, registration will continue through the end of the meeting, but increased fees will apply. Register here.
  • Graduate school information: Interested in graduate school? Did you know that most math graduate programs are funded (that is, they pay you to complete a masters or doctorate)? Talk with your advisor (or Dr. Short) and use these resources too.
    • Finding graduate programs: Looking for graduate programs to apply to? Here are two websites that will help find and filter graduate programs that are right for you: USA/Canada Math PhD Programs GRE Requirements and AMS Find Grad Programs.
    • Learning about graduate school: Want to learn more about what graduate school is and how to prepare for it? Try these sites: Grad Guide (advice on applying to graduate school), STEM Graduate Programs website (help creating resumes, applying to fellowships, and more). 
    • new! SUMSA (June 16 - August 8, 2025). The Summer Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics Accelerator (SUMSA) is an eight week mathematics and statistics bootcamp for undergraduates which will take place June 16 - August 8, 2025. The program’s aim is to help prepare students for the rigors of graduate school through lecture series and problem sessions.  It will cover core material in linear algebra, topology of metric spaces, advanced calculus, and probability.  This program is open to students who will be rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors at U.S. colleges and universities and will be at least 18 years old at the time the program begins. Please pass this information along to any students whom you feel might be interested.  Further information and the application are available on the program’s web page.  Applications are due by February 14, 2025, and letters for recommendation are due February 21, 2025. 
    • Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) Program. The Summer program is open to female and gender-nonconforming students who will be entering their first or second year in graduate school. The program includes two four-week core courses; a mini-course on a selected area of mathematical research; and problem sessions aimed at preparing participants for graduate qualifying exams. Applications for the Summer 2025 program close by February 14, 2025.
    • CLAS Advising Center Practice Tests. The CLAS Advising Center has partnered with Princeton Review to offer free, full-length, online practice tests for the GRE, MCAT, and DAT. Practice tests become available on December 7 and are open for 60 days. Students can get more information and register on our website. Registration closes at 5 p.m. on December 5, 2024. 
 

Extracurricular and other opportunities

  • new! Mathematical Sciences Semesters in Guanajuato (MSSG) is a study-abroad opportunity. “Our semester based programs are an excellent option for STEM focused students to have a study abroad experience without putting their academic goals for the semester on hold.” Students can choose from the following courses in Mathematics during Summer 2025: (1) Data Driven Dynamic Modeling, (2) A Journey Through Data Science. Electives are available in all levels of Spanish and Mexico Culture and History as well. The MSSG also organizes a cultural calendar throughout the semester. Together these educational opportunities provide the students with a well-rounded academic experience while here in Guanajuato. Learn more about the upcoming program and potential future ones here, and apply here. Applications for the Summer and Fall terms have an early bird deadline on April 1, 2025 and a final deadline on April 15, 2025.
  • new! SIAM-Simons Undergraduate Summer Research Program. Summer research program targeting U.S. students from groups underrepresented in applied mathematics and computational mathematics in the U.S., specifically ethnic minorities. Students accepted to the program will receive a weekly stipend, and expenses for lodging, meals, and travel would also be covered. Only US citizens currently-enrolled in an undergraduate program are eligible to apply. The application for summer 2025 is open! Applications are due February 7, 2025 and letters of recommendation must be received by February 12, 2025.
  • new! AMS Math Poetry Contest. Students write poetry about mathematics: “Poetry is about as ancient as mathematics in human culture. Its language can be whimsical, somber, joyful, beautiful, concise, thought-provoking, and inspirational. We invite you to think and write about mathematics in this unique form of expression.”Open to middle school, high school, and undergraduate students. See the Rules and Eligibility page to see guidelines of formatting for submissions. The deadline is February 1, 2025. 
  • new! Infinite Possibilities Conference (IPC) (April 11-12, 2025). The Infinite Possibilities Conference (IPC) is a national conference designed to broaden participation in the mathematical sciences. IPC aims to foster a sense of community in mathematics among women from underserved populations and welcomes all mathematicians who feel they may contribute to or benefit from this event. Conference sessions are designed to showcase the infinite possibilities of mathematics to participants at all stages of the pipeline, from undergraduate and graduate students to professionals in academia, industry and government. IPC 2025 marks the 20th year of IPC programming! Registration Fee: There is a registration fee of $25 for students and $60 for non-students. There is a separate fee of $25 to attend the Saturday night banquet which includes the presentation of the Etta Z. Falconer Award for Mentoring and Commitment to Diversity. The fee(s) are payable after the application to attend is accepted. March 7, 2024 is the application deadline if you are requesting funding. Travel and Lodging Support: There is financial support available to help cover travel and lodging expenses for participants based in the United States. They can indicate their need for support when they apply.
  • AWM Essay Contest. The Association for Women in Mathematics and Math for America cosponsor an essay contest each year for students in three categories: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, and Undergraduate. Contestants interview a woman or an individual from an underrepresented gender identity in the mathematics community in a mathematical career about their life and work, and then they write and submit a biographical essay based on their interview. You can find out more at https://awm-math.org/awards/student-essay-contest/: contest rules, an FAQ, submission instructions, etc. The deadline is February 1, 2025. Submissions will open on Programs in Mathematics on December 1 (just one month!), but of course students can conduct their interviews and write their essays before that -- we know it can be hard to interview a mathematician and write an essay over the holidays.
  • Free professional memberships! GVSU students can get a free membership to the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), the world's largest community of mathematicians, students, and math enthusiasts. This membership looks good on your resume, gives you access to MAA journals and articles, and helps you build a network. To join for free, go to maa.org and click "Login" at the top right of the webpage. Choose to create a new account (or simply log in if you already have an account), add your school email address and other demographic information, and enter your institution's name as Grand Valley State University. Then go to portal.maa.org, click "Join MAA", select "Student Membership - $35 ($0 if at Departmental Member Institution)", and proceed to fill out your information, skip adding "Math Horizons - Print, etc." as these cost extra, and on the final screen verify that you have "Total: $0.00" and click "Complete Payment".  
  • Study abroad in Tanzania 2025: Teaching, Learning, and Culture. You will explore the rich culture and beauty of Tanzania while teaching and studying issues in education in the U.S. and Tanzania. You will learn from and interact with teachers and students in a culture different than your own. A 4-day safari, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, touring a coffee plantation and learning Swahili are all part of this incredible experience. This program is open to all education majors and honors students. Priority deadline: December 1, 2024. Final Deadline February 1, 2025. Apply online at http://www.gvsu.edu/studyabroad.
  • Hey Doc! Questions for the MAA Math Horizons. Do you have a burning question you've always wanted to ask your math professor? Now is your chance! Math Horizons, an undergraduate magazine of the MAA, is collecting questions that will be answered by our resident staff mathematician. All questions submitted are anonymous and may be answered in a Math Horizons issue.
 

Save the Date

Put these dates on your calendar!

  • December 7-14: Examination Week
 

One important thing to know:

Final exams happen next week: December 7 - 14. Double-check your final exam schedule and verify it with each of your professors. There are no regular classes next week.

Winter semester begins on January 6, 2025. Be sure to check your GVSU email regularly before then! Many professors email you before the semester, and other GVSU offices (like financial aid or housing) might contact you by email in the next few weeks.

 

If you have any questions about the newsletter, suggestions for things to add, or general advising questions, please email me!

 

Taylor Short

shorttay@gvsu.edu

Mathematics Advising and Engagement Coordinator

GVSU math social media

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Don't miss our calendar of math major events too.

1 Campus Drive

A-2-178 Mackinac Hall
Allendale, MI 49401

 

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