SPUR, the Summer Program in Undergraduate Research of the MIT Mathematics Department, is a program for MIT undergraduates founded in 1996 by Professor Hartley Rogers. The current director is Professor David Jerison who can be reached at math.mit.edu (username jerison).

SPUR is open to MIT students who have completed their first, second or third year. Students are considered relative to their year. It is not required that a participant be a mathematics major. Up to 10 undergraduates are supported each summer.

2008 DATES: Monday, June 23 to Friday, August 1.

QUALIFICATIONS: A lively interest in mathematics and serious desire to try out and develop one's own research abilities and skill at communication.

SPUR's DEFINITION OF SUCCESS: Significant progress, relative to one's own background and experience, in developing interests, satisfaction, skill, and ideas, rather than getting the final solution to a problem.

DETAILS: Students in the program work full time for six weeks on an original research problem. Each undergraduate is paired with a graduate student mentor. Undergraduate and mentor meet together about an hour each weekday. During the first few days, the undergraduate and mentor identify one or more suitable problems to work on. In the final days of the program, the undergraduate writes a short paper (about 10 pages) describing his or her progress and presents a 20-minute talk to the mentors, to the other undergraduates in SPUR, and to a panel of faculty members. Each week during the program, the entire group of undergraduates and mentors meets for a seminar and discussion with a faculty member.

APPLICATION: Send to Jan Wetzel (username jan) at math.mit.edu

1. as soon as possible, an e-mail that signals your intention to apply
   
   
2. by Friday, February 29, 2008, a completed, one-page application form

Paper application forms may be downloaded [here]. They are also available in the Undergraduate Math Office, 2-108, and can be submitted there. Alternatively, applicants may submit an e-mail to Jan Wetzel at the address above with the information requested on the application form. The deadline for full consideration is Friday, February 29. Positions will be offered by e-mail starting Sunday, March 16. Late applications will be considered if space is available.

STIPEND: In 2007 each undergraduate participant received a stipend of $2400 to assist with living expenses. Next year's stipend will be the same or higher.

ROGERS PRIZE: After the final presentation, the faculty panel awards the Rogers Prize to the best student-mentor team or teams. The prize was funded in honor of Professor Rogers by his family.