Assistant professor of mathematics Chad Awtrey gave an invited talk on mentoring undergraduate research at the International Conference on Advances in Interdisciplinary Statistics and Combinatorics, held at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro on October 10-12, 2014.
The talk, “One approach to researching, presenting, and publishing with undergraduate math majors”, focused on Awtrey’s strategy of employing a vertically-integrated research environment, one where he pairs younger students with older, more experienced researchers. In this context, peer-to-peer learning activities become both natural and effective, especially for bringing the new researchers up to speed on background theory, prior results, and pertinent computer programming skills.
Awtrey also discussed sample external funding sources, appropriate venues for professional dissemination, aspects of a recently-completed project, and a summary of his students’ post baccalaureate plans.
Awtrey’s undergraduate research program is supported in part by the Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (http://curm.byu.edu) and National Science Foundation Grant #DMS-1148695.