Summer Undergraduate Research Institute in Experimental Mathematics (SURIEM)
Overview
Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University will host the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute in Experimental Mathematics (SURIEM) in 2026. This eight-week Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) is supported by Michigan State University (MSU) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Program Highlights
Participants will collaborate with faculty from these MSU units:
- Lyman Briggs College
- Department of Mathematics
- Department of Statistics and Probability
- Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering
The research experience will include the following:
- Reading and analyzing research articles
- Formulating conjectures and asking many questions
- Constructing examples, testing ideas using coding, and writing proofs
- Working as part of a small team (2-3 participants, plus mentors)
- Documenting and presenting research discoveries
Research Projects
Projects for 2026 are listed below.
Optimal Transport
Mentors: Jun Kitagawa and Farhan Abedin
A project description will be shared soon.
Modeling Tissue Growth
Mentors: Olga Turanova and Christian Parkinson
Project description:
Coefficients of Quantum Knot Invariants
Mentor: Matthew Harper
Project description:
Program description documents will be updated with accessibility tags by the end of January 2025.
Program Dates
The tentative dates for the 2026 program will be May 18 – July 10, 2026.
Stipend and Support
Each participant receives a summer stipend. Additional funding is available for conference travel, supported by MSU and the NSF.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents
- Have completed at least one year as a full-time undergraduate
- Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate program in Fall 2026
How to Apply
Students apply using the NSF's Education and Training Application. Visit https://etap.nsf.gov/search, and in the Search Opportunities field, input the words "SURIEM REU 2026" then submit. Within the program description, there is a link to the SURIEM application.
Applications opened January 5, 2026. Applications received by February 28 will receive full consideration. Applications received after this date will be reviewed so long as positions remain.
Selection Criteria
Preference will be given to students early in their mathematical studies (e.g., rising sophomores or juniors). Competitive applicants will have completed:
- At least two semesters of calculus
- One proof-based mathematics course
Experience with or interest in programming is a plus. Applications will be reviewed starting in March and continue until all positions are filled.
Contact
For more information, please contact Dr. Robert Bell via email.
