Research

Mathematics students at Dominican have plenty of opportunities to conduct high-level research, both on and off campus.

On Campus

If you’re interested in exploring a particular topic in more depth, we encourage you to conduct research in partnership with a faculty member in the mathematics department.

You can explore mathematics beyond the classroom even if you do not have a particular topic in mind. A faculty member can help you decide on a project topic. Interested students should speak with Dr. Aaron Zerhusen, who oversees undergraduate research in the mathematics department.

Students who do research with faculty at Dominican have funding opportunities through the University’s Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Investigations (URSCI) Office. There are also funds available for travel to conferences. Each spring, students from across campus are invited to share their research at the Scholarship & Ideas Expo.

Off Campus

Dominican encourages mathematics students to investigate off-campus research opportunities. Please note: For all programs linked below, application deadlines range from October through February for the following summer. Also, program websites may be updated during this period, so please keep checking websites of programs that interest you.

One main program is the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), which funds undergraduate research in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation.

REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. Participating students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. A stipend may make it possible for the REU to be a student's summer job.

An REU site consists of a small group of undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project and works closely with faculty and other researchers. Some REUs take place in person, and some are virtual.

Students apply directly to the sponsoring institution. REU programs can be found across the United States. The NSF maintains a directory of active REU sites.

Many other excellent opportunities exist that are similar in structure to REUs, some of which may be open to undocumented students (please see the second bulleted list below):

These programs may be open to undocumented students:

Recently, Dominican students have completed projects at Spelman College, Northwestern University, Louisiana State University, and Michigan State University.