Information covered during Majors Dinner 2020
The Math, CS, and Stats Faculty
Dr. Maegan Bos (Math), Dr. Jessica Chapman (Stats), Dr. Shafique Chaudhry (CS), Dr. Danny Crytser (Math), Dr. Jim DeFranza (Math), Dr. Dante Giarrusso (Math), Dr. Ed Harcourt (CS), Dr. Matt Higham (Stat), Dr. Natasha Komarov (Math), Dr. Choong-Soo Lee (CS), Dr. Patti Frazer Lock (Math), Dr. Robin Lock (Stats), Dr. Dan Look (Math), Dr. Duncan Melville (Math), Dr. Ivan Ramler (Stats), Dr. Schuckers (Stats), Dr. Rebecca Terry (Math), Dr. Lisa Torrey (CS)
1. Pi Mu Epsilon
Pi Mu Epsilon is the national mathematics honorary society. Requirements vary depending on class year but include completing at least three math classes (2 at the 200+level), having a strong GPA in those courses (3.75 for sophomores, 3.4 for juniors and seniors) and a solid GPA overall. Inductions are held each semester.
2. Senior Projects
Math, CS, and Stats majors must complete a Senior Year Experience (SYE). The Senior Project can be either independent research with a faculty member in the department or a specially designated senior seminar. It culminates in a research paper and a presentation. It can be completed in the Fall or Spring or spread across both semesters of your senior year, and it carries course credit. For an independent study SYE, the first step is to talk to faculty members. We have good ideas for projects, and we are happy to listen to your ideas. For honors in your major, you need to complete an honors SYE in your major and to have a GPA in the major of 3.5 or higher.
3. Conferences and Contests
MCCNNY Undergraduate Conference – Feb. 29th, Clarkson University
HRUMC - April 4th, South Hadley, Massachusetts. Abstracts due March 6th.
CCSCNE 2020 - April 17-18, Ramapo College of NJ, Mahway, NJ, Poster Abstracts: March 2nd, Contest Registration: March 30th
Others: Our majors have presented their work recently at national conferences all over the country. If you do a research project that involves original research and you want to present your findings, SLU will help fund a trip for you to present your work at a national conference.
4. Pi Mu Epsilon Interscholastic Mathematics Competition
The department hosts a mathematics competition for area high schools each spring. Student members of Pi Mu Epsilon help with proctoring and grading the exam. The contest is usually held in early April.
5. Semester Abroad Programs in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics
There are options for traveling abroad while workings towards your major. Examples include:
Computer Science: Denmark
Mathematics: Budapest, Moscow
All Majors in our Department: Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad
There are also ISEP programs (we recently had two Math majors in Sweden).
6. Internship Opportunities
Summer/January Internships: Many internships available for students with a background in math, CS, or stats. Some are paid and some are not. Many different locations, many different types (teaching, finance, actuarial, etc.) For more information, go to the Career Planning Office or use Career SLUth off the SLU webpage
7. Summer Research Opportunities
St. Lawrence University: SLU Fellows program provides $3500 and room and board for students to do research with a faculty member during the summer. Research is expected to last 8 – 10 weeks, between during June and July. The deadline for applications is usually the second week of February. It is too late for this year but start thinking about next year. First step: If you are interested please talk to a faculty member.
Off-campus: There are a variety of Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) summer programs and a variety of other summer programs. Deadlines vary, usually mid-January to mid-March. There are opportunities all over the country, at a variety of different levels, and in a variety of different specialties. The stipend and timing is similar to that for SLU Fellows. There are special programs in statistics, engineering, bio math, math of flight that includes flying lessons, etc. There is also a 4-week program specifically for females at the end of the first or second year, and other variations. Many interesting opportunities. For more information, check out Student Research off our department webpage and join the department on Facebook (go to http://stlawu.edu/math and click on the Facebook link).
8. Festival of Science and Scholarship
St. Lawrence’s annual Festival of Science and Scholarship is scheduled for Friday, April 24th. The Festival includes poster sessions and oral presentations on student research projects. This is a great opportunity for seniors to present their work to the broader campus community and for underclass students to see what sorts of projects are going on in Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics.
9. Graduate School
For most PhD graduate programs (and some Masters programs) in Math, CS, and Statistics students do not have to pay tuition and are paid stipends. We have excellent resources for you to use, such as lists of graduate assistantships, ranking of programs, etc. Deadlines range from December to March. Plan to take the GREs in the Fall of your senior year. If you are interested, please talk to your adviser.
10. Q Club
Join the Q Club, for all faculty, students, and friends of the St. Lawrence University Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics Department. Regular Tuesday pizza talks in Val 205/206 from 11:50 – 12:20 p.m. Get an official SLU Math, CS, and Stats t-shirt for $10. (See Dr. Komarov).
11. Majors/Minors Project Room and CS Labs
Valentine 101 (next to the PQRC) is reserved for majors and minors in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Statistics. It is your room. The room has a sofa, chairs, desks, tables, computers, a printer. It also has a bookshelf with samples of past SYE project write-ups.
The Computer Labs in Bewkes 107, 109, and 144 are available for everyone to use. See Dr. Harcourt if you need your ID card activated for the labs. They have R and Maple installed.
12. Problem of the Week
Our weekly Math puzzle/problem. See Dr. Lee if you want to get the POW emails.