Math Research
You may think that everything about mathematics has been known for centuries, but nothing could be further from the truth. Faculty and students in the math department are engaged in many areas of mathematical research, pushing the boundary of human knowledge and discovering new, beautiful and useful theories; and you can join us!
Get Started With Math Research
If you enjoy math classes, we encourage you to try out math research. Don’t worry if you don’t know what you’d like to work on; usually you’ll start out by learning about a research area, perhaps building on math you’ve learned in your classes, before trying to make any new contributions.
The best way to get started in math research is to talk to a faculty member, such as the professor of a class you enjoyed, or someone whose research looks interesting. For summer research, it’s best to start contacting faculty in the preceding fall semester, as application deadlines for funding are often at the beginning of the year.
Scroll down to learn more about math research areas, funding opportunities, showcases and past student research.
Faculty Research Areas
Learn about the research we're conducting below. Feel free to contact any of us! We love to talk about our work and how students can get involved!
Research Funding Opportunities
Many student research projects take place during the summer. Below are links to some of the options for funding at USD — your faculty research mentor will be able to recommend which are appropriate for you.
Research for Credit
It is also possible to obtain course credit for research or independent study during the academic year, although this is more common as a continuation of a summer project. Again, the first step is to secure a faculty mentor, who will then be able to advise you in enrolling for Math 496 or 499. Honors students can also do research as part of their thesis.
Showcasing Your Research
After completing a research project, there are many options for presenting or publishing your results — below are a couple of options past USD Math students have pursued. Make sure to talk your faculty advisor or with the Office of Undergraduate Research about other potential opportunities.
Creative Collaborations Undergraduate Research Conference
Creative Collaborations Undergraduate Research Conference (CC URC) showcases undergraduate research, scholarly activities and creative works from all disciplines conducted in partnership with faculty mentors. The high-quality work of our students reflects the intellectual curiosity of our undergraduate students, the outstanding abilities of the research mentors, as well as USD's commitment to academic excellence and experiential learning opportunities.
Many of the students who participate in Creative Collaborations also publish their work in academic journals and present their projects at regional, national and international conferences. Participating in research activities fosters critical thinking skills, prepares students for the 21st century workforce and helps them decide whether or not to include research in their academic and professional careers.
Mathematical Association of America Conferences
The Southern California-Nevada section of the Mathematical Association of America has annual conferences where students can present their research on posters. Talk to your faculty research mentor about presenting at conferences like these.
Office of Undergraduate Research
Learn more about research workshops, events, programs and funding opportunities from the Office of Undergraduate Research!
Recent Student Research Projects
Learn more about previous student research projects in the Math department.