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Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath)
SLMath (formerly MSRI) is an NSF Mathematics Institute in Berkeley, California.
1. What is the Mission of Your Institute? What Makes it Unique?
A unique aspect of SLMath is its empowerment of and support for early career mathematicians to ensure they are well poised for successful futures in the profession.
The overarching mission of the Simons Laufer Mathematical Sciences Institute (SLMath) is to:
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foster and communicate mathematical research in a broad range of fundamental topics and applications,
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develop mathematical talent and cultivate a sense of belonging and engagement, and
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inspire an appreciation of the power, beauty, and joy of mathematics.
SLMath encourages curiosity, welcomes new communities, and provides a platform for collaborative mathematical research to thrive. In close collaboration with mathematicians, including those who serve on the Scientific and Broadening Participation advisory committees, we implement programs that enhance the mathematical sciences and respond to the diverse needs and interests of the community at large.
2. What Kinds of Programs are Run Each Year?
SLMath hosts a robust slate of scientific programs throughout the academic year and summer, including semester-long programs, workshops, 10-12 Summer Graduate Schools (SGS), MSRI-UP, MAY-UP, ADJOINT, SRiM, and CIME.
Semester-long programs: SLMath organizes and hosts semester-long programs on leading mathematical topics. Mathematicians worldwide come to SLMath to engage in research, making the Institute the world center of activity in the fields showcased during any given semester. We strive to bring together cross-generational communities to fuel innovation in mathematics. As part of this aim, SLMath invites postdoctoral fellows, who receive one-on-one mentorship from senior researchers, which facilitates fruitful, long-lasting relationships.
Workshops: During the academic year, SLMath hosts 1–2 Hot Topics workshops that highlight vibrant research areas in mathematics. We also host a yearly Critical Issues in Mathematics Education (CIME) Workshop. This series addresses key problems in education today. CIME workshops are designed to engage mathematicians, mathematics education researchers, and K–12 teachers as participants. CIME 2023 featured the topic Mentoring for Equity, led by organizers Aris Winger, Pamela E. Harris, and Michael Young.
Summer programs: During the summer SLMath opens its doors (in California and around the world in partnership with other institutions) to programs serving a broad group of mathematicians at varying stages of their careers.
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SLMath Undergraduate Program (MSRI-UP): Founded in 2006, the award-winning undergraduate program MSRI-UP, perhaps the nation’s premier undergraduate research experience, is primarily for students from underrepresented groups. In its first 14 years, 85% of MSRI-UP’s alumni have enrolled in graduate programs in the mathematical sciences. Learn more about the MSRI-UP experience in this video: https://vimeo.com/779419764 and at http://www.msri.org/up.
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SLMath Mathematically Advancing Young Undergraduates Program (MAY-UP): In May 2023, the pilot year of Mathematically Advancing Young Undergraduates Program (MAY-UP) took place at Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University. The program’s goal is to open first-year students’ horizons to the many possibilities of a career in mathematics. Learn more about the MAY-UP experience in this video: https://vimeo.com/846755162.
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ADJOINT is a yearlong program that provides opportunities for US mathematicians—especially those from the African Diaspora—to form collaborations with distinguished research leaders on topics at the forefront of mathematical and statistical research. Learn more at http://www.msri.org/adjoint and in these video interviews: https://vimeo.com/503623927 and https://vimeo.com/761580270.
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Summer Research in Mathematics (SRiM): SLMath’s Summer Research in Mathematics (SRiM) program provides space, funding, and the opportunity for in-person collaboration to small groups of mathematicians, especially women and gender-expansive individuals, whose ongoing research may have been disproportionately affected by various obstacles including family obligations, professional isolation, or access to funding. Through this effort, SLMath aims to mitigate the obstacles faced by these groups, improve the odds of research project completion, and deepen their research experience. Learn more at: http://www.msri.org/summer.
3. Within Those Programs, What Types of Positions Can Early Career Mathematicians Apply for?
Programs of particular interest to Early Career mathematicians include:
Summer Graduate Schools (SGS): Mathematics graduate students are the future leaders of the profession and thus providing opportunities for national and international networking and collaboration early in their careers is critical. We aim to provide a motivational, exciting, and accessible experience for graduate students with a wide variety of backgrounds and preparation.
SLMath organizes 10–12 summer graduate schools, held at SLMath and partner institutions across the globe. Attending these schools is often a pivotal experience for students, who have remarked that they feel like “professional” mathematicians for the first time.
Mathematics graduate chairs nominate students to the schools, and acceptance is on a first come, first served basis. Departments nominating students from groups traditionally underrepresented in the mathematical sciences receive additional nominations. Admitted students attend the schools free of charge.
Postdoctoral Fellowships: SLMath awards 32–36 semester-long postdoctoral fellowships annually. These career-defining opportunities provide support for five months, including a monthly stipend, a travel subsidy, funds for research travel, and health insurance. SLMath’s postdoctoral program also includes a generous number of endowed named fellowships.
Research Members: Interested individuals at all stages of their careers may apply for research memberships during the semester-long programs for stays of 1–4 months. These awards include per diem support.
4. What Type of Support is Available (Including Childcare Support)?
SLMath is distinguished by its holistic approach to supporting mathematicians at all career stages as well as their families.
In addition to the support outlined in question 3, SLMath endeavors to maintain a diverse community by actively assisting mathematicians with children. To enable full immersion in its scientific activities, SLMath offers researchers with children under the age of 17 the opportunity to apply for childcare grants. These flexible awards may be used for the reimbursement of childcare expenses, including travel, lodging, and meals for children and a caregiver. They may also be used for day-cares, individual childcare providers, and summer camps in Berkeley or the participant’s home location.
Additionally, a dedicated family services consultant assists with finding schools and childcare as well as family-friendly networking opportunities in Berkeley.
5. Are There Any Particular Opportunities That You Want Early Career Readers to Know About?
SLMath’s 2023–2024 programmatic workshops and summer 2024 programs are excellent opportunities for Early Career readers. The Connections, Introductory, and Topical workshops are open to all (registration required; please see below links):
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Algorithms, Fairness, and Equity (fall 2023): https://www.msri.org/programs/353#workshops
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Mathematics and Computer Science of Market and Mechanism Design (fall 2023): https://www.msri.org/programs/333#workshops
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Commutative Algebra (spring 2024): https://www.msri.org/programs/343#workshops
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Noncommutative Algebraic Geometry (spring 2024): https://www.msri.org/programs/356#workshops
Opportunities for summer 2024 include:
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Summer Research in Mathematics (SRiM): https://www.msri.org/web/msri/scientific/summer-research-in-mathematics
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Summer Graduate Schools: https://www.msri.org/web/msri/scientific/workshops/summer-graduate-school
Applications for 2024–2025 semester programs open September 1, 2023:
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New Frontiers in Curvature: Flows, General Relativity, Minimal Submanifolds, and Symmetry (fall 2024): https://www.msri.org/programs/344
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Special Geometric Structures and Analysis (fall 2024): https://www.msri.org/programs/361
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Probability and Statistics of Discrete Structures (spring 2025): https://www.msri.org/programs/348
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Extremal Combinatorics (spring 2025): https://www.msri.org/programs/375
Credits
Logo is courtesy of SLMath.