About the Mathematics Research Communities Program

The AMS’s Mathematics Research Communities (MRC) is a professional development program offering early-career mathematicians a rich array of opportunities to develop collaborative research skills, build a network focused in an active research domain, and receive mentoring from leaders in that area. Funded previously through a generous three-year grant from the National Science Foundation, the AMS, and private donors, the MRC is a year-long experience that includes: MRC Participants

  • Intensive one-week, hands-on research conferences in the summer;
  • Special Sessions at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in the January following the summer conferences;
  • Guidance in career building;
  • Follow-up small-group collaborations;
  • Longer-term opportunities for collaboration and community building among the participants;

Over time, each participant is expected to provide feedback regarding career development and the impact of the MRC program.

Full RenderingWomen, underrepresented minorities, and individuals from various types of institutions across the country are all encouraged to apply. The chief criteria for admission are an ability to contribute to the summer conference activities and a capacity to benefit from these interactions.

Since the inception of the MRC program in 2008, over 1,500 alumni from 48 different topical areas have participated. A list of all past MRC summer conference topics can be found here.

The topic for the 2025 summer conference is listed here.

The summer conferences are typically hosted in consecutive weeks in June at a retreat-style site that is conducive to participant interactions and provides opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. To this point in time, MRCs have been hosted in such locations as Snowbird, Utah, West Greenwich, Rhode Island, and Java Center, New York. The 2025 summer conferences of the MRC will be held at Hilton- Providence, Providence, RI, where participants can enjoy an environment conducive to research.

News and More about MRCs

A number of articles about the MRC program have appeared in various AMS channels, and the following may be of interest either to those applying to participate or to those who plan to organize:

Scott Hershberger, "New collaborations blossom at summer Mathematics Research Communities," News from the AMS, July 7, 2021.

Scott Hershberger, “Early-career researchers gear up for virtual Mathematics Research Communities,” News from the AMS, May 4, 2021.

Leslie Hogben and T. Christine Stevens, "Joining a Mathematical Research Community," Notices of the AMS, 66:7 (August 2019), 1101 – 1107.

Scott Turner, “Math in the Woods,” News from the AMS, August 23, 2019.

Katharine A. Ott, “Fostering Inclusive Communities: Reasons why YOU should organize a Mathematics Research Community,” Notices of the AMS, 65:11 (December 2018), 1444 – 1445.

Questions

Questions should be addressed to the AMS Programs Department.