Mathematics Research Communities - 2024

The American Mathematical Society's Mathematics Research Communities is a professional development program for early-career mathematicians in which the participants develop collaborative research skills, build a network focused in an active research domain, and receive mentoring from leaders in that area.

MRC Participants groupAbout the Program

Supported by National Science Foundation, the AMS, and other sources, the 2024 program includes:

  • Intensive one-week, hands-on summer research conferences for each topic
  • Guidance in career building
  • A complimentary one-year AMS membership
  • Special Sessions at the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) in January 2025
  • Opportunities for 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 through participation in a longitudinal study.

For each NSF-supported participant, the MRC program provides support for travel to the summer conference site and all accommodations and meals there, support for travel to the 2025 JMM (pending funding), and opportunities for support in follow-up collaboration travel during the year following the summer conferences (pending funding). See below for details.

Informational Webinar 

We held an informational webinar for interested applicants on January 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Organizers gave an overview of what they are hoping to accomplish as well as who should apply for their particular MRC. The recording of the webinar can be viewed here. We have answered some key questions for the webinar below. 
Q: Can an MRC Organizer write a reference letter for an applicant of their own MRC? 
A: No, an organizer cannot write a reference letter for someone applying to the MRC they are organizing. Please choose someone else as your reference writer. 
Q: Can someone who has already attended one MRC apply again? 
A: Yes, you are welcome to apply. However, we do try to allow as many participants as possible before selecting applicants who have previously participated.  MRC Participants2

2024 MRC Summer Conferences

We plan to hold the 2024 summer conferences at Beaver Hollow Conference Center in Java Center, NY. The location is conducive to a peaceful working environment, participant interactions, and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Full details are below.

The topics for the four anticipated MRC conferences are listed here. Applications will be accepted until February 15, 2024.

Week 1, June 9 – 15, 2024: Algebraic Combinatorics
Organizers: Susanna Fishel, Arizona State University; Rebecca Garcia, Colorado College University; Pamela Harris*, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee; Rosa Orellana, Dartmouth College; Catherine H. Yan, Texas A&M University

Week 2, June 23 – 29, 2024: Mathematics of Adversarial, Interpretable, and Explainable AI
Organizers: Karamatou Yacoubou Djima, Wellesley College; Tegan Emerson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Colorado State University; University of Texas El Paso; Emily King*, Colorado State University; Dustin Mixon, The Ohio State University; Tom Needham, Florida State University

Week 3a, June 30 - July 6, 2024: Climate Science at the Interface Between Topological Data Analysis and Dynamical Systems Theory
Organizers: Davide Faranda, Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement; London Mathematical Laboratory; Théo Lacombe, Université Gustave Eiffel; Nina Otter, Queen Mary University of London; Kristian Strommen*, Department of Physics, University of Oxford

Week 3b, June 30 - July 6, 2024: Homotopical Combinatorics
Organizers: Andrew Blumberg, Columbia University; Michael Hill, UCLA; Kyle Ormsby*, Reed College; Angélica Osorno, Reed College; Constanze Roitzheim, University of Kent

*indicates lead organizer 

Small group outdoors

Networking at MRC 2023

JMM Special Sessions

Each 2024 MRC summer conference will create a Special Session on their topic at the 2025 Joint Mathematics Meetings in Seattle, WA. These and other activities at the national meeting provide opportunities for the participants to deepen connections with their topic, engage with their collaborative research peers and mentors, and cultivate their professional network. The MRC program provides support for participants to travel to JMM pending funding.

Follow-up Collaborations

Through the NSF grant and the AMS, a limited number of grants are typically available to support small-group collaboration travel during the year following the summer conference pending funding. The objective is to foster a continuation or completion of work begun at the conference site. 

Eligible Applicants

Presentation in conference room

Applicants should be ready to engage in collaborative research. All participants are expected to be active in the full array of MRC activities—the summer conference, special sessions at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, and follow-up collaborations.

We seek individuals who will both contribute to and benefit from the MRC experience, and our goal is to create a collaborative research community that is vibrant, productive, as well as diverse. The AMS recognizes the breadth of people, thought, and experience that contribute to mathematics. We value the contributions of all members of our mathematics community to improve mathematics research, education, and the standing of the mathematical sciences. We welcome everyone interested in mathematics as we work to build a community that is diverse, respectful, accessible, and inclusive. We welcome applicants from academic institutions of all types, as well as Business, Entrepreneurship, Government, Industry, and Nonprofit (BEGIN) arenas. In support of AMS’s continuing efforts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in the mathematical research enterprise, we strongly encourage and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

  • Applicants should be early career—either expecting to earn a PhD within two years or having completed a PhD within five years of the date of the summer conference. Exceptions to this limit on the career stage of an applicant may be made on a case-by-case basis.
  • The MRC program is open to individuals who are U.S. citizens and to those who are affiliated with U.S. institutions and companies/organizations. A few international participants may be accepted. Depending on space and other factors, a small number of self-funded participants may be admitted.
  • Individuals who have once previously been an MRC participant will be considered for admission, and their applications must include a rationale for repeating. Applications from individuals who have twice been MRC participants will not be considered.
  • Reference letters cannot be written by an organizer of the MRC. An alternative reference writer must be chosen. 

How to apply

Applications will be accepted here through Thursday, February 15, 2024 (11:59 p.m. EST).

Beaver HollowLocation

The 2024 summer conferences of the MRC will be held at Beaver Hollow Conference Center, Java Center, NY , where participants can enjoy a private, distraction-free environment, conducive to research. Beaver Hollow is located in Western New York, 45 minutes from the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, one hour from Rochester or Niagara Falls. This property offers over 200 acres of lakes and scenic woodlands with state-of-the-art meeting facilities, comfortable guest rooms, and nutritious and creative cuisine using organic, locally grown farm-to-table ingredients. Participants will have access to an abundant range of recreational opportunities, and at the conclusion of the day’s program, informal discussions of the day’s sessions may continue while relaxing by a lakeside campfire.

Well-Being Protocols

Due to the ending of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration on May 11, 2023 and newly released COVID-19 guidelines in 2024 by the CDC, the following protocols are in place for this conference:
  • Participants, including staff and volunteers, are no longer requested to be vaccinated or tested.
  • Wearing a mask is optional and will be based on individual comfort levels. Extra masks will be available at the registration desk, while quantities last.
  • If anyone has been exposed to COVID-19 within 72 hours of coming to the meeting, they should wear a mask throughout the conference.
  • If anyone tested positive for COVID-19 within 72 hours before coming to the meeting, they should come to the meeting only if they have been fever-free and have improved symptoms 24 hours before coming, and agree to wear a mask throughout the conference.
  • If anyone tests positive for COVID-19 during the meeting and have a fever, they should isolate in their room until they are fever-free and have improved symptoms. They should also agree to wear a mask throughout the conference.
The AMS is committed to the well-being of all participants at this conference and will continue to share any updates.

Special Needs

It is the goal of the AMS to ensure that its conferences are accessible to all, regardless of disability. The AMS will strive to make all as accessible as possible.

If special needs accommodations are necessary in order for you to participate in a MRC Summer Conference, please communicate your needs in advance to your Meeting Specialist or by sending email to mmsb@ams.org.

AMS Policy on a Welcoming Environment

The AMS strives to ensure that participants in the MRC Summer Conferences enjoy a welcoming environment. In all its activities, the AMS seeks to foster an atmosphere that encourages the free expression and exchange of ideas. The AMS supports equality of opportunity and treatment for all participants, regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion or religious belief, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, or veteran status.

Harassment is a form of misconduct that undermines the integrity of the AMS, and its activities and missions.

The AMS will make every effort to maintain an environment that is free of harassment, even though it does not control the behavior of third parties. A commitment to a welcoming environment is expected of all participants of AMS activities, including mathematicians, students, guests, staff, contractors and exhibitors, and participants in scientific sessions and social events. To this end, the AMS will include a statement concerning its expectations towards maintaining a welcoming environment in registration materials for the Sectional Meetings, and has put in place a mechanism for reporting violations. Violations may be reported confidentially and anonymously to 855-282-5703 or on the website. The reporting mechanism ensures the respect of privacy while alerting the AMS to the situation.

MathSafe

MathSafe is a program by and for the mathematical community to support safe and welcoming meetings. MathSafe volunteers will be available at the conference to listen to and guide participants who experience harassing behavior.

For assistance, come to the Registration Desk. To speak to an ombudsperson directly or for assistance when the desk is closed, call (401) 455-4040.

The AMS strives to ensure that participants in the meeting enjoy a welcoming environment. See the Welcoming Environment policy above. A mechanism for reporting violations confidentially and anonymously is included in this policy.

Code of Conduct

The Code of Conduct (Code) applies to all participants at all American Mathematical Society (AMS) conferences, meetings, events, and other organized activities regardless of location or the capacity in which a person is attending, be it as an organizer, delegate, speaker, sponsor, exhibitor, or in any other capacity. Participants are expected to uphold the principles set out in the Code at all times during the event. 

Contact Information

For further information, please email AMS-MRC@ams.org.