Education, Research and Mentorship
Quantitative Research in the Life and Social Sciences Program (QRLSSP) supports the development of students through educational, research and mentorship activities from the undergraduate to the postdoctoral level. Its programs include intensive multiple-summer research training institutes, long-term support for its alumni, continuous research opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students and opportunities for national and international visitors.
News
QRLSSP Attends JMM 2025
A team of three from QRLSSP’s 2024 cohort presented their research at the American Mathematical Society’s annual Joint Mathematics Meeting held from Jan. 8-11, 2025 in Seattle Washington. JMM is the world’s largest mathematics meeting, having hosted 6,000 attendees from over 50 countries. AMS (American Mathematical Society) is a non-profit organization that promotes mathematical research, education and scholarship and aims to connect the global community of mathematicians in order to advance the profession. For more information please visit ams.org.
QRLSSP Attends SACNAS 2023
Five QRLSSP participants recently attended the annual SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference, held October 26-28 in Portland, OR. Three of the five presented posters produced during their eight week summer REU. NDiSTEM is the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity event held in the US. SACNAS (the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) is an inclusive organization which strives to enhance the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals by attaining advanced degrees, careers, and leadership positions in STEM. The organization is national and supports dozens of local student chapters. For more information, please visit sacnas.org.
The Quantitative Research in the Life and Social Sciences Program (QRLSSP)—formerly MTBI--is a summer research experience for undergraduates (REU), dedicated to preparing undergraduate students, specifically underrepresented minorities, for the challenges of graduate school-level research in biology and applied mathematics. Selected students are invited to Arizona State University for roughly eight weeks, where their time is split between classroom instruction on research methods and hands-on research projects. At QRLSSP, students select their own research topics, not faculty. By the end of the summer, students have completed a high-quality technical report and research poster, which are presented at national conferences to an audience of their peers and colleagues.
"This is certainly the best research I’ve ever done, and probably the best work I’ve ever put forward."
"I enjoyed meeting people of very diverse backgrounds, and I learned a lot about modeling, leadership and teamwork."
"The summer meant a lot to me, making me gain a better perspective of my future academic goals. It helped me to realize how lax my school work is compared to itself."
"MTBI is much more than a summer program. It is one of the most productive uses of time I have experienced. I feel much more prepared for grad school and my future career."
"This has given me a taste of what it will take to survive in a high intensity academic environment. Huge impact on self-motivation and determination."
"If I have an opportunity to participate in the program again, I am very lucky; I can learn even more new ideas."