Graduate Program Activities

GEMS and the first summer research experience

​First year students are encouraged to participate in a summer research experience. This is a non-binding commitment with a faculty advisor to participate in a 6- or 10-week long research program.

The Unidel summer fellowship involves the student and their adviser in a 6-week research plan. The competitive GEMS (Groups Exploring the Mathematical Sciences) brings together a first year graduate student, an undergraduate student, and a faculty adviser in a 10-week research project.

The GEMS-Unidel summer programs include a weekly pizza seminar and culminate in the Summer Research Symposium, where the project results are presented.

Winter Research Symposium (WRS)

​The WRS typicallyÌýtakes place on Friday of the first week of the spring semester. It is an afternoon of presentations by senior graduate students, be it in the form of a short talk (for a general audience) or a poster.ÌýA graduate program alumnus is in charge of the keynote address and a long break with food and drinks doubles as the lively poster session.

The WRS includes the announcement of the winner of theÌýWenbo Li Scholarship​Ìýfor Gr​​aduate Research. At the end of the WRS, two posters are selected for theÌýWRS Poster Award, which includes a juicy travel allowance for the winners and the glory of having their winning poster exposed in Ewing Hall’s lobby for an entire year.