Neal Stoltzfus, Robert Perlis and I received notification on April 8,  
1996 that LEQSF (the Louisiana Educational Quality Support Fund) will  
award us a grant to support a mathematics REU in the summers of 1996  
and 1997.  The dates this year are June 3--July 26, 1996.  The areas  
of specialization are algebraic geometry, number theory and knot  
theory.  The present LEQSF grant will allow for 9 student  
participants.

We are now in the position of having to recruit participants for the  
summer 1996 program.  The very short lead time is an unfortunate but  
unavoidable consequence of the funding cycle.  I am confident that  
with your help, we will be able to locate students who will make the  
program successful.  

I am requesting that you notify students ... about this opportunity.  
We will consider applicant files that are forwarded to us from other  
programs, if you are willing to mail them and have obtained the  
permission of the applicant.  Our regular application forms and  
guidelines are appended to this email. 

A word about the structure of the LSU REU.  We have had an REU here  
since the summer of 1993, with funding from LEQSF and NSF.  Our  
program conforms to the standards set forth by NSF for the programs  
it funds.  The total budgeted to each student is approximately $3400,  
broken down as $2500 in cash stipend, about $450 for housing and  
about $450 for meals.  The three directors, Madden (algebraic  
geometry), Perlis (number theory) and Stoltzfus (knot theory) devote  
full time to the program while it is running.  You can be sure that  
the REU here is of high quality, the directors are experienced, that  
participants will receive plenty of individual attention.

Thank you for your assistance.

Very truly, 

James J. Madden

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% 

LSU REU
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
June 3 -- July 26, 1996

Eligibility:  US citizens and permanent residents who will be  
enrolled in a bachelor's degree program in both Spring and Fall of  
1995.  Preference will be given to students who will have completed  
two to three years of undergraduate mathematics, including a course
in linear algebra and some experience writing proofs.  Participants  
are expected to devote full time to the program, precluding other  
course work and outside employment.

A complete application consists of:  

i) completed application form (see below), 

ii) recommendations from two mathematicians, and 

iii) a copy of your college transcript.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Instructions for application
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

A. Copy the application form below into your text editor, and enter  
responses after questions.  Copy completed form back into the text  
field of an email message.  Write 


<your name>, REU application

in the subject field, and send to:

madden@math.lsu.edu

I will consider the act of emailing your responses to constitute  
certification that the information supplied is accurate to the best
 of your knowledge.  (If you prefer to use paper, you may.  Send to  
the address below.)

B.  Deliver a copy of the recommendation form below to each of your  
two references.  It is up to you to see that they are supplied with  
the information they need to complete the form.  If you wish to waive  
your right to view the recommendation, you must inform me 
in writing.

C.  Your college transcript will need to be mailed or faxed.  


The address is:
        James J. Madden, Director REU
        Louisiana State University
        Department of Mathematics
        Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4918

FAX 504-388-4276 (Write "James Madden, REU" on cover sheet.)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

-----------------applicant cut here----------------
Application Form
Mathematics Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, June 3--July 26, 1996 


1. Name:

Social Security Number:

2. College or university presently enrolled in and expected  
graduation date:

3. Are you a citizen or permanent resident of the  United States?   
(To be eligible, your answer must be "yes".  You may be asked to 
show proof of status.)

4. Mailing address valid from April 1 through May 15, 1995:

5. Telephone number at which you can be reached in April and May:

   Email:

6. Permanent mailing address and telephone:

7. Two faculty references.  Give name, title, affiliation, address,  
telephone and email.
a.

b.

8. Indicate which of the following courses you have taken, and  
identify the textbook used by naming the author and briefly describe 

material covered:

Linear Algebra (Vectors, matrices, etc.)

Real analysis

Complex analysis

Linear Algebra, Advanced  (abstract vector spaces, linear  
transformations, etc.)

Abstract algebra

Number theory

Topology

List any other advanced mathematics courses, identify texts and  
describe material covered:

9. Awards, honors or other information you feel may be useful to us  
in considering your application:

10. Briefly describe your mathematical interests and your reasons for  
wanting to participate in this program.

----------------applicant cut here----------------

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Applicant: Deliver the text between the signs #$> and <$# to your two  
references:

#$>

To the recommender: This form has been prepared to facilitate  
electronic applications to the Mathematics Research Experiences for  
Undergraduates at LSU.  It has been transmitted to you by an  
applicant to this program, who will be prepared to give you whatever  
additional information you may need or want to complete this form.

Please supply the information below and email to:

madden@math.lsu.edu

Put

<applicant's name> REU recommendation

in the subject field of your recommendation.

If you prefer paper mail, send to:
        James J. Madden, Director REU
        Louisiana State University
        Department of Mathematics
        Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4918
        Phone: 504-388-1580.

-----------recommender cut here----------------

Recommendation Form
Mathematics Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge,
June 3--July 26, 1996

1. Applicant's name:

2. Recommender's name, title, institution, and telephone:

3. Will the applicant waive her/his right to view your  
recommendation?  (Regardless of your answer, I will act on the  
assumption that the right has NOT been waived until I receive a  
signed statement from the applicant.)

4. Participants in this eight week program will work under the  
supervision of a senior faculty member designing and carrying out an 

individual research project in an area of modern mathematics. Give  
your frank assessment of the suitability of the applicant, commen
ting on the applicant's general mathematical ability and maturity,  
ability to plan a reasonable project and carry it to completion a
nd ability to communicate and to work with others.

-----------recommender cut here----------------

<$#

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
More information about the program
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

The LSU Mathematics REU started in 1993, with funding from the  
Louisiana Educational Quality Support Fund.  In 1994, additional fund
ing from the National Science Foundation was obtained.  The program  
is directed and administered by Dr. James Madden and Dr. Neal  
Stoltzfus, both permanent members of the LSU Mathematics faculty.   
Dr. Madden is an active researcher in the field of real algebraic  
geometry, and Dr. Stoltzfus in knot theory.  Dr. Robert Perlis, also  
at LSU (number theory), joined the program for the summer of 1994.   
The program was designed to involve participants in meaningful and  
significant ways in the current research of the directors, while  
providing maximum opportunity for independent development.

Here are some details about the structure of the program as it ran in  
1994 and 1995.  During the first two weeks of the program, students  
attended short lecture series by Madden on algebraic geometry,  
Stoltzfus on knot theory and Perlis on number theory.  These talks  
introduced students swiftly and efficiently to problems of immediate  
current importance in the directors' work.  By the end of the second  
week, each participant had chosen a focus and prepared a research  
proposal.  In the third week, participants presented the
ir proposals as 10 minute seminar talks.  Participants lectured again  
in the middle of the fifth week, and presented summaries of their  
summer work at the end of the seventh.  The last week was devoted to  
the preparation of a final written report of results.

Students and advisers spoke with one another on a regular basis  
throughout the summer.  Daily afternoon tea-and-cake was a popular a
ctivity which all the students, program directors and interested (or  
hungry) members of the LSU mathematics department attended regu
larly.  This provided a relaxed informal setting for discussion of  
ongoing mathematical work.  Additional meetings were scheduled 
according to students' needs and advisers' judgment.  Some students  
met for extended periods several times a week for the duration of the  
program, while others met only occasionally.  The attention that each  
received was geared to his or her own personal work style.

The directors and participants organized outings, sports and other  
special activities on weekends.  This included a Saturday in New 

Orleans, a couple of picnics, drives through the Louisiana bayou  
country, and visits to popular local restaurants and dance halls.

The directors encourage continuing contact with past participants.   
Two of the 1994 participants presented their work at the Special
 Session on Undergraduate Research at the national meeting of the  
American Mathematical Society in San Francisco in January 1995.