UCLA RIPS - Summer Research opportunity for undergraduate students

The Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM) at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) runs a unique summer program for undergraduate students. The Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS) provides an opportunity for exceptional students in math and related disciplines to work in teams on real world research projects proposed by a sponsor from industry or a national lab. Sponsors have included Pixar, Microsoft, Symantec, Los Alamos, the Aerospace Corporation, Amgen, Arete, IBM, Standard & Poor's, Jet Propulsion Lab, and many others. The RIPS web site at http://www.ipam.ucla.edu/rips/ gives the full details including a link to the online application. We encourage all bright, young students to apply, especially women and minorities.

This is an educational and very exciting two month program near the heart of Los Angeles at one of the premiere educational institutions in the United States. If accepted the program covers the student’s travel, housing and most meals, and offers a generous stipend. Students immerse themselves in research and learn how to deal with real world problems.

In addition to RIPS in Los Angeles, IPAM will offer RIPS-Hong Kong in 2011 in partnership with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.  This is an exciting opportunity for U.S. undergrads to work with students from Hong Kong / China on projects sponsored by companies based in the region.  English is the only language required for participation.  The format is the same as RIPS-LA; two American and two Chinese students will form a team.

Counseling Center Programs

The Counseling Center would like to announce 4 programs:

Test Anxiety, Monday 11/29
Cram Like Crazy,  Tuesday 11/30
Holiday Family Stress, Wednesday 12/1
Self Care During Exams, Thursday 12/2

Undergraduate Math/Statistics Workshop at SAMSI (RTP)

Two-Day Undergraduate Workshop - February 25-26, 2011

As part of its Education and Outreach Program for 2010-2011, the Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute (SAMSI) will offer a two-day undergraduate workshop on topics of current interest in statistics and applied mathematics. In addition to an overview of current and planned SAMSI Research Programs, the program topic

•    Analysis of Object Data

will be covered in some depth. This workshop will be held on February 25-26, 2011 at SAMSI. The program will begin at 9:30 AM on Friday, February 25, and will be completed by 12 noon on Saturday, February 26. Participants are urged to arrive on Thursday evening and will be able to begin their return home by 12 noon on Saturday. Applications received by Friday, January 14, 2011, will receive full consideration.

SAMSI will reimburse appropriate travel expenses as well as provide food and lodging.

Apply Here!

Following submission, a confirmation of your application will be displayed. (Print a copy for your records)

Send questions to ugworkshop2010-11@samsi.in

Spring 2011 Course: The Mathematics of Ranking and Clustering

MA 493
The Mathematics of Ranking and Clustering 
Spring 2011
Instructors: Carl Meyer and Chuck Wessell 


The results of ranking algorithms can have far-reaching consequences, from the bowl game a college football qualifies for to the placement of a web page on a search engine's result page. Data clustering, that is finding patterns in large, multi-dimensional data sets, can be the key to identifying genes associated with a disease, diagnosing cancer patients, finding patterns in different voting districts, or determining when your credit card is being used fraudulently. This course will cover the mathematics behind these two fast-growing areas. In examining ranking, we will survey many of the methods that have been developed in the last century and examine how each can be tailored to specific applications. In the clustering portion of the class, we will again survey the history of the discipline, before concentrating on more recent developments in the field including nonnegative matrix factorization and consensus techniques. 

Prerequisites: Linear Algebra (MA 305, MA 405 or equivalent), programming experience (MATLAB will be used in class lectures) 

Grading: Homework and Programming Projects