Mathematics and Statistics

Program | Faculty | Master's | Doctoral | Courses

Web site: www.math.umass.edu/home.html

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers programs leading to the Master of Science in Mathematics (with a separate Option in Statistics), the Master of Science in Applied Mathematics, and the Ph.D. in Mathematics (also with a separate Statistics option).

Admission and Financial Aid

Applications for admission are screened by a departmental committee, which bases its recommendations for admissions and financial aid on the applicant's undergraduate record, letters of recommendation, and other data. Admission is very selective, and there is no minimal set of courses or grades that will guarantee admission. Applicants are encouraged to submit additional data on their mathematical training, such as texts used and topics covered in courses, details of any honors projects or individual reading, etc. GRE scores are required only for the M.S. program in Applied Mathematics, but should be submitted whenever possible.

Most Ph.D. students are supported by Teaching Assistantships providing a waiver of tuition and a stipend. The duties usually involve teaching one section of an elementary course each semester or equivalent work assisting the instructor of a large lecture course. A limited number of Research Assistantships are also available. Teaching Assistantships are also available for M.S. students, although usually with a smaller stipend.

Faculty Research Interests

The research interests of the faculty may be summarized briefly under a number of headings:

Algebra, Lie Theory, and Number Theory

Automorphic forms and representation theory, finite groups, Lie algebras and linear algebraic groups, number theory, quantum groups and mathematical physics.

Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling, and Numerical Methods

Web site: /www.math.umass.edu/Progs_Events/Grad_Program/new_applmath.html

Numerical analysis, functional analysis, nonlinear partial differential equations, theoretical and computational fluid dynamics, and other applications of mathematics to biology, computer science, economics, engineering, physics, etc.

Geometry and Topology

Algebraic geometry and Abelian varieties, complex manifolds and Hodge theory, differential geometry (especially minimal surfaces), geometric analysis and variational problems, topological transformation groups.

Probability and Statistics

Pure and applied aspects of stochastic processes, image analysis, queueing theory, nonparametric methods, linear models, measurement error models, reliability, and survival analysis.

Centers and Special Facilities

Center for Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Computation

The center involves faculty members and grad-uate students in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics who are interested in research and instruction in applied mathematics and scientific computation. The Center supports a research seminar series, "Applied Analysis and Computation," and an applications-oriented seminar series, "Industrial Mathematics." The M.S. Program in Applied Mathematics, a two-year professional degree program for students who seek industrial employment, is also coordinated by the Center.

Center for Geometry, Analysis, Numerics, and Graphics (GANG)

This center is a computational laboratory using interactive scientific graphics and numerical computation as tools in studying geometric interface problems and other nonlinear variational problems that arise in the physical sciences. GANG creates a research environment in support of pure and applied mathematics and a wide range of interdisciplinary research (with the departments of Computer Science, Polymer Science and Engineering, and Chemistry). The weekly GANG seminar attracts outstanding mathematicians from around the world, and also provides a forum for the students affiliated with GANG to present their work and learn about the work of others.

Research Computing Facility (RCF)

This state-of-the-art computing facility supports faculty and students in their research and other academic work. It is mainly Unix-based and consists of many high-end graphic stations and servers. All of the systems are networked, and support connections to the campus network and the Internet. A full-time staff and several graduate students provide support and consulting services to the community.

Statistical Consulting Center (SCC)

This center involves several faculty members, and offers a full range of statistical services for clients both inside and outside the University. Among other things, the center provides an opportunity for graduate students to complement traditional studies with exposure to real world problems involving the statistical analysis of data.