SPUR (Summer Program in Undergraduate Research)

SPUR (Summer Program in Undergraduate Research) is a six-week mentored research program run by the MIT Mathematics Department for MIT undergraduates. Participants work full time on original individual or joint mathematical research projects, are matched with a graduate-student mentor, attend weekly seminars, and produce a short research paper and a final talk. SPUR+ is a related variant that adds a three-week guided reading/preparation period before the six-week research component for a smaller group of students. The faculty panel awards the Rogers Prize to outstanding student-mentor teams.

Six weeks of mentored mathematical research, matching with a graduate-student mentor, weekly seminars with faculty, a short research paper and a 20-minute final presentation; eligibility for the Rogers Prize for outstanding student-mentor teams.

Open to all MIT undergraduates (the majority are in the summer after their first or second year). Past participants are not eligible to apply in subsequent years. Applicants are expected to be fluent in mathematical reasoning and to have a strong interest in developing research and communication skills.

Apply via the SPUR application (applications open in spring; applicants may indicate interest in SPUR+ on the application).