Applicants apply directly to specific projects, each of which has a designated mentor as listed on the projects page. You have the option of selecting and ranking up to three projects on the application.

Absolutely not! The DRP is intended to be an introduction to higher level mathematics. However, applicants should have some background coursework in the general subject area they wish to work in. Typically, this means taking an introductory course in that project area – for instance, APMA 1650 or 1655 for probability and machine learning projects. You can view a list of current projects here to see what the suggested prerequisites are in the different project areas.

No! The DRP is open to all undergraduates at Brown, and we encourage applications from all students.

Yes! The sample projects are generally written at an introductory level, but the DRP is meant to be a highly personalized experience that is tailored to each mentee's skill level. Our mentors will work with you to ensure that you're working on a project that will challenge you.

We do not be offer course credit for participating in the DRP. 

The time commitment for each project varies, but we have found that successful projects usually involve 5 hours of work in addition to the weekly meetings with mentors. If you are concerned about the time commitment for the DRP, please reach out to the organizers Simone Tetu, Phuc Lam, Yian Qian, or Victoria Antonetti. 

There are no grades or formal assessments in the DRP. At its core, the DRP is an independent reading project that is driven first and foremost by the students. In other words, participants will only get out of the DRP what they put into it. While we do expect a certain level of time commitment from participants, it is up to the students to set semester goals with their mentor.

At the end of the semester, each participant will present their work to the other participants and mentors at a special colloquium. This presentation should cover the main points of the project and is an excellent way for students to practice presenting complex mathematical material.

There are two main components to the DRP application: (i) prior coursework and (ii) the statement of interest. We are looking for applicants who have completed enough coursework to succeed in the project areas they have listed on the application. Additionally,  we are aiming to find students who can devote the necessary time to the DRP. 

The statement of interest is arguably the most important component of the application. We are genuinely interested in your professional and academic motivations as well as what you would like to learn from the DRP. Our experience has been that the most successful participants in the Directed Reading Program have been highly motivated and willing to put in the time to do their own reading and research.

Absolutely! Due to the highly personalized nature of the DRP, we receive many times more qualified applicants than we can accommodate. We recognize that there is large interest in the DRP and therefore offer the program every fall and spring semester. We give preference to applicants who have never participated in the DRP before.

Ph.D. students and post-docs in applied math, computer science, or data science who are interested in becoming mentors should email one of the organizers: Simone Tetu, Phuc Lam, Yian Qian, or Victoria Antonetti.

Yes! While the default option is in-person, we are happy to accommodate students who can only participate virtually for accessibility reasons. Applicants should indicate their preference for a virtual DRP on the application.

That's great! Please feel free to email the organizers with any suggestions: Simone Tetu, Phuc Lam, Yian Qian, or Victoria Antonetti. We appreciate your questions and feedback!