Johns Hopkins Directed Reading Program (DRP)
Joint between Math and Applied Math and Statistics (AMS)
About
What is DRP?
The Directed Reading Program (DRP) is a program that pairs undergraduate students with graduate students for one-on-one independent studies over the course of a semester. The program was started at the University of Chicago but it is now running in several mathematics departments in the country.
The program is largely free form and without theme inasmuch as content is concerned. At the start of the program, mentors will propose reading topics, typically on subjects outside regular course offerings. Mentees will then apply for topics that interest them most. Highly motivated mentees may also propose their own topics and be paired to a suitable mentor. Accepted mentees will be matched to a mentor, who may or may not be from the same department (math/AMS). During the program, mentors and mentees may take the project in new directions, whichever way that they like.
What is expected of mentees and mentors?
Mentors and mentees are expected to meet for an hour every week. Mentees should prepare to talk about what the learned, discuss questions they had, and plan on what they will work on in the following week.
Mentees are expected to work independently for at least 3 hours every week and prepare for the meetings with their mentors.
Towards the end of the program, mentors will work with their mentees to prepare their talks for the final presentation session, e.g., helping them choose a specific topic/theorem, go over the structure of the talk, and practice the talk.
Final Presentations
At the end of the semester, there will be a presentation session. All members of the departments and friends of speakers are welcome to join. There will be pizza!
Why participate?
Mentees
one-on-one mentoring,
exposure to research,
learning advanced topics not usually covered in class,
practice presentation skills,
expand your network!
Mentors
opportunity to practise mentoring,
guide budding mathematicians,
learn new math or relearn old math more deeply,
books!
Contact
For more information, feel free to contact the organizers at MathDRP@jhu.edu.