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Mission

The Rainbow Research in Combinatorics Community seeks to cultivate a welcoming and collaborative research community centered on rainbow numbers and related topics in graph theory and combinatorics. Our mission is to broaden participation in mathematical research by creating meaningful opportunities for researchers, including faculty at teaching-focused institutions, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students to engage in active, collaborative scholarship. Through a structured model that combines pre-workshop engagement, intensive in-person collaboration, and sustained post-workshop community, participants develop research skills, build professional networks, and contribute to peer-reviewed mathematical research.

By lowering barriers to participation and fostering an environment of inclusion and shared discovery, the workshop aims to support both individual scholarly development and the long-term growth of the rainbow numbers research community.

We believe that significant mathematical advances emerge from diverse perspectives, collaborative problem solving, and enduring professional relationships. The workshop therefore serves not only as a venue for producing new research results and peer-reviewed publications, but also as a catalyst for building a vibrant, supportive, and interconnected community of researchers.

Workshop Overview

The workshop will explore rainbow substructures and related anti-Ramsey problems in a variety of combinatorial settings, including the integers, finite groups, and graph colorings. Unlike traditional research workshops that begin when participants arrive on site, the Workshop on Anti-Ramsey Problems begins months in advance through a structured virtual engagement phase. Participants are introduced to the leadership team and one another, develop familiarity with the research area, refine open problems, and begin forming collaborative relationships before the in-person workshop. This approach promotes accessibility, strengthens community, and enables participants to make more substantial research progress during and after the workshop.

• Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

• In-person Workshop Dates: June 7-11, 2027 (Travel days June 6 and June 12)

• Topics: Rainbow problems on graphs, integers, and groups

• Pre-Workshop Virtual Meetings: Before the in-person portion of the workshop, we will host a series of virtual meetings to introduce the problems and their backgrounds. Participants should plan to attend as many of these meetings as possible and funding will be prioritized to those that commit to attending most of the sessions. These meetings are an essential aspect of the workshop experience and organizers expect high attendance from all participants.

• Funding: An NSF conference grant will allow us to cover or partially cover travel and local expenses of some participants. Priority is given to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and those with no other travel funds available.  We are unable to provide estimated amounts at this time, but will contact participants after the registration deadline

• Contact Information: rainbowresearch@cmu.edu

• Organizers: 

  • Katie Ansaldi (Wabash College) 

  • Erin Bela (Rochester Institute of Technology) 

  • Zhanar Berikkyzy (Fairfield University)

  • Anna Halfpap (Truman State University)

  • Emily Heath (Cal Poly Pomona)

  • Grace McCourt (University of Rhode Island)

  • Shanise Walker (Clark Atlanta University) 

  • Nathan Warnberg (University of Wisconsin-La Crosse)

  • Michael Young (Carnegie Mellon University)

Interested in Participating? 

Important Dates

• • November 15: Priority Application Deadline

  • December 15: Final Application Deadline

  • Mid January: Acceptances Sent

Math Programs application: Coming soon!