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Undergraduate
Students
Undergraduates
in 2nd, 3rd or 4th year can apply to work with me on projects
that involve mathematical modelling of biological systems. Typically,
I take on only about one in every ten students who approach me.
If you are potentially interested in an undergraduate research
position then you should begin by doing the following:
- Read
this page carefully and follow the links to the various
funding sources in order to determine which awards you
are eligible for.
- Arrange
for an official transcript to be sent to me.
- Send
me an email message at earn@math.mcmaster.ca
telling me what you are interested in, which awards you
are eligible for, when you would like to start and finish
working, what your future plans are, and any other information
that you think might be relevant. Attach your resume to
this e-mail message.
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After
I've received your transcript and e-mail message with resume,
I will let you know by e-mail when I can meet with you to discuss
the possibility of a research position.
The
sorts of projects that I am normally interested in supervising
are connected with epidemiology of infectious diseases, conservation
of endangered species, or the evolution of animal behaviour. However,
if you are interested in another area of biology, and have an
idea that you would like to investigate using mathematical models,
then I would be very happy to discuss it. You might think that
to work with me you need a formal background in biology, but that's
not true. You just need to be interested in biology. You do need
to have taken some mathematics courses and, most importantly,
you need to be keen to use mathematical models to contribute to
our understanding of biology. Some knowledge of computer programming
is usually very helpful.
Undergraduate
Student Research Awards (USRAs) are available through NSERC
(the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada).
These awards typically support students for four months of research
during the summer, though they can be held at other times of the
year. The deadline for the first step of the application process
is February 7th, regardless of the desired starting date. The
regulations governing the USRA program are described in the Program
Guide for Students and Fellows on NSERC's Web site. Click
here for application
forms and instructions. Please also see the timetable
of events for awards to be held at McMaster. If you would
like to apply for an NSERC award then don't leave it to the last
minute. Look carefully at the sites mentioned above and get in
touch with me as far before the deadline as possible.
Depending on your qualifications, there are other ways to fund
a period of research in my group. For example, if you have substantial
computer programming experience and are interested in a strongly
computer-oriented project then it may be possible to obtain funding
through SHARC-Net,
which is a network of supercomputers in Southern Ontario (with
a major node at McMaster).
If you are majoring in Biology or Psychology, but have a keen
interest in mathematical modelling, then it may be possible for
me to supervise your undergraduate honours thesis.
Finally,
McMaster sponsors several Work
Programs providing part-time and full-time on-campus employment
opportunities for currently registered students.
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