International Research in Real Analysis and Dynamical Systems

Summer Research Activities
Each student will be assigned a mentor from the real analysis research group. It is important to understand that these are not simply groups of talented researchers working individually. Rather, they are highly integrated collaborators with a track record of joint work. Collectively, they run cohesive real analysis research programs that include seminars, colloquia, and frequent informal discussions of research issues. Thus, the NSF international scholar's mentor will be a member of a coordinated research group, and will be responsible for leading an effort to determine appropriate readings and research problems. The mentor will also serve as the scholar's host and guide within the distinctive pedagogical culture of the Central European university. Establishment of this relationship will be facilitated by the Central European mathematicians' preexisting command of the English language. English is the working language of real analysis.

During the first weeks, NSF international scholars will be made conversant with the problems the mentor is currently working on and assigned reading (research papers and sections of texts) to augment the preparation they undertook at St. Olaf. Mentors and scholars will meet at regularly scheduled times about twice a week to discuss and prepare assignments. During the middle five week period, the scholars will be strongly encouraged to work on one or two intriguing unsolved problems discovered during the initial weeks, continuing to meet with their mentors on a regularly scheduled basis. In addition, they will be asked to lecture about their findings to the entire research group as a regular participant of the research seminar. The final two or three weeks will be spent preparing a paper for publication, done under the close supervision of the mentor. As the scholars will have a good working knowledge of LaTeX prior to participation, discussion will likely focus on the deeper issues of mathematical presentation and understanding rather than on the technical details of typesetting. NSF international scholars will also receive financial support to attend regional conferences while abroad, purchase books or other materials needed for their research, and other related professional expenses.

The scholarships will end in mid-August when the students will return to the United States and prepare for the fall term at St. Olaf. Reentry activities at the home institution will begin during the first week back on campus. Cultural reentry will be organized by the IOS Office at St. Olaf, which has a well-recognized program in place for returning study abroad students that will serve the NSF international scholars well. Following concentrated debriefing soon after students return to campus, opportunities to readjust to life at St. Olaf are offered throughout the year.

Questions? Click here: reuapp@stolaf.edu