Mentoring Through Critical Transition Points

Mentoring Through Critical Transition Points (hereafter, MCTP) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded program that brings together undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty on common research projects. Previously, undergraduate research was funded through a NSF Vertical Integration of Research and Education (VIGRE) grant which ended in the spring of 2004. MCTP picks up where VIRGE left off, providing support for innovative research in the Department. Over five years, the MCTP grant will support approximately 15 to 20 undergraduates with stipends of up to $6,500 per year.

"Experiences in the department over the past decade strongly support the proposition that undergraduate research projects early in the careers of students can be life changing. Students learn that they can make unique and original contributions to the mathematical sciences, and many are motivated to continue their education by taking more challenging courses and continuing onto graduate school. As a consequence, University of Colorado Applied Mathematics alumni can be found in some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the country." --Anne Dougherty, Associate Department Chair of Applied Mathematics

Students are recruited as freshmen through honors seminars. As students progress into the sophomore and junior level, they are invited to join small research seminars led by faculty and advanced graduate students. After the seminars, the students often continue their own research projects alone or in small groups.

The grant is headed by Professor and Department Chair James Curry. Anne Dougherty, Keith Julien, James Meiss and Harvey Segur serve as co-investigators. Every one of these faculty members have extensive experience working with undergraduate students, both in the classroom and on individual research projects.

The MCTP Program...

  • Provides undergraduates with valuable research experience and prepares them for the pursuit of an advanced degree.
  • Gives graduate students experience in advisory positions.
  • Increases the number of undergraduate Applied Mathematics majors at The University of Colorado at Boulder.
  • Increases enrollment in upper division Applied Mathematics courses.
  • Increases the number of students who pursue advanced degrees in applied mathematics and the sciences nationwide.

Some published papers from MCTP projects incude:

1. Establishing the benefits of Research Experiences for Undergraduates in the Sciences:First Findings from a Three-Year Study: By Seymour,Larsen, Hunter and Deantoni

2. Becoming a Scientist:The Role of Undergraduate Research in Students' Cognitive,Personal and Professional Development: By Hunter, Laursen and Seymour.