MSRI's Summer Research in Mathematics (SRiM) program provides space, funding, and the opportunity for in-person collaboration to small groups of mathematicians, especially women and gender-expansive individuals, whose ongoing research may have been disproportionately affected by various obstacles including family obligations, professional isolation, or access to funding. Through this effort, MSRI aims to mitigate the obstacles faced by these groups, improve the odds of research project completion, and deepen their research experience.

The ultimate goal of this program is to enhance the mathematical sciences as a whole by positively affecting the research and careers of all of its participants and assisting their efforts to maintain involvement in the research community.

Applications for the 2024 SRiM program will open July 1, 2023 at MathPrograms.org. Applications will close October 8, 2023. A link will be posted to this page when available.

2023 Program Eligibility

• Groups of two to six mathematicians with partial results on an established project may submit an application to the program.
• Each member of the group must have a Ph.D.or advanced graduate standing in the mathematical sciences.
• At least one team member must be US based.
• Each group may apply to be in residence at MSRI for a minimum of two weeks.
• All members of the group must be in residence for the full duration of the visit.
• Applicants may only apply as a member of one research group.
• The visits to MSRI/SLMath must take place between June 5, 2023 to July 14, 2023.
• Research groups with faculty from Canadian universities may be invited to BIRS (either Banff or UBCO-Okanagan). UBCO visits must take place between June 5, 2023 and July 14, 2023. Visits to Banff are subject to availability of accommodation and meeting facilities.
• Research groups with faculty from Mexican universities may be invited to UNAM, Cuernavaca. Visits for these groups must take place between May 8 and June 30, 2022.

Application Process

Applications are hosted on MathPrograms and require a Project Description, a statement on alignment with program goals, as well as additional information.The Project Description should not exceed four pages, should be aimed at a broad mathematical audience, and must contain the following:

• A brief history of the collaboration
• The broader mathematical context and motivation for the research area
• The context, description, goals, and impact of the specific research problems to be addressed
• The partial results already obtained
• A plan of attack for the project, including which parts are suitable for before, during and after the residence at MSRI/SLMath

The statement on alignment with program goals should not exceed two pages. This statement should describe why the proposed group and collaboration fits with the aims of the program which are “provid[ing] space, funding, and the opportunity for in-person collaboration to small groups of mathematicians, especially women and gender-expansive individuals, whose ongoing research may have been disproportionately affected by various obstacles including family obligations, professional isolation, or access to funding. Through this effort, MSRI/SLMath aims to mitigate the obstacles faced by these groups, improve the odds of research project completion, and deepen their research experience.

The ultimate goal of this program is to enhance the mathematical sciences as a whole by positively affecting the research and careers of all of its participants and assisting their efforts to maintain involvement in the research community.” In particular, this statement should outline any obstacles faced by the proposed group members, as well as describe how participation in SRiM will positively affect the careers of each participant. In additional to the Project Description, the following information is required:

• A list of all members on the research team, including home institution (and indication of whether it is in the the U.S.), email address, citizenship, year of PhD, current position, as well as gender identification
• A biographical sketch (following NSF format) of no more than two pages for each of the team members
• The length of visit and preferred dates
• A list of Mathematics Subject Classification Codes (primary and secondary)
• A list of key words

Application Deadline

Applications open in summer of each year via MathPrograms.org.

Selection Process

In choosing the groups, preference may be given to teams made up of a majority of US citizens and Permanent Residents, teams whose members come from a variety of institutions, teams made up of members at various stages of their careers, and proposals related to core mathematics. The impact on women’s careers will be an important factor in making the final decisions.

Funding

The following support is provided:

• Lodging in spacious and comfortable dorm apartments on the campus of UC Berkeley
• All meals
• Reimbursement of travel expenses to Berkeley
• $1000 per person for post-programmatic travel
• MSRI / SLMath is pleased to be able to offer Childcare Grants to researchers with children under the age of 17 to allow full participation in our programs. These grants can be used for travel, lodging and meals for children and a caregiver. They can also be used for daycare, nanny, babysitters, and summer camps, either in Berkeley or at the member's home location.
  • Please note that, because these funds are taxable, they are available only to US Citizens and Permanent Residents, and foreign visitors with a visa status that allows for compensation, such as a J1.
  • If you are interested in receiving a childcare grant, please fill out this form. If you have any questions, please email coord@msri.org.
  • MSRI prides itself on welcoming mathematicians from all backgrounds and on actively promoting the participation of members from groups historically underrepresented in the mathematical sciences. We encourage members of these groups to apply for family support grants. Historically underrepresented groups include women, Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos/Hispanics, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBT+ community.
• Mathematicians who are spouses or partners of invited group members will be offered shared office space

For more information, please contact Christine Marshall, MSRI's Program Manager at coord@msri.org.

Support for the 2023 Summer Research in Mathematics program is provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Security Agency (NSA), Johnson Cha, and Priscilla Chou. MSRI has been supported from its origins by the National Science Foundation, now joined by over 100 Academic Sponsor departments, by a range of private foundations, and by generous and farsighted individuals.