Program Overview

Summer Research Program

Overview

The Cal Poly Mathematics Department Undergraduate Student Research program allows students and faculty members to work together on interesting mathematics research problems.

Eligibility

Only continuing Cal Poly students (including 4+1 students) from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo are eligible for this research program. Students from other Cal Poly colleges are not eligible. Students from other universities are not eligible for Cal Poly's program, but may be eligible for a National Science Foundation REU.

Program Details

• Students should expect to work at least 30 hours per week for 8 weeks.
• The work weeks will depend on faculty and student schedules.
• The projects may also require work during the following academic year in order to prepare for conferences or publication.
• Students are expected to present a poster at the College of Science and Mathematics Research Conference in May 2027.
• In Summer 2025, participating students received $4500 upon successful completion of the program.
• Payment details for 2026 are forthcoming.

Selection Criteria

To be selected for a summer research project, students should have:

• Excellent grades (A's and B's in mathematics courses, including upper division work)
• Interest in learning difficult mathematics that goes beyond the scope of undergraduate coursework

Available Projects

The available projects for Summer 2026 can be found through the program. All projects are expected to run in-person, but arrangements may be made on an individual basis for virtual work. Other projects may be available.

Application Process

To apply for the 2026 research program, students must complete the application before February 27, 2026. When filling out the application, students can contact the advisors directly if they have questions about the projects.

Research Expectations

The projects are chosen by faculty members because they are current open research questions that are also accessible to undergraduate and beginning graduate students. Students are expected to work closely with faculty members to explore these research questions.