In the past few decades, National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded researchers have won more than 170 Nobel Prizes as well as other prestigious awards.

Junior math (and management) major Amy Stroka could be among the list of future award winners someday.

Not that the Middleport native is looking to win any awards.

“I’m interested in using math to help people, and industrial math does that,” said Stroka, who was selected to participate in the NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Modeling and Industrial Mathematics at North Carolina State University (NCSU) this summer.

“This is an extremely competitive program,” according to Ginny Coombs, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Stroka applied to the 10-week program—and a few others—online; they were listed on the Math Association of America’s Web site. Professor of Mathematics Catherine Abbott and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Ron Sperber wrote her letters of recommendation. In addition to the application and two letters of recommendation, Stroka had to submit an interest essay—indicating why she wanted to join the program and how the program would help her—as well as her transcript.

“Amy is a very talented and hard working student who plans on doing graduate work in mathematics,” said Abbott. “Participating in a summer REU will add breadth to her background and will give her the opportunity to have an experience that simulates graduate school.”

According to Abbott, 2003 graduates Danielle Brooker Bethoney and Danielle Heckman were the last Keuka students to participate in an REU. Both went on to complete master’s degrees in mathematics at the University of North Texas.

While she was accepted to conducted algebra research at another REU program in Ohio, the one at NCSU was Stroka’s first choice.

“I’m looking at [NCSU’s] operations research graduate program, which involves solving applied math problems,” said Stroka. “Not only will I have the opportunity to experience what math research is like, but I’ll also get to meet [NCSU] faculty and learn more about the [graduate] program.” 

Stroka is one of approximately 30 students (according to her estimate) from all over the country and one of only four from New York state who will participate in the program, which runs May 27-Aug. 1.

During the first week, participants will be given tutorials on modeling, mathematical and statistical methodologies, and will be involved in a hands-on physical experiment.

Week No. 2 will bring morning lectures and discussions with project mentors to introduce and familiarize participants with their projects. Teams (of three or four students) will begin to work on the problems.

“My project involves creating a mass evacuation plan for the people of the Outer Banks (N.C.), which will involve modeling routes,” said Stroka. Other project choices included Web engine research, modeling cartilage growth, and electron modeling, to name a few.  

During weeks 3-8, participants will work on their problems and meet with their faculty/industrial mentors daily. Each group will give an oral progress report to the other groups every other Friday. There will also be special seminars organized by the university on various topics. 

The undergraduate participants will attend presentations given by graduate students in the industrial science/engineering programs July 21 and 29. They will prepare their own written reportrs and posters to present at the sixth annual North Carolina State Undergraduate Research Summer Symposium July 31.  

“I’m looking forward to meeting so many people, including people from industry,” said Stroka, who has already been in touch with two other student participants—from Clarkson University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute—via e-mail.

She is especially looking forward to presenting her project when she returns to Keuka in the fall.

“I’ve gone to math conferences and listened to prestigious women in mathematics talk about research they’ve done,” said Stroka. “They opened my eyes to a whole different world of math.”

And soon Stroka will be able to do the same.

-- Tanya Cornell-Kestler