What is the Women in Applied Mathematics Mentorship Program (WAMM)?
The Department of Applied Mathematics at the University of Washington would like to invite undergraduates majoring in relevant STEM programs to apply for the Spring 2024 Women in Applied Mathematics Mentorship Program. WAMM is run by graduate students and allows undergraduates to partake in independent study projects on a topic of their interest and to have regular one-on-one meetings with a female graduate student mentor.
Participants will be matched with graduate student mentors based on their areas of interest. Throughout the quarter, the graduate student will provide reading materials to the undergraduate and the pair will meet to discuss these materials on a weekly basis. The format of this work could expand into a more hands-on research project. The project topic and goal would be determined by the student-mentor pair during their first meeting. At the weekly one-on-one meetings throughout the quarter, students and their mentors will have the opportunity to discuss not just the project materials, but also other topics such as career paths and the graduate school application process. The graduate students will hold informal study halls regularly throughout the quarter during which WAMM participants can work on their projects, meet other mentors, and get help on homework assignments. At the end of the quarter, the graduate students will organize a Colloquium for the undergraduates to give short presentations on what they learned throughout the quarter. Students will earn (1) academic credit upon successful completion of the WAMM program.
Students who are completing their junior year of an undergraduate degree are especially encouraged to apply.
Applications will be due at the end of February 23, 2024 at 11:59pm and participation in the program requires that the student be available for online meetings throughout the Spring 2024 Quarter.
Applying to WAMM
Eligible students who wish to apply to participate in WAMM can do so here. You will need a PDF of your UW transcripts to complete the application (unofficial is acceptable).
2023 WAMM Participants
| Name | Project Title |
| Jing Cao | Visualizing Nonnormality |
| Joyce Chen | Deep Learning Weather Prediction |
| Parker Crotty | Continuous Modeling: Waves |
| Sihao Feng | Multiscale Time Stepping With Neural Network |
| Weixuan Liu | The Impact of Initialization on the Learning Performance of Neural Networks |
| Xinyi Meng | Continuous Modeling: Waves |
| Ellie Menton | Visualizing Nonnormality |
| Bao Han Ngo | Factor Models for Building Stock Portfolios in the US and China |
| Xinyue Sun | Factor Models for Building Stock Portfolios in the US and China |
| Annabel Wade | Deep Learning Weather Prediction |
| Cindy Wang | Image classification and various denoising and deblurring methods |
| Xiqian Yuan | Multiscale Time Stepping With Neural Network |
| Xinyue Zhang | The Impact of Initialization on the Learning Performance of Neural Networks |
| Ziyan Zhou | Cross-Validation of ML on MNIST Data Set |
Special thanks for mentors: Erin Angelini, Eleanor Byrnes, Katherine Johnston, Kaitlynn Lilly, Helena Liu, Yining Shao, Natalie Wellen
Please find past participants here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long does the program run?
A: For Spring 2024 Quarter, students should meet with their mentors once a week for an hour and reschedule a meeting that is missed. There are 10 meetings total in the quarter, which means that the start date is flexible. Participants are expected to invest at least 4 hours a week between meetings on their readings or projects. The program concludes at the WAMM Slam on Friday, May 31st, 4-6pm.
Q: Do I have to be an ACMS , AMATH, CFRM or Math major to apply?
A: Students from any major are welcome to apply. A strong applicant will have successfully completed coursework in differential equations, scientific computing, and linear algebra.
Q: When is the application due and what supporting materials do I need?
A: The application is due February 23 at 11:59 pm and you will need a copy of your transcript (unofficial is fine).
Q: What are Tea Times?
A: The Department of Applied Mathematics hosts semiweekly tea times. This is an informal gathering of graduate students, faculty, and staff that includes tea and oftentimes snacks and additional activities. Student participants are highly encouraged to attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-4:00 pm in LEW 337.
Q: What are some examples of projects that I could do with my mentor?
A: Perhaps you are simply interested in some mathematical topic (e.g. difference equations, decision trees, or mathematical models of the brain) and you want to learn more about it. Your mentor could help you pick out an appropriate text or paper on the topic and then you two could work your way through part (or all) of it over the course of the quarter. Projects can also be more problem-driven. Given a problem you are interested in solving (e.g. denoising an image, modeling forest fires, or predicting movies' box office revenues), you and your mentor could explore different mathematical approaches to solving it and dive into the math behind the approaches.
Q: I don't have any experience with research. Will I be able to get into the program or will this hinder my chances?
A: The WAMM program is meant specifically for people who haven't had research experiences, please apply!
Q: Where can I send additional questions?
A: You can email us at amathdiv@uw.edu.