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Sessions for Graduate Students

Workshop

What's the Story? A Graduate Student Workshop on Formulating a Research Presentation for an Undergraduate Audience

Thursday, July 27, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m., Mobley Room

Presenting recent and ongoing research to undergraduate students is fun and rewarding, but frequently challenging. The gory details of mathematical results often require a great deal of specific jargon and background knowledge. Nonetheless, the big idea-the “story”-can almost always be presented at a variety of levels. This workshop is designed to help graduate students formulate a presentation on their research that is appropriate for an audience of undergraduate students, something many colleges and universities require as part of a job interview. Moreover, the ability to communicate complex mathematical ideas is a valued trait in any context. As such, this session aims to develop a framework for creating an engaging and accessible presentation for undergraduates. Graduate students who will be going on the job market in the fall may find this workshop especially useful.

Organizers:
May Mei, Denison University
Aliza Steurer, Dominican University

Panel Session

How to Apply for Jobs in Academia and Industry after Your PhD

Thursday, July 27, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Salon A-5

This session is aimed at graduate students and recent PhDs. An overview of the employment process will be given with ample opportunity for participants to ask questions. Questions that will be addressed include: How do you find which jobs are available? How do you choose which jobs you want to apply for? What are academic and other employers looking for in the materials that you send? How should you tailor your application materials for the job that you are applying for? How do schools conduct interviews?

Organizers:
Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas
Edray Goins, Purdue University

Panelists:
Joanne Peeples, El Paso Community College
Wilfredo Urbina-Romero, Roosevelt University
Erika Ward, Jacksonville University
William Christian, Department of Defense

MAA Committee on Graduate Students

Social Event

Graduate Student Reception

Thursday, July 27, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., Marquette Room

Graduate students are invited for some refreshments and to meet several of the invited speakers.

Organizers:
Estela A. Gavosto, University of Kansas
Edray Goins, Purdue University

Panel Session

Non-academic Mathematical Career Paths for Undergraduates

Friday, July 28, 2:35 p.m. – 3:55 p.m., Salon A-5

Step one: earn a degree in mathematics. Step three: have a great career! What is step two? Whether you are a mathematics student looking for a job once you graduate or an advisor looking for advice to give to future job-seeking students, this session will help you gain new perspectives on nonacademic career experiences and what employers value in their employees. Panelists will share the paths to their current positions, the ways in which they utilize their mathematical background, and offer advice to others looking for employment in similar venues.

Organizer:
May Mei, Denison University

Panelists:
Courtney Adams, Siemens
Krystle Hinds, National Security Agency
Kim Plesnicar, Zurich North America

MAA Committee on Undergraduate Student Activities and Chapters (CUSAC)

Poster Session

PosterFest 2017: An MAA Networking Event

Friday, July 28, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00p.m., Salon D (Exhibit Hall)

This poster session will allow early career mathematicians to present and discuss their scholarly activities and to network with senior mathematicians in an informal atmosphere. Untenured faculty and graduate students are especially encouraged to apply. Examples of scholarly activities suitable for this poster session include expository work, preliminary reports, scholarship of teaching and learning, and research reports. Presenters should have their materials prepared in advance and will be provided with a self-standing, trifold tabletop poster approximately 48 in wide by 36 in high. Proposals should be submitted at www.maa.org/mathfest/abstracts. In the proposal, presenters should indicate their status as early career mathematicians (i.e. graduate student, junior faculty, etc.) Questions regarding this session should be sent to the organizers.

Organizers
Lisa Driskell, Colorado Mesa University
Jacob White, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

MAA Committee on Early Career Mathematicians
MAA Committee on Graduate Students
Young Mathematicians Network
Project NExT

Graduate Student Paper Session

Great Talks for a General Audience: Coached Presentations by Graduate Students

Saturday, July 29, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Boulevard Rooms A and B

Presenters in this session must be graduate students. While many graduate students will be asked to give a lecture to an audience consisting of undergraduates and non-mathematicians (possibly as part of a job interview), most students do not have much experience talking to a non-research audience. This session gives graduate students the opportunity to give a 20-minute talk aimed at an undergraduate audience (speakers should assume the audience has been only exposed to calculus and possibly some linear algebra). Both the talks and abstracts should be designed to excite a wide range of undergraduates about mathematics. All participants in this session will receive private feedback on their presentations from an established faculty member and an undergraduate student. Contact a session organizer for help writing an abstract or preparing your talk for a general audience. Optional Q&A sessions with the organizers will be held at MathFest for presenters to receive feedback on their talks. Graduate student participants in this session should also attend the graduate student workshop (What’s the Story?).

Organizers:
Jim H. Freeman, Cornell College
May Mei, Denison University
Aliza Steurer, Dominican University

MAA Committee on Graduate Students

Year: 
2017