Directed Reading Program

In 2018, I founded the Directed Reading Program (DRP) in the Division of Applied Mathematics at Brown University. This chapter is part of a much larger network spanning many institutions. Its purpose is to provide undergraduates with exposure to topics in higher-level mathematics in an informal setting, specifcally under the mentorship of a graduate student.

The DRP allows students to participate in semester-long reading projects that cover topics not typically seen in their coursework. This usually involves reading through a textbook chapter(s) or journal papers for more recent topics for which no established textbooks exist yet.

The reason I started the Applied Math chapter of the DRP was because a common complaint I heard from undergrads in the department was how difficult it was to get involved in research with faculty, which would be one of the only avenues of seeking out higher-level mathematics (the other being to take graduate-level coursework). The DRP helps bridge this gap while also helping students to cultivate skills that would be useful for undergraduate research projects with faculty. Many students who participate in the program go on to do research with faculty. Some have even published their work in academic journals and presented at conferences!

One of the other benefits of the DRP is that it provides graduate students with opportunities to grow themselves as mentors. It’s no secret that academic institutions say they want excellent teachers yet mostly (or only) reward excellent research. Depending on the field and advisor, graduate students who are seeking careers in academia may not even have opportunity to mentor students (outside of a classroom setting) until they’re postdocs or even tenured faculty. Personally, I’ve had amazing experiences as a mentor in the program.

If you’re a Brown undergrad looking to apply to the program, applications open at the beginning of each fall and spring semester here. If you’re a grad student looking to start a DRP in your own department, I found the resources here to be immensely helpful.