Day/Date/Time: Monday, January 5, 2026 between 10:30:00 AM - 12:00:00 PM.

Room: Room 202B at Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Description: Summer research programs provide a transformative experience for undergraduates, fostering mathematical curiosity, collaboration, and professional development. This panel will explore best practices for designing and running successful summer math research programs, including strategies for recruitment, mentorship, and structuring projects that balance accessibility with rigor. Panelists from several different summer programs including Polymath Jr., Summer@ICERM, and National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs), as well as the Center for Undergraduate Research in Mathematics (CURM) will give a short presentation on how to become involved with their program and how to succeed as a research mentor. Additionally, panelists will share insights on fostering an inclusive research environment, supporting students with diverse backgrounds, and guiding participants toward future opportunities in graduate studies and industry. Following the opening remarks, attendees will have the opportunity to ask panelists questions about their respective programs.


SIGMAA UR Special Paper Session : Showcasing Undergraduate Research Experiences

Day/Date/Time: Monday, January 5, 2026 from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM.

Room: Room 143A at Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Description: Undergraduate research experiences come in many forms - spanning a semester or a summer, varying in intensity, and covering diverse areas of mathematics. Each program offers unique opportunities and challenges, shaped by different mentoring approaches and institutional structures. This series of talks will showcase these many different experiences, allowing us to learn about the different mentoring techniques, styles, and opportunities available to those who are interested in undergraduate research in mathematics. We will hear from mentors whose research programs were held at their home institutions, such as institutional summer research programs or CURM, as well as others that take place online or at other institutions such as Polymath and Summer@ICERM. By sharing insights from mentors across these programs, we can deepen our understanding of effective mentoring strategies and provide guidance for designing impactful undergraduate research experiences in mathematics.