Vertically Integrated Research

Each semester, the LSU Mathematics Department offers a number of Vertically Integrated Research (VIR) courses, which aim to bring together undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and senior faculty to learn about and work on current problems in mathematics.

In a VIR seminar, each undergraduate is typically paired with one junior and one senior graduate student to form a “mentorship group.” The graduate mentors will help guide the undergraduates (and one another!) as we all learn, process, present, and expand upon the mathematics. The postdocs and senior faculty keep track of everyone’s progress, ensuring that everyone understands their roles and is appropriately up-to-speed.

In addition to learning about modern mathematical research, students are trained to better communicate mathematics—what we call “mathematical fluency”. Mathematical fluency is about developing an intuitive understanding of what certain mathematical statements are saying, why they are true, and how they fit into the broader mathematical tapestry. Hand-in-hand with mathematical fluency is the ability to identify with, write to and speak to to one’s audience. We work with students to develop these skills through appropriate intensive oral and written assignments.

Below is a list of recent VIR courses that have been offered in topology, representation theory and mathematical physics.