u michigan math phd

Applied and Computational Mathematics

The Applied and Computational Mathematics (ACM) Master's program provides graduate-level education in applied mathematics. The program develops the principles of applied mathematics and statistics, and provides students with the skills to employ those principles in industrial or scientific settings. It has three central themes: general principles and theories of applied mathematics and statistics, the construction and analysis of mathematical and statistical models, and the development and efficient execution of computational mathematical algorithms. Effective use of advanced applied mathematical techniques has become increasingly important in industrial and scientific settings as the amount of sophisticated simulation software and specialized open-source packages has greatly increased. Professionals are needed to assist engineers, scientists and managers in the precise formulation of complex problems and in selecting the analytical methods and software appropriate for their solutions. These professionals should understand the algorithms underlying mathematical software and be able to implement additional mathematical algorithms knowledgeably and efficiently in the framework of existing software. Finally, these professionals need to interpret the results of computations for others. It is the goal of the program to equip students with these skills so that they will become professionals in the needed fields.

The Program

The key components of this evening/late-afternoon program involve the integration of applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, numerical analysis and statistics. The ACM program provides not only coursework in various areas of applied mathematics, but also opportunities for independent or collaborative work. These approaches to learning contribute to a student’s outlook and depth of understanding. The program supports the development and enhancement of students’ skills in high-demand industrial and scientific careers, and in other careers that primarily focus on applied mathematics. It is geared toward three groups of prospective students: individuals in established careers who want or require further training for their current positions, individuals in the workforce who wish to retrain for new career directions, in some cases preparing for a more mathematically-oriented assignment with their current employer, and recent graduates who desire a deeper understanding of applied mathematics to help in launching a career. 

Admission and Prerequisites

Admission to the ACM program as a regular student requires a B.A. or a B.S. degree in mathematics, statistics, computer and information science, engineering, a physical science or a life science, earned in a program at an accredited institution with an average grade of B or better. Individuals with degrees in other fields not listed above or with grades less than a B average may be considered for conditional admission and may be required to submit evidence of potential for success in the ACM program. An entering student must have completed three courses in Calculus, including multivariate Calculus, plus introductory courses in Linear Algebra and Differential Equations. In exceptional cases, an applicant may be admitted without some prerequisite courses. If an applicant is admitted to the program without some prerequisite courses, the applicant must make up the missing prerequisites after entrance to the Graduate Program. However, credits received in courses elected to make up the missing prerequisites do not count toward the degree.

Application instructions can be found at: https://umdearborn.edu/admissions/graduate/how-apply

A complete application consists of the following:

• Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended.
• A one-page statement of purpose stating the applicant’s career goals and personal objectives in pursuing the program.
• Three letters of recommendation are required. At least one letter must address the applicant's academic background.
• Students whose native language is not English are also required to satisfy the English Language Requirements for Admission which can be found in the General Information section of this catalog.

For more information, visit the ACM website or call 313-583-6321.

Undergraduate students eligible to pursue the Applied and Computational Mathematics 4+1 option may count 4 courses (13 credits) in the graduate program toward their undergraduate Mathematics degree. At least one additional year of graduate work (17+ credits) after completing their undergraduate degree would be needed by the undergraduate students enrolled in the 4+1 option to complete the rest of the ACM's degree requirements. Undergraduate students interested in the 4+1 option are strongly encouraged to apply in their sophomore year and start the program in their junior year.

Advanced Standing

Up to 6 credit hours, or their equivalent,  toward the degree may be granted by the Graduate Program Committee to a student through the transfer of credit for approved graduate-level courses. These courses must have been completed within the past five years with a grade of B or better at an accredited institution with graduate degree programs and not have been applied in whole or in part toward another degree or certificate. 

Graduate credit may be transferred from other University of Michigan campuses (Flint or Ann Arbor) for up to half of the credits required for the degree.

Degree Requirements

1. 30 semester hours of graduate course work with a cumulative grade point average of B or better.

The 30 hours must be selected from approved courses listed below and be approved by the student's graduate advisor. At least 15 credit hours  of the courses must be in Mathematics and Statistics. 

In addition to the specific degree requirements listed here, the general Master's degree policies and requirements also apply.  Note: Students admitted prior to Summer 2019 to the  Applied and Computational Math Master's Program fall under Rackham Graduate School Academic Policies .

2. One course from each of the following Core Areas A, B and C.

3. At least 4 courses from the Modeling Specialization Areas A, B and C listed below. Not all 4 courses can be from the same area.

Equivalent courses taken elsewhere may be used to satisfy the requirement, but may not count toward the 30 hours (with the exception of  the 6 hours specified in 1 above which may count toward the 30 hours).

Students enrolled in the 4+1 option can double count Math 551, Math 562, and Math 572  toward both undergraduate math degree and ACM  degree.

Students enrolled in the 4+1 option can either double count Math 554 or Stat 530 or Stat 535 or Stat 545 or Stat 550 or Stat 560 toward both undergraduate math degree and ACM degree. Only  one  of these courses can double count.

4. Independent Research Project, taken for three credits.

5. Approved Cognate Courses - Two course or 6 credit hours of cognates outside the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The courses should be selected from the approved courses listed below 3 .

Exceptions can be made to use a course not from the above list as a cognate course. For such an exception, the student is required to receive an approval from the ACM Program Advisor  prior to  registering the course. 

Learning Goals

• Comprehension of the principles and theories of applied mathematics and statistics.
• Skill in the construction and analysis of mathematical models.
• Skill in the analysis and development of efficient computational mathematical algorithms
• Ability to apply the first three items in industrial and scientific settings.

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PhD Applications

Phd admission recommendations, table of contents.

• Graduate Application Mentoring Program (GAMP)
• Deadlines to submit applications
• PhD application step-by-step
• Previous degrees required
• Course prerequisites/deficiencies
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Letters of recommendation
• Additional information

Deadlines To Submit Applications

Application deadline for Fall 2024 PhD: December 10, 2023.

PhD applicants are only accepted for entry in the Fall semester.

PhD Application Step-by-Step

1. Fill out the application

Applying to U-M Ann Arbor (Rackham Graduate School Link)

2. Statement of purpose

Must include areas of interest in the top corner

3. Personal statement Some suggested topics for your personal statement are:

• Volunteer and/or community service;
• Extra-curricular activities;
• Leadership activities;
• Educational, cultural, geographic or socio-economic background underrepresented in your discipline of graduate study;
• Financial hardship;
• First generation U.S. citizen or first generation in family to graduate from a four-year college.

4. GRE scores

A GRE score is not required for applicants who apply for Fall 2024 PhD

5. Three letters of recommendation

If you apply online, we encourage you to submit your letters electronically. At least TWO of your letters should be from faculty.

6. Transcripts

Submit a transcript for each Bachelor’s, Master’s, Professional or Doctoral degree earned or in progress. For instructions on submitting transcripts, please see the  Rackham Graduate School website . Applicants will upload a copy of the official transcript and enter a “self-reported” GPA when applying online. Official paper transcripts/documents are only required if a student is admitted, and these must be submitted by the end of the first term of enrollment.

All credentials submitted for admission consideration become the property of the University of Michigan and will not be returned in original or copy form.

7. International applicants must also send

Include one set of: Official transcripts, certificates, and diplomas in the original language, in addition to an English translation.

TOEFL scores sent from ETS (institution code 1839)

8. Application fee

There is a $90.00 application fee for international applicants.  

Domestic and Permanent Resident applicants are eligible for an application fee waiver. This will automatically apply to your application.  

Undocumented or DACA Applicants are also eligible for application fee waivers here.

While very limited, in certain circumstances, International applicants may be eligible for an application fee waiver administered by the Rackham Graduate School. For information about eligibility criteria and instructions for various fee waiver programs, visit this page.

9. Decision notification

All applicants who are offered admission are notified via e-mail as soon as a decision is reached. PhD admission/financial aid offers will be sent via e-mail mostly during the months of February and March. Notification to applicants who do not receive admission are sent in early-April. The Graduate Admission Committee is working very hard to finish reviewing your application. Once an admission decision has been made by the committee, we will notify you by e-mail. Thank you for your patience.

Previous Degrees Required

Admission to the PhD program does not require a Master’s degree. Qualified students who hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or mathematics may apply directly to the PhD program.

COURSE PREREQUISITES

Most of our classes require and assume that the students are knowledgeable in one or more of the following subjects: linear algebra, calculus-based probability, calculus-based statistics, and computer programming. If you are admitted to the Master’s or PhD programs, the department will provide a list of descriptions of University of Michigan courses frequently used to satisfy these prerequisites to help you ascertain your knowledge of the above topics, and, if needed, attain the necessary background. We will provide an opportunity to review the highlights of these subjects together with your fellow entering students before the fall semester begins. We will also recommend classes at the University of Michigan if you prefer to take them during your graduate studies.

Test Of English As A Foreign Language – (TOEFL)

• take the verbal and written English tests given by ELI (English Language Institute);
• report the results to the IOE graduate program advisor, and
• abide by any recommendation made by his or her counselor or the Graduate Program Advisor for remedial coursework.

Letters Of Recommendation

• Letters of recommendation should be submitted online, but hard copies may be submitted if that is not possible. Remember to add sufficient time for hard copies to reach us by the application deadlines.

Additional Information

Please send requests to:  [email protected]

• One cognate course should be chosen from some field other than mathematics.  Almost any field is acceptable, but the course must be at the 300+ level and should have significant mathematical content, at least at the level of Math 215.  A list of suggested courses is available in the Undergraduate Program office, but in all cases approval of a concentration advisor is required .

Mathematics

Doctor of philosophy.

You may apply for the Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics with a master’s degree or directly upon completion of a bachelor’s program. In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements of the Western Michigan University Graduate College, you must have acquired a sufficient level of mathematical background as determined by the mathematics faculty of the Department of Mathematics.

The  six-year schedule of courses  will help plan your education to graduate in a timely manner.

WMU catalog description

Mathematics education

The Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics education focuses on K-12 mathematics curricula, teaching and learning mathematics and research and evaluation in mathematics education. Programs may focus on:

• Preparation for mathematics education faculty positions in colleges and universities.
• Supervision and curriculum development positions in school systems.
• Evaluation positions in education-related institutions.

Considering pursuing a Ph.D in mathematics education?

The NSF-funded Building on MOSTs: Investigating Productive Use of High-Leverage Student Mathematical Thinking project is looking for experienced secondary school teachers and/or professional development providers to work as research assistants while completing their Ph.D. at WMU. Learn more .

Application instructions

WMU has a new online graduate application system that allows all students (domestic and international) to submit required information into one system. General application information for the University, as well as specific requirements for individual programs, are captured into this system.

Thank you for your interest in applying for this graduate program.

Contact us for more information.

Each summer, course offerings are sensitive to sufficient enrollment and availability of qualified faculty to teach them. Thus, courses listed in the six-year plan may not be offered according to the indicated schedule. Students are advised to check schedules and meet with an advisor frequently for any changes in offerings that might affect their program plans.

Comprehensive exams

Dissertation Defenses

January 2023.

Candidate: Caryn Mays For the degree of: Doctor of Philosophy Department: Mathematics Title: Irregular Domination in Graphs Committee: Dr. Ping Zhang, Chair, Dr. Gary Chartrand, Dr. Clifton Ealy, Dr. Dinesh Sarvate Time/Place: Wednesday, January 11, 2023, 9 to 11 a.m.,  Virtual meeting

Candidate: Andrew Bowling For the degree of: Doctor of Philosophy Department: Mathematics Title: Zonality in Graphs Committee: Dr. Ping Zhang, Chair, Dr. Gary Chartrand, Dr. John Martino, Dr. Ebrahim Salehi Time/Place: Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 9 to 11 a.m., Virtual meeting

Seek out others with your same interests. Find mathematics faculty according to their research, scholarship and teaching expertise.

Summer work and programs

Check out possible summer opportunities .

Michigan Math and Science Scholars

Faculty, lab, and research template site, 2024 faculty.

Anati Alyaa Azhar

Originating from Malaysia, Anati received her B.S. in Molecular Biology from UMich. She enjoyed her research experience a lot and is now a 4th year PhD candidate in the department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. With Györgyi Csankovszki as an advisor, Anati’s research focuses on characterizing the interactors and regulators of the proteins participating in dosage compensation of C. elegans . Since Anati’s future career plans include teaching and mentoring, she is also a senior instructor in Developing Future Biologists (DFB), an educational outreach organization that aims to instill the core fundamentals of developmental biology in the next generation. Outside of research, Anati’s hobbies include storywriting, cooking and drawing.

Pat is a Lecturer of Mathematics at the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus. Before receiving his BA from Providence College, he studied number theory and combinatorics in Budapest, Hungary. He later earned a PhD from the University of Massachusetts in geometry and topology. Pat came to the University of Michigan as a postdoctoral scholar in 2009 and has had the opportunity to teach a wide variety of undergraduate (and some graduate) math courses. One of his favorite courses to teach is Math 389 (Explorations in Mathematics). This course gives him the opportunity to guide young math researchers. Pat is proud to have given several talks to students in area high schools, including those affiliated with the Wolverine Pathways program. He currently enjoys researching interactions between number theory and hyperbolic geometry, is mildly obsessed with the Markoff numbers, and is interested in learning more physics.

Zhan is a Michael D. Morris Collegiate Professor of Chemistry, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, Biophysics, and Applied Physics in the Department of Chemistry of the University of Michigan. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, and did his postdoctoral research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The research in his group at the University of Michigan is focused on the molecular level characterizations of complicated surfaces and interfaces, such as polymer surfaces, polymer interfaces, and interfacial proteins using advanced analytical techniques. Such research provides in-depth understanding of molecular mechanisms of biocompatibility, biofouling, and polymer adhesion. Zhan received his National Science Foundation Career Award in 2004, and his Beckman Young Investigator Award in 2003. He was named as a Dow Corning Assistant/Associate Professor between 2003 and 2006. He is a fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry. He is a senior editor of Langmuir, a flagship journal on interfacial science published by American Chemical Society. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling.

Mark Conger

Mark Conger Mark is a Lecturer and program developer of the Douglass Houghton Scholars Program . He received his B.A. degree from Williams College and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. In between his M.A. and Ph.D., he spent several years working as a professional computer programmer, and did lots of programming for fun as well. His research interests are in enumerative combinatorics and probability, but he considers himself a mathematical generalist. His recent work has focused on the mathematics of card shuffling and dealing. He is the recipient of the 2019 Golden Apple Award , the only teaching award at the University of Michigan given by students.  He has been teaching in MMSS since 2002.

Jen Cummings

Jen is a Lecturer in the Biopsychology area of University of Michigan's Psychology Department , and teaches classes ranging from Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience to Hormones and Behavior and Sex Differences in Brain and Behavior. After earning her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2006, she began working as a research scientist at UM's Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute examining the role of hormones on reward-related circuitry in the brain, and the effects of motherhood on drug addiction. In 2013, Jen joined the Psychology Department to focus on teaching full-time, and has since developed a number of courses spanning all levels of undergraduate education at UM. While she finds there is much to enjoy about teaching, Jen is particularly passionate about making neuroscience understandable and accessible for students of all ages. When not molding young minds, Jen enjoys running, knitting, reading, and fly fishing.

Alessandro Danelon

Alessandro is an assistant professor in mathematics at the University of Michigan. After completing his international undergraduate studies with curricula at the University of Milan, at the Mathematical Institute in Leiden, and at the University of Duisburg-Essen, in 2023 he earned his Ph.D. in applied algebraic geometry from the University of Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The focus of his research is to develop infinite-dimensional methods to deal with highly symmetric systems of polynomial equations. This research area has applications in theoretical computer science, chemistry and neural networks, to name but a few. Prior to his mathematical career, Alessandro graduated in 2013 in clarinet performance at the Conservatory of Music G. Verdi in Milan, and has kept playing and studying music besides his academical career. From 2017 to 2023 he has been first clarinet for CREA Orkest and Het Orkest Amsterdam and he has been playing in many chamber music ensembles in the amateur music scene in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Sean Fancher

Sean Fancher is a postdoctoral researcher in the biophysics department here at University of Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. in physics from Purdue University in 2019 after researching the ways in which individual cells can use cues from their environment and other cells to obtain more accurate information about their surroundings. He then went on to work in the physics department at the University of Pennsylvania and studied how fluid flow through a network of vessels is affected by the compliance of the vessel material. Now, he researches perturbations in chemical reaction networks and their optimal structures in the lab of Prof. Jordan Horowitz.

Gafni is a retired Professor from the Department of Biophysics at the University of Michigan. He received his Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. Following postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University he returned to the Weizmann Institute as a faculty member. His research focused on the mechanisms that feature in the folding of a newly synthesized polypeptide chain into the precisely formed and biologically active protein molecule. Gafni joined the University of Michigan in 1983 and developed long-lasting research into the role that incorrectly folded proteins play in several devastating human diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and type-2 diabetes. In these studies, Gafni used a variety of cutting-edge biophysical tools, including single molecule microscopy, a technique that allows one to address mechanistic details of the origin and evolution of molecular toxicity at a level of detail that is impossible to achieve by conventional experimental approaches. Beyond science, Gafni enjoys travel, reading and raising exotic plants.

Isabel Hermsmeyer

Isabel Kane Hermsmeyer is a PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. She earned her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and master's in biology at UC San Diego. She has taught introductory courses concentrating in biological anthropology on the topics of osteology, comparative anatomy, and human skeletal health. She splits her time between the skeletal biology lab in Anthropology, and the MacDougald adipose (fat) lab at the Medical School. Her research focuses on how diet impacts body composition in humans and nonhuman primates, particularly how energetics influence adipose tissue distribution and bone health. When not in either of her labs, she is enjoying live music, watching horror movies or eating delicious food with friends.

Dragan Huterer

Dragan Huterer is a theoretical cosmologist and professor in the Department of Physics. His research is focused on trying to understand the nature and properties of "dark energy", a mysterious component that makes up about 70% of energy in the universe and makes its expansion accelerate, and whose understanding presents major unsolved problem in astrophysics and cosmology. Huterer grew up in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (former Yugoslavia) and received a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, was awarded UM’s Henry Russel Award for “exceptional scholarship and conspicuous ability as a teacher," and currently serves as the Associate Chair for the Physics Graduate Program.

Michael Jones

Michael A. Jones earned his B.S. degree from Santa Clara University and M.A. and Ph.D. in Mathematics from Northwestern University. After a 3-year position at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a 1-year visiting position at Loyola University in Chicago, he taught for 10 years at Montclair State University in New Jersey. In August 2008, he became an Associate Editor for Mathematical Reviews , a division of the American Mathematical Society based in Ann Arbor. His research interests include the development and application of mathematics to analyze the social sciences, including economics, political science, psychology, and law. His 5-year term as editor for  Mathematical Association of America ’s  Mathematics Magazine  ended in 2019.

Cheyenne Lei

Dr. Cheyenne Lei is a Research Fellow within the Institute for Global Change Biology in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. in Geography at Michigan State University. Dr. Lei is interested in coupled human-environment change, atmospheric physics, geographic information systems, remote sensing, and landscape ecology. Dr. Lei’s research explores the major factors which influence surface reflectivity, in order to elucidate the mechanisms driving climate warming processes between coupled human-environment exchanges in unique ecosystems and landscapes. Lei’s work has not only been highlighted by the Department of Energy in 2021 for the broader scientific community and government policy, but also has been used as a major educational stepping stone in classroom projects for high school and outreach programs. Her efforts span a wide range of applications, from purely ecological research, such as greenhouse gas exchange in natural ecosystems, to industrial applications, such as landscape conversion for food versus fuel needs, irrigation optimization, as well as agricultural carbon sequestration. In her free time, she is an avid motorcyclist. As a certified United States Motorcycle Safety Foundation Instructor, Lei often teaches and demonstrates the basics of motorcycle safety and riding to beginner and advanced riders.

Anne McNeil

Anne McNeil is a Carol A. Fierke Professor of Chemistry and Macromolecular Science and Engineering , as well as an HHMI Professor. Her research is aimed at addressing some of the world's biggest challenges through chemical recycling or upcycling of waste plastics, developing methods to capture microplastics, measuring microplastics in the environment, and designing redox active molecules for energy storage applications. She has won several awards for excellence in both teaching and research. She is also the proud mom of two kids.

Hector Mendoza

Hector is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. Under the tutelage of Györgyi Csankovszki, Hector is currently investigating the epigenetic processes involved in the maintenance of sex chromosomes. Hector is also an IRACDA fellow, participating in pedagogical training with faculty from partner institutions in the Metro Detroit area. Hector’s future career plans include starting his own research program and mentor the next generation of future scientists. Outside of the laboratory, Hector enjoys science fiction media, cooking, and creative writing.

Lon Mitchell

Lon holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Kansas, while his musical training includes a Bachelors of Music in Music Theory and Composition from Central Michigan University and graduate study in carillon performance at KU.   He is currently on the faculty at the University of South Florida and a Carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.  Previous appointments include positions at the University of Malta as a Fulbright Scholar, the American Mathematical Society, and as faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Toronto.

Minh Nguyen

Minh Nguyen is a cosmologist and a Leinweber Research Fellow at the Leinweber Center for Theoretical Physics , Department of Physics , University of Michigan. Minh studies how millions of galaxies are distributed across the universe, specifically the hierarchical pattern and structure in their distribution, to better understand gravity, dark matter and dark energy. While gravity pulls everything, including dark matter—the invisible matter that makes up more than 25% of our universe—together, dark energy—the mysterious energy that makes up almost 70% of our universe—tend to push space and everything apart. Studying the clustering and clumpiness of galaxies and matter therefore provide key insights into their nature. More about Minh’s research can be found on his homepage .

Minh taught MMSS last year as a guest lecturer and is very excited to teach it again this year as a main lecturer. He is further a Science Communication Fellows at the UM Museum of Natural History. Minh received his PhD in Astronomy from the IMPRS-Astro program at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich for his work at the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics. Before that, he received his MSc in Astronomy & Astrophysics from the AstroMundus program .

Mary Orczykowski

Mary Orczykowski is a faculty member in Anatomical Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her undergraduate degrees in Biology and German at Oakland University in 2011 and her Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine in 2017. At the University of Michigan, she has dedicated her time to guiding students (undergraduate, graduate, medical, and dental) in understanding and appreciating the inner workings of the human body. She has a special interest in training undergraduate teaching assistants to teach peers in the anatomy lab. She also enjoys creating colorful 3D models and illustrations to help demonstrate concepts and relationships in new ways. Outside of anatomy, she spends time in her Ann Arbor home with her family (husband, 2 cats, and hedgehog), exploring the natural world, building enclosures for rescued animals at the Creature Conservancy, training in aerial silks and sling, making friends with squirrels, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

Jianming Qian

Jianming Qian is the David M Dennison collegiate professor of physics at the University of Michigan. He received his BSc from the University of Science and Technology of China in 1985 and his PhD in physics from MIT in 1991. He joined the University of Michigan first as a postdoctoral research fellow in 1991, later as an assistant professor in 1993, and was promoted to professor in 2005. His research is focused on the understanding of the matter and their interactions at the smallest scale. His research accomplishments include the determination of three light neutrino species, the discoveries of the top quark and the Higgs boson. He received the distinguished faculty achievement award from the University in 2014 and was named the collegiate professor in 2015. He is currently a member of the ATLAS Collaboration, studying proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN (European Center for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, Switzerland. Beyond teaching and research, he enjoys travel, learning about history and culture, and exploring nature.

Georg Raithel

Georg is a Professor in the  Department of Physics . Georg received his Ph.D. at the University of Munich. In his research, he employs laser-cooled rubidium atoms to study matter waves in optical lattices and in other atom trapping devices, and to investigate interaction processes involving cold, very highly excited atoms (Rydberg atoms) and cold plasmas. In his spare time and vacations, Georg enjoys bicycling, skiing, camping and sailing with his family.

Sarah Raubenheimer

Sarah is a Researcher and Program Manager for the Institute for Global Change Biology at the University of Michigan. Sarah studied a BSc in Botany and Zoology followed by a BSc honors in Biodiversity and Conservation in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa. She later earned a PhD from Rhodes University in South Africa in plant physiological responses to climate change. Sarah then worked as Instrument Scientist and Researcher at the Rhodes University Elevated CO 2 Facility, Africa’s first large-scale plant climate change experiment facility, focusing on the effect of climatic changes on the valuable savanna regions of southern Africa. Her recent work has focused on how grassland and savannas are changing with climate change across the globe. When not working on science, Sarah can be found hiking and running in any mountains and forests to be found, from the Drakensberg to the Himalayas.

Corinna Schindler

Corinna Schindler is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan. She received her Ph.D. from ETH Zurich in Switzerland.  For her postdoctoral studies, Corinna joined the laboratory of Eric N. Jacobsen at Harvard University as a Feodor Lynen Postdoctoral Fellow to work in the field of asymmetric catalysis. The primary goal of her research program is to develop new synthetic methods based on transition metal catalysis to enable the synthesis of biologically active natural and unnatural products.

Vanessa Sih

Randy Singer

Randy is an Assistant Research Scientist and Collection Manager for the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department at the Ann Arbor Campus. His research focuses on ecology and the natural history of deep-sea fishes. Randy also uses chemistry to help to develop new ways for preserving and caring for natural history specimens in museums. In his area of research he has discovered new species, mapped where species live and what environments they prefer and has added to what we know about our planet's largest ecosystem - the deep sea! Randy also has the pleasure of overseeing the fish division of one of the world's largest natural history museums. These museums house millions of specimens collected over hundreds of years by other scientists and are used in research and education by thousands of people all over the world. Randy grew up in the United States in the state of Florida and received his B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and his Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Corey Stephenson

Corey received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Waterloo and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. After conducting postdoctoral studies at the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland, he joined the Department of Chemistry at Boston University as an Assistant Professor in 2007. He was granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor in February 2013, and in July 2013, joined the  Department of Chemistry  at the University of Michigan as an Associate Professor. Research in the Stephenson group is focused primarily upon the development of new strategies and methodologies for the synthesis of natural products and biomass degradation with a particular interest in processes which utilize the redox chemistry of visible light activated metal complexes. Corey has been a recipient of several awards of the past seven years recognizing excellence in research and teaching including: the Boehringer-Ingelheim New Investigator Award (2010), an NSF CAREER award (2011-2016), the Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship (2011-2013), the Amgen Young Investigator Award (2011), the Novartis Early Career Award in Organic Chemistry (2012-2015), the Eli Lilly Grantee Award (2013-2015), the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2013) and the EOS Best Reagent Award (2014).

Martin Strauss

Martin is a Professor in the  Departments of Mathematics  and  Electrical Engineering and Computer Science . He received his A.B. degree from Columbia University and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University, both in mathematics. He previously held positions at Iowa State University and AT&T Labs-Research. His research interests include fundamental algorithms, especially randomized and approximation algorithms; algorithms for massive data sets; signal processing and computational harmonic analysis; computer security and cryptography; complexity theory. He has developed an activity for the Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum. For the past few years, has been leading the math club at a local elementary school, whose activities include competing in the Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools. In his spare time, he enjoys trail running.

Ramón Torres-Isea

Ramón is an Adjunct Lecturer in Physics and Director of the Advanced Physics Laboratories at the University of Michigan. He is co-recipient (with Prof. Carl Akerlof, Univ. of Michigan) of the American Physical Society 2015 Jonathan Reichert and Barbara Wolff-Reichert Award for Excellence in Advanced Laboratory Instruction.  He received his B.S. and M.S. in Physics from Eastern Michigan University in 1980 and 1983, and quickly developed a career as an industrial physicist.  Since his return to academia at the University of Iowa in 1995, he has been dedicated to the improvement of teaching laboratories, concentrating exclusively in laboratories at the Intermediate and Advanced levels during the past 24 years. He has taught at the technical, undergraduate, and graduate levels for thirty years. He also initiated and directed for many years the University of Michigan Physics Olympiad .

Monica Valluri

Monica Valluri uses numerical calculations and simulations to probe observed galactic phenomena in order to understand the physical processes that produce them. Her current focus areas are dark objects whose presence we learn about via their gravitational effects on stars: supermassive black holes and dark matter halos. She has been working to develop sophisticated tools to use the motions stars close to the centers of galaxies to measure the masses of their supermassive black holes and to understand how these black holes affect the properties of their host galaxies. She has also been working on using the motions of millions of ancient stars in the Milky Way's halo to determine the properties of dark matter and compare the properties with those from large simulations of the universe.

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Department of Mathematics Teaching Assistantships

All accepted PhD students will be offered a teaching assistantship for a maximum of six years of study. The stipend in the first year will be $23,740. Click for more information.

Department of Mathematics Teaching Reduction Fellowships

All accepted PhD students will receive this fellowship. The fellowship reduces teaching in the first year to tutoring only. Click for more information.

Application fee waived

The application fee for US citizens with GRE math subject scores in the upper 50 percentile will be waived. Click for more information.

University Distinguished Fellowships and University Enrichment Fellowships

The University awards these fellowships to outstanding PhD applicants. The fellowships cover tuition and health insurance and award a stipend of $28,500 for the first and fifth years with no teaching responsibilities. In other years the student is supported by the department teaching assistantships. Click for more information.

College of Natural Science Doctoral Recruiting Fellowships

The College of Natural Science awards these fellowships to outstanding PhD applicants. The fellowships cover tuition and health insurance and award a stipend of $28,500 for the first year of study with no teaching responsibilities. In other years the student is supported by the department teaching assistantships. Click for more information.

Department of Mathematics Recruiting Fellowships

The Department of Mathematics awards these fellowships to outstanding PhD applicants. The fellowship consists of a departmental teaching assistantship and an addition stipend of $8,000 in the first year of study. Click for more information.

General Information

• Frequently Asked Questions
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• Graduate Student Handbook ( docx )
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Doctoral Degrees in Mathematics

• Ph.D. Degree in Mathematics
• Ph.D. Degree in Applied Mathematics
• Dual Ph.D. Degree

The Master's Degree in Mathematics

• Master of Science Degree in Industrial Mathematics
• Master of Science Degree in Mathematics*
• Master of Science Degree with Concentration in Applied Mathematics*
• Master of Arts for Teachers Degree**

* These degrees are open only to students currently enrolled in a PhD program at MSU

** This program is currently being revised.

Apply for the Graduate Program

Department of Mathematics Michigan State University 619 Red Cedar Road C212 Wells Hall East Lansing, MI 48824 Phone: (517) 353-0844 Fax: (517) 432-1562

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Phd program.

For more information about the PhD program, please contact the Associate Chair of the Graduate Program .

Applicant must meet Graduate School requirements plus departmental requirements as given for admission to the master’s program. A master’s degree is not a prerequisite for admission to this PhD program.

Reapplication

A student who receives the master’s degree must formally reapply for admission to the Graduate School before continuing studies toward the PhD.

Major Professor as Advisor

The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. The entering graduate student is assigned a temporary advisor by the Department Graduate Program Coordinator.

Course of Study

Minimum degree requirement is 54 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree, at least 27 of which must be earned in residence at UWM. The student, in consultation with the major professor, must select both a primary and a secondary area of specialization. The primary area may be chosen from one of the following eight fields with minimum credit requirements as shown. The secondary area may be chosen from another of these fields or may be chosen from another appropriate department. Minimum course requirements for all work in both areas of specialization require approximately two full years of study.

• Actuarial Science
• Applied and Computational Mathematics
• Probability & Statistics

Foreign Language Requirement

Each student must pass a written examination in one foreign language; the examination is administered by the Department’s Language Committee. Acceptable languages are French, German, and Russian; exceptions may be permitted upon written request of advisor.

Computer Proficiency

The student shall pass an examination on a higher programming language and/or other appropriate advanced computer skills; the examinations administered by the Department’s Computer Committee. The Computer Committee may accept advanced computer science course work in lieu of the examination.

The student must meet minimum Graduate School residence requirements.

Doctoral Preliminary Examination

When the student is sufficiently prepared — normally when the student has earned 24 credits in specified areas above the 700 level — a doctoral preliminary examination to determine the student’s knowledge and achievement is taken. For students in mathematics, the exam evaluates the student’s general knowledge of mathematics, as well as the student’s knowledge of the major area of concentration. Students must pass this examination to continue in the program. With permission of the examination committee, the student may repeat this examination once. If the student does not have a master’s degree in mathematics before this examination, the committee will determine whether the student’s performance is sufficient to qualify for the master’s degree.

Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Hearing

After passing the language requirements and the doctoral preliminary examination, the student participates in a doctoral dissertation proposal hearing. At this hearing, the student is examined on the student’s chosen area of research and a dissertation topic is approved.

Dissertation

The primary requirement for the PhD in mathematics is the candidate’s completion, under the supervision of the Department advisor, of an original and significant mathematical investigation presented in the form of a dissertation. The investigation is to be in the field of algebra, analysis, applied mathematics, probability and statistics, or topology. A dissertation for the industrial mathematics field must involve an industrial problem requiring a mathematical solution.

Dissertation Defense

The candidate must, as the final step toward the degree, present a colloquium based on the dissertation and must pass an oral examination in defense of the dissertation. If the candidate does not successfully defend a thesis within five years of admission to candidacy, the candidate may be required to take another doctoral preliminary examination and be readmitted to candidacy.

All degree requirements must be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the doctoral program.

Minor Area for Other PhD Majors

A doctoral student planning a physical science major other than mathematics may fulfill requirements for mathematics as the minor area of concentration by completing 12 credits of approved mathematics courses with a grade of B or better, at least 6 credits of which must be in courses 700 or above.

A doctoral student planning a non-physical science major may fulfill requirements for mathematics as the minor area of concentration by completing 12 credits with a grade of B or better in approved mathematics courses 300 or above.

For additional information on the PhD, see the Graduate School Doctoral Requirements page.

Graduate Grievance Procedures

Federal law and UWM policy require programs and departments to have procedures for graduate students to appeal academic decisions such as grades or scholastic standing. These procedures ensure the protection of students’ rights. These pages serve as a reference on procedures for graduate student academic appeals.

• UWM Graduate School Academic Appeal Procedures

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Biomedical sciences in general, and Microbiology and Immunology in particular, are fundamentally important to public health, policy, and education in the 21st century. Individuals with training in Microbiology and Immunology are needed in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as allied health professionals, for the nation's R&D mission, and in many other sectors.

Students who are attracted to Microbiology and Immunology may come from many disciplines and have varied backgrounds and may seek to apply their training to any of several career tracks. The target trainees for this master's program are individuals whose research or academic preparation is not yet sufficient for PhD training, or whose career aspirations require Microbiology and Immunology training less advanced than that expected of PhD students.

Our master's degree program will offer matriculates with research and didactic training tailored to meet the needs of each student, while satisfying expectations of master's level graduates of the University of Michigan.

We believe 21st century trainees need familiarity with both host and pathogen, and thus at least introductory immunology and graduate-level microbiology coursework will be required of all master's program students. Other program course requirements will be more flexible, allowing those with academic deficiencies to focus on coursework to enhance their credentials for professional school admission, and enabling those who aspire to do research to gain extensive experience in University of Michigan and/or industrial laboratory settings. To this end, there are several possible options available to students interested in pursuing a Master's degree.

Learn more about program requirements

Applicants should submit a completed Rackham application online. The Microbiology and Immunology Master's program application code is 02031.

• As part of the application, you can electronically upload your transcripts.
• We also request three letters of recommendation. As part of the Rackham online application process, you will be prompted to register each recommender, along with a current e-mail address. Recommenders will be contacted by e-mail and directed to a website where they will complete and submit the necessary forms. If your recommenders prefer a paper format, these letters should be submitted directly to the Department of Microbiology and Immunology.
• Include the following information: user name, full name, email address, and phone number. Please allow 24 hours for a response.

The Master's application deadline is March 1. GRE score is not required. Applicants may apply directly through Rackham Graduate School.

Recognizing that some students who enroll in the Microbiology and Immunology Master's Degree program may not be preparing for careers in research, or may decide to pursue other directions after an initial term of research, students can complete the degree with 28 credits whether or not research is included, provided other degree requirements are satisfied.

Students intending to pursue the non-research master's degree in Microbiology and Immunology should design a plan of study in consultation with the Master's Advisor, and this plan will be kept in the student's departmental file. Completing their approved personalized plan of study will be a requirement for each student who wishes to receive the Master's degree.

Performing laboratory research is not a requirement of the Master's of Science in Microbiology and Immunology. However, in keeping with departmental strength in research and the value of research experience for students, all Master's students interested in research are encouraged to pursue it. The program will facilitate research opportunities for all enrolled in the Master's Degree program.

Research Track Master's students will not perform research rotation but will enter mutually agreed-upon relationships with Microbiology and Immunology faculty research mentors prior to enrolling in research credit for the terms in which research will be performed. The student and research mentor will make arrangements for requisite safety coursework and will discuss expectations (generally 5-6 hours/week per research credit) prior to the start of research. In addition to providing a letter grade, the faculty member will provide a written evaluation for the student's departmental file, to be discussed and signed by the student, at the end of each term.

Matriculated students who have maintained an overall B average and intend to pursue at least two terms of laboratory research can opt to write a research-based thesis as part of their master's degree. They will defend their thesis to their thesis adviser and two additional committee members. Upon successful defense of the thesis, the Microbiology & Immunology program will then ensure that the student's degree is awarded with a designation indicating that they defended a thesis.

Meet the current graduate students in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology Master's Program.

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