Background

The Fields Undergraduate Summer Research Program (FUSRP) is an annual nine-­week program that provides competitive funding that supports undergraduate research. The program runs in July and August at the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences, where students work either individually or in small groups in partnership with premier mathematicians and researchers on solving math-related, real-life problems. 

The Fields Institute has built a reputation worldwide for combining top ranking undergraduates, leading researchers, cutting-edge science, and challenging mathematics problems. Each summer students from across the globe are drawn to the collaborative spirit that makes that reputation a reality: hands-on learning and problem-solving define the FUSRP’s approach to education.

The inaugural FUSRP was held in 2010, in partnership with MITACS, and was attended by 22 undergraduates from six different countries and 12 faculty members from the Institute's Principal Sponsoring Universities (PSUs). In 2013 the Fields Institute began to run the program independently. 

The goal of the program has been and continues to be "to provide a high-quality and enriching mathematics research experience for undergraduates". In 2017 the program expanded to support 10 projects, 12 supervisors, and over 30 students from 11 different countries.

As much as the FUSRP is a magnet for top talent, it’s also a connector, building relationships and forging partnerships between the Institute's PSUs, and other partners and institutions eager to test their hypothesis and find solutions to complex mathematical problems.

FUSRP in the News

The 2017 Fields Undergraduate Summer Research Program was featured in the September 22, 2017, issue of the Globe and Mail. The article, written by Ivan Semeniuk, describes the program’s focus on teamwork and real-world problems. 

Read the full article here.

Chronology

What students say about FUSRP

"I will always be grateful to my teachers in our University recommending [I apply to] FUSRP. That was an amazing experience not just as a mathematician but as a person too, I've found some friendships there and the whole athmosphere of the Fields Institute had a deep impression on me." - Zoltán Blázsik, 2011 participant

"It's a definitely a cool program and I think it's a good way to give a large group of students exposure to research!" - Meghan Miholics, 2013 participant

"I am thankful to the Fields Institute for their hospitality. The program helped me to get where I am today." - Kateryna Tatarko, 2014 participant

"My summer at FUSRP was an amazing opportunity for deep mathematical thought and fruitful collaboration, and a great way to gain new insights about the nature of mathematical research, made all the better by the phenomenal central Toronto location." - Matthew Jordan, 2015 participant

"Best experience of my undergraduate years." - Marco Flores, 2016 participant

"For me, the most valuable part was meeting other students with similar interests. I started exploring my postgrad options through discussions with my peers." - Aoibheann Margalit, 2017 participant

"As I'm not a native English speaker, I developed skills like reading, listening and speaking. Also, It was an amazing experience seeing people from other cultures. We still are very close friends. I saw the world from the other side talking to people." - Anna Valiullina, 2017 participant 

What supervisors say about FUSRP

"My experience with FUSRP in 2017 was altogether positive—with enthusiastic capable students and superb local organization in the midst of a world class research institute buzzing with mathematical activity.  Students got a dose of local tourism (Niagara Falls, Rogers Cup tennis at York), some serious mathematics (Coxeter lectures by Percy Deift, seminars by Carlos Tomei), and our "Group 2" produced an impressive 70-page research report on architectural acoustics. I recommend FUSRP highly for students and mentors alike." - Professor Peter Gibson, York University, 2017 supervisor