The Mrs. E. J. Hoover Program for Advanced Students in Mathematics consists of summer research projects for advanced undergraduates. These research projects are designed to bridge the gap between advanced undergraduate courses in mathematics and graduate-level research in mathematics. The goal is to provide challenging research opportunities for future graduate students in mathematics. The project runs for six weeks in the summer, and the research team consists of one faculty mentor, one graduate student (the team leader) and several undergraduate students. Hoover projects are at a high level of mathematical sophistication, while still being approachable enough such that undergraduate students can produce real results within the given time frame.

One Hoover project will be offered in Summer 2025, a project on spatial pattern formation with evolutionary game dynamics, with Professor Daniel Cooney. The prerequisites are Calculus 1, 2, 3, a proof-based course (Math 347), and ordinary differential equations (Math 285 or Math 441). Partial differential equations (Math 442) is desirable but not required.

The project will run June 2 – July 11. Participating undergraduates will receive a $1500 stipend (to be deposited in their student account).  Course credit is not given for the Hoover project.

Participating students are required to be UIUC undergraduates, to be on campus during the project (except for weekends and university holidays), and to devote 20 hours/per week to the project.  Students graduating in May 2025 are not eligible.