Mentoring Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Mathematics Research Students: Junior Faculty Experiences

TL;DR

This paper shares junior faculty experiences in mentoring undergraduate interdisciplinary mathematics research students, highlighting challenges and strategies to effectively manage supervision and maximize student research benefits.

Contribution

It provides practical insights and guidance for junior faculty on supervising undergraduate research across interdisciplinary mathematical fields.

Findings

Effective mentoring strategies improve student research outcomes.

Structured supervision enhances undergraduate research productivity.

Faculty experience helps navigate diverse research formats and student needs.

Abstract

To be successful, junior faculty must properly manage their time in the face of expanding responsibilities. One such responsibility is supervising undergraduate research projects. Student research projects (either single or multi-student) can be undertaken as a full-time summer experience, or as a part-time academic year commitment. With many potential undergraduate research formats, and with different types of students, junior faculty may find challenges in forming their research group, establishing a structure that promotes student productivity, picking an appropriate project, or in effectively mentoring their students. This article draws from the authors' experiences to help junior faculty navigate these complexities so that all parties reap the benefits of undergraduate research in interdisciplinary mathematical disciplines.