SIAM Recognizes Two New Project NExT Fellows to Advance Faculty Development

SIAM continues to support the professional development of junior faculty, particularly in the areas of teaching and applied mathematics education. For example, the SIAM Activity Group on Applied Mathematics Education (SIAG/ED) seeks to advance the progress and practice of educational courses, programs, and resources in applied mathematics. In 2020, SIAM began to annually sponsor two Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) Fellows in an effort to further encourage early-career faculty. Project NExT is a program of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) that supports the professional development of new or recent Ph.D.s in the mathematical sciences. According to the MAA, the program “addresses all aspects of an academic career: improving the teaching and learning of mathematics, engaging in research and scholarship, finding exciting and interesting service opportunities, and participating in professional activities.”

An excellent education in applied mathematics is the first step in preparing graduates for the workforce. Junior faculty have the chance to actively inspire and empower students from different backgrounds to solve complex, real-world problems, thus cultivating a universal appreciation of mathematics. Project NExT therefore intends to equip its Fellows with the right resources and training experience to thrive in academic settings. Participants also build a network of peers and mentors as they explore their new careers.

After their selection, each cohort of Project NExT Fellows participates in a three-day workshop in late July or early August, right before MAA MathFest at the end of the summer. They then partake in a similar workshop that precedes MathFest—and more workshops during the event—the following year. Last year’s workshop topics included building and sustaining a local learning population, overcoming math anxiety in the classroom, charting one’s career course, creating a vibrant and inclusive community, orienting the classroom around inquiry, and teaching proof as a way of knowing. Project NExT Fellows also had the opportunity to meet with their teaching support groups during the workshops; these meetings continued periodically throughout the year. In addition, they organized Project-NExT-sponsored sessions at both MathFest and the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM).

The 2022 SIAM Project NExT Fellows are Katherine Harris (Beloit College) and Chase Mathison (Shenandoah University). Harris is an assistant professor of mathematics and computer science at Beloit College. Her research interests fall at the intersection of computer algebra, applied algebra, numerical algebraic geometry, and symbolic computation. She earned her Ph.D. at North Carolina State University, where she developed hybrid symbolic-numeric algorithms to solve problems in real algebraic geometry. Harris believes that promoting applications of mathematical theories is vital to student engagement in the field at small liberal arts colleges like Beloit. She is excited to incorporate these ideas into her classrooms and better prepare students for careers in both academia and industry.

Harris’ membership in the SIAM Activity Group on Algebraic Geometry has been foundational to her development as a research mathematician. She is interested in the way in which SIAM programs like SIAG/ED will pair with her Project NExT Fellowship to make mathematical communities more inclusive for undergraduate students—especially those from underrepresented groups—who are in the early stages of their careers. Project NExT has already provided Harris with a valuable cohort, dedicated mentors, and ample resources on topics like inquiry-oriented and project-based learning — all of which she believes will benefit her and her students.

Chase Mathison is in his second year as an assistant professor of mathematics at Shenandoah University. His research interests include inverse problems in medical imaging and microlocal analysis applications to thermoacoustic tomography. He earned his Ph.D. from Purdue University, where he studied thermoacoustic tomography with circular integrating detectors and sampling in thermoacoustic tomography under the direction of Plamen Stefanov. As an educator, Mathison believes that exposing students to fascinating and challenging real-world applications of mathematics is the best way to promote mathematical learning. He is a member of SIAG/ED and finds this group to be incredibly helpful in improving his teaching skills.

Project NExT’s most recent three-day workshop provided Mathison with valuable information about new teaching techniques, including mastery-based grading; he hopes to implement this method in the spring. The Fellowship has also allowed him to meet fellow colleagues and share in the common interests and challenges of being a new faculty member. Mathison is looking forward to attending JMM in 2022, partaking in more Project NExT workshops, and meeting other NExT-ers in person.

Candidates who are interested in applying for the Project NExT Fellowship must submit a personal statement, research statement, one-page curriculum vitae, and letter of support from their department chairs. Applicants must hold a recent Ph.D. in mathematics, statistics, mathematics education, or another math-intensive field; in addition, they should have a teaching position and experiences, attitudes, ideas, and leadership abilities that would benefit the cohort. To be considered for SIAM sponsorship, applicants must indicate their SIAM membership on the application. An MAA committee makes all final Project NExT Fellow selections. The next application deadline is April 15, 2022; more information about the program and application process is available online. 

One exceptional faculty member can have a far-reaching positive impact within SIAM and among the broader scientific research community. SIAM is excited to contribute to excellence in applied mathematics education for the next generation’s interdisciplinary mathematicians. Interested parties may also wish to attend the upcoming SIAM Conference on Applied Mathematics Education, which will take place in a hybrid format  jointly with the 2022 SIAM Annual Meeting this July in Pittsburgh, Pa.