As an undergraduate student, David Ash (BMath ’87), joined a research team in Combinatorics and Optimization. This experience forever impacted his life, giving him a taste of the excitement that mathematical research brings. In meeting undergraduate winners of the Mike Vangoch Memorial Scholarship, another student award established through David’s philanthropic support, David observed that many top students have achieved success as undergraduates in research. As the award is intended to honour success in basic mathematical research, David chose to name the award after two historical mathematicians exemplifying such traits: Sophie Germain and Paul Erdős. It is the hope of David Ash to support the next generation of mathematical researchers.
This award is open to students in any year of their undergraduate research program, and selection is based on remarkable contributions to basic mathematical research stemming from a successful Undergraduate Research Assistant placement. This award recognizes research conducted any time during their undergraduate career, and will provide $2,500 to one Faculty of Mathematics undergraduate student.
Eligibility:
- An undergraduate student in the Faculty of Mathematics.
- The undergraduate student needs to be nominated by their research supervisor.
Application Process:
The deadline for submitting the nomination is April 15 to the Mathematics Research Office (if the deadline falls on a weekend, then the nomination packages are due the following business day). Department/school deadlines for nominations will be set earlier by the unit.
The nomination package must include:
- A letter of support from the supervisor(s) to clarify why the student is deserving of the award and briefly describe the research completed during the supervision (limited to 2 pages).
- If the student has accomplished outstanding research with more than one supervisor, then each supervisor is required to submit a separate letter.
- A one page description of the research written by the student nominee.
- A curriculum vitae of the student.
- If applicable, copies of the research paper(s) published or in submission, co-authored by the student nominee.
The recipient will be selected by the Faculty of Mathematics Research Advisory Committee in late April/early May.