Computer Science and Mathematics for Scientists

Computer Science and Mathematics for Scientists
(CSMS)

providing scholarships for science students to study

Computer Science and Mathematics as a second major

at the

University of Miami in the Department of Computer Science and Department of Mathematics

There is a clearly developing need for Computer Science and Mathematics skills across the sciences, in academia, research, and industry. The burgeoning fields of computational genomics and mathematical ecology are obvious examples. The increasing use of computational mathematics in physics, meteorology, chemistry, and other sciences, provides a demand for scientists trained in Computer Science or Mathematics, a demand that currently outstrips supply. A Computer Science or Mathematics education provides scientists with skills and expertise required for employment and research in their base science.

The Computer Science and Mathematics for Scientists (CSMS) project administers National Science Foundation (NSF) funded scholarships for academically talented, financially needy students, who are majoring in science (a mathematical, computer, biological, physical, or geo science), who take Computer Science or Mathematics as a second major. An NSF-CSMS scholarship pays for 8 credits tuition per year, to a maximum of $10000 per year (approximately $8800 in 2007/2008), for up to four years.

Information for applicants is available here.

Highlights of the CSMS project include:

JETT workshops in the Department of Computer Science: The Department of Computer Science is hosting ACM Java Engagement for Teacher Training workshops to support the teaching of Computer Science in high schools and provide information about the CSMS project.
Mathematics Curriculum Development: Curriculum segments of Mathematics courses are being augmented by special units giving glimpses of current research on the frontiers between Mathematics and marketing, finance, and genetics.
Advising: Each recipient of a CSMS scholarship is assigned a secondary advisor from their second major in Computer Science or Mathematics.
Mentoring: The University of Miami chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery provides mentoring of scholarship recipients in Computer Science. A committee of senior Mathematics students serves as mentors for scholarship recipients in Mathematics.
Seminars about the use of Computer Science and Mathematics in science. (Abstracts of the seminars are here.)
Industry Liaison: An industry liaison group drawn from local businesses that have an employment demand for graduates with Computer Science or Mathematics skills provide "real world" input on how Computer Science and Mathematics are used in their businesses.
Placement: The graduating CSMS students are identified to the University's Toppel Career Center so that suitable employers are appropriately informed of these graduates.

The CSMS project is funded by the National Science Foundation Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program under Award No. 0630894 (see the NSF Award Abstract). This program makes grants to institutions of higher education to support scholarships for academically talented, financially needy students, enabling them to enter the workforce following completion of an associate, baccalaureate, or graduate level degree in science and engineering disciplines.

Online Reports of Activities

Students' Award Data (Anonymized)
Exit Surveys (Anonymized)
Abstracts of Industrial Liaison Seminars

The CSMS project is managed by:

Geoff Sutcliffe (Principal Investigator), Department of Computer Science.
Huseyin Kocak (co-PI), Department of Computer Science.
Victor Pestien (co-PI), Department of Mathematics.
Burton Rosenberg (co-PI), Department of Computer Science.

The CSMS representatives from science Departments in the College of Arts and Sciences are:

Dan DiResta, Coordinator, Department of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
Jacqueline Dixon, Director, Ecosystem Science and Policy Undergraduate Program.
Blase Maffia, Undergraduate Advisor, Department of Biology.
Alex Wilson, Department of Biology.
Rik Myers, Department of Biochemistryand Molecular Biology.
Jim Nearing, Associate Chairman, Department of Physics.
Larry Peterson, Department of Geology.
Bill Purcell, Undergraduate Chairman, Department of Chemistry.
Brian Soden, Meteorology Program.

The administration and financial management of the CSMS project is with support of offices in the University of Miami, represented by:

Paul Orehovec, Vice President, Division of Enrollment Management.
James Bauer, Director, Office of Financial Assistance.
Rita Deutsch and Marian Dahman, Center for Student Academic Services.
Jan Williams-Eddleman, Director, Center for Freshman Advising.

The CSMS industry liaison group is drawn from local businesses that have demand for graduates with Computer Science or Mathematics skills. Additionally, the University's Toppel Career Center is represented. The members are:

Syed Waqar Ali, President and Founder, Hurricane Engineering & Testing, Inc..
Johannes Gudmundsson, President and Founder, iNECTA LLC.
Matt Mankins, Owner and Founder, Lorem Ipsum Books.
James Smart, Director, University of Miami Toppel Career Center.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.