TIGR
College of Sciences and Mathematics
TIGR: The Initiative for Graduate Recruitment Program
TIGR, or the Initiative for Graduate Recruitment Program, offers talented students from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM the opportunity to explore the graduate programs in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) at Auburn University. Participants will be able to take advantage of workshops aimed to help prepare competitive applications for graduate programs. Additionally, participants will engage in conversations with current faculty and graduate students in their programs of interest as well as participate in social activities.
Eligibility:
All participants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who is currently a junior from a group traditionally underrepresented in STEM (i.e. African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, students with disabilities, first generation college students, and students who demonstrate a financial need) and interested in pursuing a PhD from Auburn University in Chemistry & Biochemistry, Physics, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Statistics, and/or Geosciences. Participants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and a demonstrated interest in research.
How to Apply:
The application deadline is March 2nd, 2020. Applications can be completed online: AU TIGR Application.
Applications must include the following:
- Statement describing your academic and professional goals.
- Digital copy of academic transcript (unofficial is acceptable).
- A letter of recommendation from a faculty advisor at your home institution or mentor from a previous research experience.
Why Auburn?
- 416 Graduate Students are enrolled in the College of Sciences and Mathematics.
- Teaching and Research Assistantship availability, including tuition waiver and competitive stipend.
- Day trip destinations include the local Chewacla State Park, going to the beach or exploring the nearby cities of Atlanta and Birmingham.
- Dine at one of the over 125 restaurants that are located in the Auburn area.
- Auburn was ranked the 7th Best Small Town in the South by Southern Living in 2017.
Areas of Research
As an R1 Institution, the Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics prides itself on its ability to conduct varied and meaningful research in the following areas.
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
The Chemistry and Biochemistry department was ranked as number 4 in the United States by GraduatePrograms.com in 2016.
"I can honestly say that pursuing chemistry in graduate school is one of the best decisions I've ever made... Being able to fully immerse myself in research has been so much more rewarding than I could have imagined."
- Julie Niklas, Graduate Student
- Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
- Biophysics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Plasma Physics
- Space Physics
Recent completion of a $24 million renovation to the Leach Science Center provides Physics students with exceptional resources, e.g. rooftop astronomy terrace and vibration-isolated microscopy lab.
"Through this graduate program, I made connections with relevant people to enhance my research, and then I stared looking for areas in need of skilled scientists to help me find the right career path. I spent six months conducting research in Japan working on Synchotron radiation collisional experiments."
- Ahmad Nemer, Atomic Physics Graduate Student
- Behavior, Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- Evolutionary Genetics and Systematics
- Physiological Adaptations and Functional Genomics
- Host-Microbial Interactions
The Biological Sciences department utilizes state-of-the-art bioinformatic and computational resources, in addition to a Biodiversity Learning Center with exceptional museum and specimen collections.
"The department has great infrastructure to deal with my requirements for [my] Graduate Teaching Assistantship and degree. They help take care of the day-to-day admin so I can focus on my research."
- Graduate Student Highlight
- Actuarial Mathematics
- Algebra
- Analysis
- Applied Mathematics
- Discrete Mathematics
- Differential Equations
- Dynamical Systems
- Geometry
- Linear Algebra
- Numerical Analysis
- Statistics
- Stochastic Analysis
- Topology
Mathematics and Statistics graduate students take courses with small class sizes of five to 15 students, have access to high-performance and parallel computing resources, and graduates from this department hold positions in higher education, government and the private sector.
"What I love most about being a grad student is how much I have learned/grown and all of the amazing people I have been so blessed to meet... Grad school really challenged me to grow as a 'mathematician,' and also a person. As a graduate student, I have been so fortunate to meet so many brilliant professors and professionals who have truly been inspiring mentors and teachers."
- Kelsey Ulmer, Applied Mathematics Ph.D. Student
- Environmental Geosciences
- Solid-Earth Processes and Dynamics
- Earth and Life Through Time
- Natural Resources Exploration and Evaluation
- Geospatial Sciences and Geoinformatics
- Geoscience Education Research
The department of Geosciences has a broad range of state-of-the-art laboratory, field and computational facilities for the use of graduate students, including the Auburn Noble Isotope Mass Analysis Laboratory (ANIMAL).
"The Earth System Science Ph.D. program provides a perfect blend of opportunity to conduct interdisciplinary research on the use of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing technologies to improve human lives, especially in urban areas, which is my passion and area of interest. I also benefited from an internship opportunity in Germany while studying at Auburn."
- Megha Shrestha, Geographic Information Sciences Ph.D. Student