Why Mathematics at the University of Minnesota?
Research exploration at the forefront of mathematics
Our community of mathematicians conducts cutting-edge research in a wide range of areas from pure and applied mathematics to interdisciplinary studies. This research is supported by a wide range of public and private funding sources. Together, we're expanding knowledge, advancing our understanding of the world, and solving real-world problems.
Explore all of our research focus areas, or get a taste for some of our multidisciplinary topics below.
![Stethoscope icon](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/folwell_half/public/3_5.png.webp?itok=Dzd5CVJs)
Biology, biomaterials, viruses, medical imaging, neurons
![lightbulb icon](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/folwell_half/public/2_5.png.webp?itok=aF_l0qMP)
Materials science, quantum properties of 2D Moiré materials, liquid crystals
![Earth icon](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/folwell_half/public/1_9.png.webp?itok=FYjQW9lm)
Climate science, fluid mechanics, other dynamical systems
![computer icon](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/folwell_half/public/4_2.png.webp?itok=7cRHgk1G)
Computer vision, data science, machine learning, optimization
Specialized research and teaching through our centers and institutes
Our unit is home to six specialized centers that engage in dynamic outreach, research, and teaching with collaborators from across the state and around the world. These institutes add value for the University of Minnesota community by creating versatile research opportunities, hosting well-attended lecture series, and maintaining critical mathematics programs for Minnesota youth.
Situated in the College of Science & Engineering
Interdisciplinary opportunities are abundant given our home in the College of Science and Engineering, where all grad programs ranked in the top 25 among U.S. public universities. In FY22, CSE had $144 million in sponsored research expenditures. School of Mathematics researchers engage in a variety of interdepartmental initiatives including:
![Cancer patient](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/webp_scaled/public/pexels-ivan-samkov-6436268.jpg.webp?itok=qqkLMu3D)
Bringing mathematical modeling to cancer clinical trials, so more trials lead to cancer treatments
![Sound waves](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/webp_scaled/public/sound-waves-pexels-oktay-ko%CC%88seog%CC%86lu-15422736-4x6.jpg.webp?itok=gt4ErLpu)
Developing a breakthrough theory that's empowering researchers to create faster, more accurate computational models of disordered materials in ways that weren’t previously possible.
![Jeff Calder and team standing next to an autonomous vehicle](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/webp_scaled/public/jeff-calder-autonomous-vehicle-team-4x6.jpg.webp?itok=I4RZKSAR)
Paving the way for smarter and safer automated vehicles by leveraging graph learning and related topics.
![archaeology site with ruins](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/webp_scaled/public/archaeology-pexels-roman-odintsov-6422200.jpg.webp?itok=b4dqYKBJ)
Using advanced mathematical methods in archaeology and zooarchaeology.
![feathers with moire pattern applied](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/webp_scaled/public/moire-david-clode-GT6MZ3JHxEk-unsplash%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=0SEIaoUk)
Deepening our understanding of moiré materials, which have the potential to realize new fundamental physics.
![Cancer cells](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/webp_scaled/public/cancer-cells-national-cancer-institute-L7en7Lb-Ovc-unsplash%20%282%29.jpg.webp?itok=pVQO16Tf)
Advancing treatments for nervous system tumors via a stochastic branching process model that predicts in vivo behavior from in vitro data.
A top-tier research university
At the University of Minnesota, faculty and students are pioneering breakthroughs and tackling society’s most pressing issues with their discoveries.
![standup paddleboarding in the mississippi river near the minneapolis sklyline](/sites/cse.umn.edu/files/styles/webp_scaled/public/minneapolis-standup-paddleboarding-wide.jpg.webp?itok=oe9BJ8ia)
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Virtual tour: Minneapolis-St. Paul Who employs our graduates
Student voices from across the United States
Three students — from Oregon, California, and Texas — share why Minnesota, and specifically the UMN College of Science and Engineering, is a draw for them.
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