Research and Centers

Research in Mathematics ​

Our department’s fields of interest cover a wide range of pure and applied mathematical fields. These include:

Commutative Algebra • Algebraic and Differential Geometry • Graph Theory • Combinatorics • Complex Analysis • Potential Theory • Harmonic Analysis • Category Theory • Topology • Symplectic Geometry •  Differential Equations • Numerical Analysis • Dynamical Systems • Optimization • Mathematical Biology • Computational Materials Science • Modeling • Data Science • Quantum Computing​ • Artificial Intelligence

Graduate Research Opportunities

Mason has a vibrant PhD program, with more than 45 full-time PhD students and 10 part-time students. Graduates have a wide range of successful careers in academia, government, and industry. Students work closely with faculty to earn their PhD, with a significant percentage of students obtaining jobs in academia, industry, and government.

As part of the graduate program, students have access to several programs and institutes:

• Center for Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence (CMAI). Provides learning experiences for students and postdocs through seminars and activities, and fosters ties between Academia, National Labs, Industry, and Government.
• Mason Mathematics PhD Industrial Immersion Program (IIP). PhD students gain industrial experience through immersion in commercial and government labs. Students participate in interdisciplinary projects with Mason and external mentors.
• MSRI/SLMath Summer School. As institutional members of MSRI/SLMath, we are able to send several students per year to summer schools hosted by MSRI/SLMath.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

Several research opportunities are available for undergraduate mathematics majors.

• Mason Experimental Geometry Lab for research in pure mathematics.
• Mason's Office of Student Scholarship Creative Activities and Research (OSCAR) program for undergraduate research
• Aspiring Scientists Summer Research Program for undergraduate research in the sciences.

Mason mathematics majors have the option of writing an honors thesis in a variety of topics in pure and applied mathematics under the supervision of mathematics faculty.

Mason Mathematics PhD Industrial Immersion Program (IIP)

PhD students gain industrial experience through immersion in commercial and government labs. Students participate in interdisciplinary projects with Mason and external mentors.