This project is funded by the Science Division and Matthew Rodermund fund.

A loop is a closed curve in the plane that starts and ends at the same
point and may intersect itself. They have been an object of mathematical study since antiquity. Questions about their topology have been raised in modern times for their relations to group theory, knot theory, quantum physics, DNA recombination, and more. My research collaborators and I proposed a game whose complexity relies on topological properties of loops, and we wish to create interactive tools so that a general audience can explore them.

This summer we aim to develop user-friendly software centering around simplifying loops by performing certain moves that modify them. The goal is to build a mobile app featuring a graphical user interface in which a user can generate and play with loops by touching the screen. Time permitting, algorithms which automate the process of simplifying a loop using the moves and other new research applications may be explored as well.

We will meet regularly and work together closely throughout the project using pair programming and version control software.

Students who are interested in applied math such as actuarial sciences should strongly consider applying. Actuaries and other data scientists must be proficient at reading and digesting technical papers in order to implement the complex mathematical models therein. This project will help develop those important technical skills.

Apply For This Opportunity

Application Deadline is 4/10/26