Frannie Haller, a mathematics education major, spent her summer at Illinois State University.

From June 3-July 26, Haller worked with professors, other mathematics educators and high school students at a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU).

About her research

There were five teams at the REU that worked with different mathematics problems for about seven weeks.

Haller and her team worked on a graph they called “H.” They solved the spectrum problem for a three-uniform, two-regular hypergraph. The graph Haller worked on had three vertices on each edge.

Haller hopes to present the research later this year.

Working with students

Haller also helped plan and execute a week-long math camp for high school students across Chicago.

Haller got to teach mini sessions, run the camp and work with students as a table monitor. Each high school student worked on his/her own research and presented it at the end of the week.

“It was fascinating to see how students who were unsure about their math skills at the beginning of the camp were the most enthusiastic about their findings by the end,” Haller said. “Many, if not all, of the students didn’t want to leave at the end of the week. Most were thrilled that they had found this new love of mathematics.”

Haller worked with three professors at Illinois State:

• Dr Saad El-Zanati, distinguished professor of mathematics
• Ryan Bunge, instructional assistant professor of mathematics
• David Barker, associate professor of mathematics

Dr. Patrick Sullivan, assistant professor in mathematics, is her Missouri State adviser.

What is an REU?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds universities to work with undergraduate research in mathematics.

REUs let faculty mentors bring in 12 students from around the United States to mentor and work on research for eight weeks during the summer. These students are among the best math majors in the country.