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University of Wyoming

Wyoming Cryptography School Cohort 2008-2009


The Wyoming Cryptography School (WCS) is a joint program between the departments of Mathematics and Computer Science. Funded in part by the National Science Foundation, the WCS was formed to encourage research in cryptography by helping upper-division mathematics students gain research experience and the skills necessary to continue work in computational mathematics in graduate school.

We have already had one exceptional cohort of students who started studying with us last summer and have continued meeting all throughout the school year.  We are now looking for students to follow them in a second year of Cryptography research.  We have funds to support a second cohort of six young mathematicians this year.

By the end of the year, each student will have have gained valuable hands on experience working on real life open problems in a group, as well as earned a $8,200 stipend (paid continuously throughout the year).

Sound like something you might like to do?  We are looking for exceptional students for the cohort. We prefer students who have already solved previously unsolved problems in mathematics, received the Fields Medal, and discovered the secret of immortality. Failing that, we prefer students who can

  • commit to working throughout the academic year, but we are willing to work with you if you need some time off during the summer or even during the spring semester (e.g., for student teaching),
  • are interested in cryptography and/or computers, and
  • are willing to work together on difficult problems.

In particular, you do not need to know how to program or understand the mathematics of cryptography to participate—we will teach you those things as part of the program.  We do, however, require that you have already taken Calc 1-3 and Linear Algebra as an absolute bare minimum.  The more classes and experience you have, the more you can contribute to the group.

If you would like  to read more, please visit our website at http://www.cs.uwyo.edu/~ruben/wcs/index.php/Main/HomePage.  If you think you are ready to join, come talk to Siguna Mueller in RH 311 as soon as possible, or  email smuller@uwyo.edu with the following information: Your name, phone#, what math classes you have taken so far, why you want to join, and what it is that you think you can add to the group.

We can't wait to meet you and start learning and working with you this summer!