Quasicrystalline Structures Emphasis of REU

For two of the past three summers, Prince Chidyagwai ’05 conducted mathematics research with top students from around the country through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates at Lafayette.

Chidyagwai is pursuing a B.S. in mathematics and an A.B. in computer science. He first worked in an REU group under Gary Gordon, professor of mathematics, using software programs in research with practical uses in protein folding techniques in biology and in designing robotic arm movements. He helped present the group’s findings at mathematics conferences in Philadelphia and Baltimore.

This past summer, Chidyagwai created and studied quasicrystalline structures in REU research with Cliff Reiter, professor of mathematics. They gained knowledge about the diverse growth pattern of the snowflake-like structures and studied them to learn more about parallel algorithms. “I feel like I have an idea of what it will be like in graduate school in terms of doing independent work,” Chidyagwai says.

Last spring, he was on the winning team in the annual Math Bowl. He is vice president of the Pi Mu Epsilon mathematics honor society, a math peer tutor, and a lab proctor. Chidyagwai is also a member of the International Students Association, the student chapter of the Association of Computing Machinery, and the Mathematics Club. He has won the Carolyn Van Dyke Prize in Computer Science, earned honorable mention in the Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling, and placed third in the team Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges Mathematics Competition.