• A small group of undergraduate students receives direct mentorship from researchers at the centre and takes part in seminars and advanced courses.
• The new edition of the Mathematics Intensive Program will be presented on 13 March and is aimed at prospective Mathematics students at universities in Madrid.
• The new call for applications is open until 15 April.

When Sofía Paz enrolled in the Mathematics degree, she did so driven by her passion for the discipline, although she was not yet familiar with its different areas of specialisation or which one would ultimately spark her greatest interest. One year later, she is part of a small group of students who work under the direct mentorship of research staff and take part in exclusive seminars, within the framework of the Mathematics Intensive Program (MIP) at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (ICMAT). “Now, thanks to the meetings with my tutor and the monthly courses, I have a slightly clearer idea,” she says. She is one of the four members of the first cohort of the initiative, aimed at university students with particular talent and a vocation for research, whose second call for applications opens tomorrow. Her tutor, Diego Córdoba, with whom she meets weekly, is one of the most prominent mathematicians in the field of fluid equations and a recipient of the National Research Award.

Like Paz, each MIP participant has a tutor — a member of the ICMAT scientific staff — who proposes topics tailored to their interests, recommends readings and supervises their progress. “What I have found most useful is having someone to guide me when studying more complex topics. My mentor, Andrei Jaikin, has not only answered my questions; he has also suggested topics for study and helped me identify the most interesting points,” says Iván López, another participant.

In addition, the group has taken part in advanced courses, reading groups and regular meetings with national and international researchers visiting the centre. “Students have been able to follow demanding courses, speak with researchers and broaden their perspective on the discipline,” explains Javier Aramayona, director of ICMAT.

“The programme was created with the idea of offering undergraduate students an opportunity to come into contact with more advanced mathematics than the standard curriculum usually allows, and also to learn first-hand how mathematicians work,” he continues.

Participants in the first edition of the MIP. Image: Álvaro Minguito/ ICMAT.

Presentation event for the second edition

The second edition of the MIP will be officially presented on Friday, 13 March 2026, from 17:00 to 19:00, in the ICMAT Auditorium.

The session will include the participation of Eloísa del Pino, president of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and will serve as the launch event for the new call for applications to the programme.

During the event, the objectives of the MIP, how it operates and the selection process will be explained, and there will be an opportunity to answer questions from interested students. A round-table discussion with participants from the first edition will also take place.

Attendance is free until capacity is reached, with prior registration through the form available on the ICMAT website.

A model that strengthens early links with research

The MIP is inspired by international models of excellence in education, such as those developed by the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Many of the most renowned mathematicians — including Fields Medal winners and recipients of other major awards — have been trained at these institutions.

The aim is to provide highly motivated students with a stimulating environment where they can fully develop their potential, establish early contact with open problems and become familiar with the collaborative dimension of mathematical research. “The programme has shown me the real complexity of mathematics and has given me a much broader view of what it is and its applications,” says Paz.

Upon completing their degree, students who finish the programme — which is entirely free of charge for participants — will receive a specific certificate issued by the CSIC recognising their participation.

Note: This text has been automatically translated.