RIPS (Research in Industrial Projects for Students) was a summer of rigorous mathematical research pointed squarely at a real-world problem — and, in between, a summer of amazing people, coffee-fueled arguments, and a truly punishing volume of bad puns. This page is about that half of it; the technical work lives on the drug discovery project page.
The RIPS Community
Being part of the 36-student cohort was both humbling and inspiring. The program pulls together students from very different backgrounds who all share a soft spot for mathematics and its applications. From late-night problem-solving sessions to weekend hikes in the Santa Monica mountains, the friendships from that summer are some of the most meaningful of my academic life so far.
Mentorship & Learning
I was fortunate to work with exceptional mentors: Fang Sun (UCLA CS PhD), Luca Ponzoni and Pat Walters from Relay Therapeutics, Susana Serna (RIPS Director), and Dima Shlyaktenko (IPAM Director).
Beyond the Research
The technical work was challenging and rewarding, but some of my fondest memories are of the lighter moments: impromptu math discussions over coffee, team dinners working through LA's food scene, and the collective groan when someone inevitably landed another terrible pun. That balance of serious research and genuine camaraderie is what made the summer special.