program Description

Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS)

The Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS) Programs provide an opportunity for talented undergraduate students to work in teams on a real-world research projects proposed by sponsors from industry or the public sector. Each student team, with support from their academic mentor and industry mentor, will research the problem and present the results, both orally and in writing, at the end of the program. Subsequent to the RIPS program, some student teams choose to publish their results, or present them at national conferences. IPAM provides each undergraduate student with a wide range of support and incentives. These include:

• A $4,200 stipend
• Travel allowance
• Housing and meals on campus
• Site-visit with sponsors (subject to confirmation)
• Foreign students (only if already studying in the US) are eligible
• Graduating seniors are eligible
• All materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by the application deadline.

You must be at least 18 years of age to participate in either program. IPAM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (except for the minimum age requirement), disability, religion, or sex. IPAM does not exclude participants or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age (except for the minimum age requirement), disability, religion, or sex. Everyone, including women and members of underrepresented communities, is encouraged to apply to this program.

Attention: Please note the different dates of the LA and Singapore programs.

RIPS Los Angeles

RIPS-LA runs June 22 – August 21, 2026. Students will live in residence halls on the UCLA campus and will work at IPAM, which will provide technical support and offices. We expect to have nine projects, but the sponsors and projects are not yet finalized.

International Students

International students are eligible to apply for RIPS-LA only if they are studying in the US. For more information, see the RIPS 2026 web page.

If you are a foreign student enrolled at a U.S. university:

If selected for RIPS, you will most likely need to obtain a “CPT” in order to participate in the program. This will likely require you to register for an internship or independent study class through your school. On occasion, it is also possible to participate through an "OPT," but it is up to you to determine whether this option is compliant with U.S. government guidelines. Please clarify your eligibilty for RIPS with your school's international student office before applying to this program.

Foreign students not enrolled at a US university:

You are not eligible for participation in RIPS this year.

RIPS Singapore

In collaboration with the Institute for Mathematical Sciences (IMS) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), IPAM recruits U.S. students to work on cross-cultural teams with students from NUS and other Asian universities on four projects, each sponsored by a company based in the region. The program dates will be May 18-July 17, 2026. Attention: Please note the different dates of the LA and Singapore programs.

Students in Singapore: please consult the IMS announcement for information and the application for local participants.

Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for RIPS-Singapore. English is the only language required for participation. The local students, academic mentors and industry mentors will speak English.

Students will stay in residence halls on campus and eat meals in the campus dining halls. The IMS will provide technical support and offices, and offer some cultural activities. We expect to have four projects. Projects vary, but all involve some math, statistics, data, and computing. The Institute for Mathematical Sciences is in the center of the campus of the National University of Singapore (NUS). For more information: see the RIPS-Singapore web page.