This highly readable book aims to ease the many challenges of starting undergraduate research. It accomplishes this by presenting a diverse series of self-contained, accessible articles which include specific open problems and prepare the reader to tackle them with ample background material and references. Each article also contains a carefully selected bibliography for further reading.

The content spans the breadth of mathematics, including many topics that are not normally addressed by the undergraduate curriculum (such as matroid theory, mathematical biology, and operations research), yet have few enough prerequisites that the interested student can start exploring them under the guidance of a faculty member. Whether trying to start an undergraduate thesis, embarking on a summer REU, or preparing for graduate school, this book is appropriate for a variety of students and the faculty who guide them. 

"This book is a superb resource for students and faculty mentors embarking on undergraduate research in mathematics. Its focus is on topics and applications rarely covered in the traditional undergraduate math curriculum, offering novice researchers a sturdy jumping-off point to a broad array of research problems. ? A valuable resource for students and faculty mentors interested in undergraduate research." (V. K. Chellamuthu, Choice, Vol. 56 (2), October, 2018)