- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.
- They must be enrolled in a community college at the time of application and successfully have completed at least one year community college STEM program.
- Applicants must have completed three science or engineering courses, one of which has a laboratory component.
- Applicants must be willing to commit for the entire 10 weeks on this campus program.
- Underrepresented minority and first-generation college students are highly encouraged to apply.
- No prior research experience is required.
Are there any required courses that will impact eligibility for this program?
There is no specific courses requirement, however, applicants must have completed three science or engineering courses, one of which has a laboratory component.
I am an undergraduate from a 4-year college. Can I apply for the program?
No, this REU site research opportunity is for community college students.
What type of student is this REU program looking for?
- Strong motivation to carry out the project and potential for growth/educational value as evidenced in the letters of recommendation and personal statements
- Willingness to live on campus housing during the period of contract
- Ability to work 40 hours per week
- Commitment to not enroll in any summer classes
- Commitment to participate in weekly seminars, research, and professional development meetings
- Commitment to prepare one-page proposal at the start of the program and written report at the end of the program and participate in a poster or oral presentation
- Commitment to participate in surveys
- Underrepresented minority students are strongly encouraged to apply.
What is the selection process for this REU program?
The PI, in collaboration with the research mentors, will review applications. Project assignments will take into account both the student and mentor preferences. Accepted students will be notified by early April. Students must decide by April 15th whether to accept or decline REU offers.
Will students who have not been selected be notified?
Yes. All applicants will be contacted whether or not they are accepted into the program.
What procedures must I follow if I am selected for this program?
- Students must not register for any other coursework during their program participation
- Students must not work outside of their research project and extracurricular duties during the course of this program
- Students must participate fully in the research setting, working with the faculty mentor’s research group on the project to which they have been assigned, and in the required extracurricular activities for the duration of the 10 weeks
- Students must meet the eligibility requirements to participate in the REU Program
- Failure to complete the REU summer research commitment in any way may result in removal from the program and/or the stipend being rescinded or reduced.
How will the COVID-19 pandemic impact this REU program?
The summer 2022 program will be subjected to State and University COVID-related restrictions. All participants will be housed on campus and all research projects will be done in person, but workshops and seminars may be conducted virtually.
What are the healthcare options available through the program?
The REU program DOES NOT provide health insurance for the participants.
What is the time commitment for this REU program?
REU participants are required to be engaged in the project for about 40 hours per week for 10 weeks. The participants will also have preparatory and post-lab work to be completed after lab hours. If you are planning to commit to the REU program, you may not enroll in other summer courses or hold a second part-time job. Accepting an REU position implies that students agree to be available for the entire 10‐week program. A typical workday is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a short break for lunch. Exact hours depend on experiments and seminars, and sometimes students start early or work late, depending on what is going on in the lab. Students are expected to attend and fully participate in all required extracurricular activities. Additionally, students will present either a poster or a short talk at the Summer Symposium and are required to submit a formal paper about their summer research project at the conclusion of the program.
Do I get paid as an REU participant?
Yes. The stipend for this summer research program of 2022 is $600/week. On-campus housing, food allowance, and travel support are also provided.
It may be taxable, and students should report it in their tax filings. The program does not withhold taxes from fellowship stipend payments. For tax-related questions about stipends, students should contact a tax advisor or review IRS Publication 970, “Tax Benefits for Education.” To obtain a copy of Publication 970, go to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/index.html or Google: IRS Gov Publication 970. The IRS publication is updated each calendar year.