REU: Everything you need to know Josh Hinckley Linh Nguyen

What is a REU?  Research Experience for Undergraduates  Conducted at several universities and laboratories across the world  Gives undergraduates the experience of working with graduate students and faculty from different institutions  Fields include: chemistry, physics, biology, geology, etc.  All STEM fields  Funded by NSF

Who and why?  Who:  Everyone!  Anyone in the various sciences  Lucky for us we are a small university  REU’s look for students at smaller universities and minorities  Why:  Boot camp for graduate school  Gets you interested in an area of the STEM subjects  Without an REU?

How do you find a REU?  NSF Website:  Google:  Example: “Chemistry Materials REU”  Ask your professors  Ask your fellow students

How do you apply for a REU?  Make a spreadsheet, or write them down, of the potential institutions with due dates, requirements, etc. to stay organized  How many schools should you look for?  As many as you can (7-30 institutions)  Letter of recommendation:  Formally approach the professor(s)  Give professor(s) a minimum of two weeks notice before due date

What is the application like?  Online or paper  Do NOT wait till the last minute  CHECK DUE DATES!  Some applications are very simple, some are quite lengthy  Transcripts  Mail-in  Unofficial

Personal Statement  Format:  Introduction to yourself and your life  How did your past get you to where you are now  Your college experience so far  Your research experience and/or why are you interested in this REU  Specific to each REU  How will this REU help you with your future endeavors  What are your future goals

Personal Statement Continued  If you have a Pre-Professional Health concentration:  It is highly recommended that you do NOT inform them of your future career in the health field  Have a few people proof read your statement  People you might want:  Professors  People that are not very close to you

Woo!  You got accepted!  What’s next?????  You have a deadline to accept your offer  Usually two weeks after notification  Acceptances are sent through  Pick the school that will provide you with the best experience

What’s it like?  First Day:  Move in day  Second Day:  Meet and Greet  First week in general:  Lab safety  READING and INSTRUCTION!  Every week:  Seminars  Field Trips

What’s normal work day like?  You work a ~40 hour work week  About 8 hours a day  Theoretical:  Usually computation and various tasks  Maybe a meeting?  Mentally demanding  Experimental:  Group meetings once a week  Lab clean up days  More physically demanding

Last week  Final presentation/report  Cook out  Sappy goodbyes 

The fun side of REU’s