University of Arkansas Microelectronics-Photonics (microEP) Graduate Program Summer Research for Undergrads (or, how to get a jump on grad school) Ken Vickers – Director Research Professor, Physics (1998 – present) Eng Management, Texas Instruments (1980 – 1998) Fisk University November 2007Nashville, TN

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 2 Why Undergrad Research  Fall/Spring – do it at Fisk University –Great way to know faculty members –Prepares you for success in summer programs –Lets you apply your classroom theory  Summer – do it somewhere –Fisk – great start to a compressed MS degree –Industry – great way to get on the “hire after graduation” list of your targeted company –Other Universities – great way to get on the “must fund” list of your targeted grad program

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 3 Aspects of Summer Programs  Industry –Start looking in January at the latest –Use any on-campus career resources available –Use internet industry publications  Universities –Nationally funded programs on the internet –Search university sites for “undergraduate research” to find locally funded opportunities

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 4 Example of Internal Funding UA George Washington Carver Project  Originated in 1996 as a UA funded REU style partnership:  HBCU Administrators identify students matching research opportunities  Initiated by Colleges of Agriculture, Business, and Education  Now also supported by College of Engineering, Fulbright College, and five NSF REU sites on campus  Typically seventy-five students in these programs each summer

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 5 NSF REU Program Attributes  The NSF as Customer –More US students choosing grad school –More underrepresented group students choosing grad school –More highly skilled BS graduates entering the workplace  The microEP Grad Program as Customer –Direct recruitment opportunity (matchmaking) –Distribution of “matchmakers” nationally –Peer “seal of approval” of program elements

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 6 Understanding a Host Organization: (the microEP program as example)  The educational objective of the microEP program is to produce graduates that create and commercialize micro to nanoscale materials, devices, and systems.  This will be accomplished through rigorous interdisciplinary science/engineering graduate education; supplemented with soft skills, management, and entrepreneurial training.

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 7 NSF REU Sites – microEP as an example  Submitted proposal and was funded for summers ; 2 nd proposal funded for  Included funding for REU students to take summer graduate ethics class  Included microEP Cohort methodology approach  Viewed as a prime recruiting tool  Dedicated three of twelve positions to Carver institutions  Expanded focus by 2004 to include coordination of all undergrad research programs on campus to create a “community of summer researchers”

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 8 Setting up the REU Process  Project Planning –October: Web site updated for next summer –November: Contact partner institutions –December: Widespread distribution –January: Research grant supplemental REU proposals –March 1: Application deadline –March 7: 1 st round offers made –March 21: 2 nd round offers made –April: Identify faculty/research projects –May: Enroll students, finalize housing, projects, etc. –Graduation plus 7-14 days: Start 10 week REU

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 9 Setting up the REU Process  Infrastructure elements –Grad School enrolls participants for 1 hour class and handles tuition (automatic student access to infrastructure) –microEP office handles paperwork, housing, and event support –Faculty Director manages recruitment, selection, and daily operations processes (1 month salary) –PI and co-PI drive selection of students, recruit faculty, drive faculty/student matching, and monitor summer research progress

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 10 Setting up the REU Process  Operational elements –Base stipend of about $4.5k to match industry –Housing and travel allowance of $2.0k –$500 research support/student –Weekly research review meetings –Common start date, then three day orientation and community building, for all REU/Carver participants –Common housing of all participants in one dorm floor (mix room-mates between programs) –All students treated as full site participants regardless of funding source

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 11 Setting up the REU Process  Extra elements –All programs’ participants share three day opening schedule (Sunday check-in and dinner, Monday campus orientation, and Tuesday team building/creativity summer camp) –Float trip on the Buffalo River if possible –Thursday evening events every week, hosting passed between REU/Carver programs –Road trip to Dallas semiconductor industry at week eight for UA microEP, UA Physics, and OU Physics REU participants (microEP hosted)

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 12 Your Obligations as a Student  Research –40 hour/week obligation (just to start) –Plan to act like a grad student (professional) –Expect to be treated like a professional  Community –Treat it as an experiment in trying out another part of the country –Experience another learning environment –Represent yourself and your school well –Form lasting friendships –Have fun

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 13 Common Start Date and Opening Night Dinner

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 14 Research Community Creation: Summer Camp for REU Participants Camp concepts by Dr. Ed Sobey (

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 15 Socialization Across REU Sites: Trips and Thursdays

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 16 Professional Development: Dallas Semiconductor Industry MEMC Southwest, Sherman Texas Instruments DLP, Dallas Zyvex Corporation, Dallas

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 17 The Summer Community 2007

University of Arkansas microEP Grad Program So What are the Results?

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 19 Setting up the REU Process  Research –Projects from ME, ChE, EE, Civil Eng, Physics, and Chemistry faculty –Full spectrum from great to terrible projects and results, with average being better than “good”  Participation –Faculty and student participation ran full spectrum, with average better than “good”  Recruitment –microEP recruitment strongly dependent on the summer’s group identity –Overall, better than 50% grad school attendance

November 2007Fisk University - Nashville, TNSlide Number 20 Summer U/G Research at the University of Arkansas  NSF REU sponsored by microEP ( then the REU button)  NSF REU sponsored by Physics (  NSF REU sponsored by Chemistry (  NSF REU sponsored by Mechanical Eng (contact Dr. Joe Rencis at  Internally funded Space and Planetary Sciences (

University of Arkansas microEP Grad Program Questions?