1. Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) vs Internships

2. What is REU? Research Experiences for Undergrads (REU)
Funded by National Science Foundation (NSF)
Only available to citizens/permanent residents of USA
Cutting edge summer research at universities/institutes and some liberal arts Colleges: often~ 10 students per program
Multidisciplinary fields of research
Housing and modest stipend ($400-$500/week) provided
Usually 8-10 weeks long
Acceptance can be competitive

3. Why REU Doing research in an area that is interesting to you
Your research could lead to publication(s)
Exploring new places and meeting great scientists
Research experience will help in making informed career decisions
It is great experience to list on your resume for graduate school as well as job applications

4. http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/re u/reu_search.jsp
Who is Funding REU?
National Science Foundation (NSF) is funding most of the REU programs in the US.
u/reu_search.jsp

5. What Do You Need to Do?
You will need to offer a convincing argument for why you are interested. You just need to “sell” your skills.
Good grades and good references are important
Many of the REU programs prefer the under-represented groups/schools.

6. Community Colleges are a big source of great REU eligible students
Applications are usually due January-April for the following summer.
Find a program whose research area matches your interests.

7. Contact the listed primary or secondary contact person on the website.
- Are they taking students this summer?
- What are they looking for in potential students?
Find faculty who can write strong letters of recommendation
Work on your statement of academic, career, and research goals. How do you anticipate the REU help you achieve your goals?

8. Do your homework and read about the REU projects you are interested in.
Contact a faculty member, at every REU program you applied to, whose research you are interested in and ask about skills he/she is looking for in the REU research student.

9. Internship
Are defined as supervised, career-related work experiences leading to development of knowledge, skills, and abilities needed in a particular profession.
Institutions invest a great deal of effort and resources in training internship awardees and usually hire them once done with their degrees if the awardee was proven to be a good fit with them.
An internship is usually for one semester at a time.
Could be paid or unpaid internship
Full-time requires working 40 hr/week
Part-time requires working 20 hr/week

10. Summer Internships in Chicago:
Other Places:
us/corporate/summer-internship

11.
Current.stm
The 5 Best Websites to Find Internships:
campus/the-5-best-websites-to- fi_b_ html

12. How Can Faculty Help?
Recognize Students’ interests, abilities and potential
Help searching for the best REU/Internship that matches your students’ interests, abilities and potential
If you cannot write recommendation letters which highlight the student’s strengths, find faculty members that can and communicate with them.
Communicate with the REU/Internship institutions your students applied to
Send your students to institutions where the you have contacts and known credibility.