Program Details

What is a NSF-REU site?

REU stands for Research Experiences for Undergraduates.  REU sites are funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on a competitive basis.  Objectives of REU sites are to involve undergraduates in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs, to attract diversified students into careers in science, engineering, and science education, and to retain these students by ensuring that they receive the best education and mentoring possible.  The site at West Virginia University is partially supported by WVNano, West Virginia’s state initiative for nanoscience, engineering, and education.

Who should apply?

Undergraduates who have finished their Freshman, Sophomore or Junior years with interest in chemistry, physics, materials science, biology, or engineering.  Underrepresented minority groups and women are strongly encouraged to apply.   US Citizenship or permanent residency is required.

What are the dates and duration of the program?

This is a 10 week program that runs from May 23 through July 39, 2011.  Applications will be considered starting on March 12, 2010 with a rolling admissions basis until all available spots are filled.  Applicants will be notified of their acceptance on or before April 1.

Stipend

Students accepted to the program will receive $5,000 for their participation. 

Travel and Housing

Students are eligible to apply for a $400 capped travel allowance.  Students will receive room and board at WVU dormitories. 

Team Building Activities

These activities outside of the laboratory environment will reinforce the collaborative nature of the WVNano NSF-REU program.  The activities listed below will foster student-faculty interactions and student-student communication.  These will include:

Biweekly outdoor activities for the site participants  Activities such as mountain biking in nearby state parks, white-water rafting, and rock climbing will be funded by WVNano.

Field-trips to nearby large scientific facilities  Visits may include the National Radio Astronomy Observatory near Elkins, WV; the National Institutes of Standards and Technology in Germantown, MD; and the Naval Research laboratory in Washington, DC.

Weekly meetings with grad student/postdoc/faculty scientific presentations followed by a social/informal discussion hour that includes refreshments  Presentations/discussions will include diverse topics, including the connections between different REU projects, future careers, graduate school applications, jobs in industry, etc.

Access to the WVU Student Recreation Center  This includes swimming pools, basketball courts, weight rooms, climbing wall, etc.  Click here for more information.

Presentations by Students

A mid-summer review This review will consist of an informal 5-10 minute presentation students’ research hypothesis/problem and the approach/experiments students are using to solve the problem.  This will serve to focus the research, highlight problems areas, and give students practice in delivering oral presentations.

Final poster session at the end of the program  Students will present their research in poster form to faculty, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students at the end of the REU program.  Students will be able to take their poster back to their home institution at the end of the program.

Student Training Course

At the beginning of the program a student preparation and training course will be taken by all WVNano NSF-REU participants.  This will ensure that students will be prepared to successfully complete their research project.  This intensive training course will include:

• Basic laboratory and office safety procedures and strategies.
• Basic laboratory record keeping techniques.
• Scientific ethics.
• Introduction to basic laboratory instrumentation.
• Basic written and oral presentation skills.
• Basic aspects of nanosciences and engineering.
• Peer advice.
• Tour of available facilities.
• Short presentations by faculty mentors about the participant research projects.

Program Flier

For a one page flier on the WVNano NSF-REU program at WVU, please click here.  We encourage you to print out this flier and freely distribute it to friends, students, and colleagues.  Feel free to post this flier in locations normally frequented by