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Weekend To Do: Apply for paid Summer Research Programs in STEM

Lately, I’ve been posting a lot of REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) on Facebook (Like my Fan Pages and get updates, too.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Lately, I've been posting a lot of REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) on Facebook (Like my Fan Pages and get updates, too. Here and Here) and Twitter, and now I am going to put it all in one place so that it is easy to share. REUs are opportunities for students to brighten up their resumes and CVs, and set them above the rest. So, please check out the list and see if you or anyone that you know may be interested in these opportunities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

  1. The Leadership Alliance Summer Research - Early Identification Program (SR-EIP). SR-EIP is a rigorous research experience designed specifically for undergraduates interested in applying to PhD or MD-PhD programs. Undergraduates are trained and mentored in the principles underlying the conduct of research and prepares them to pursue competitive applications to graduate schools. Application deadline is February 1st. Program details and application are online: http://www.theleadershipalliance.org/tabid/242/default.aspx.

  2. The Geological Society of America - Mosaics in Science. Developed with the US National Park Service. Participants will spend 11 weeks during the summer in one of 26 areas in National Parks working in all aspects of STEM. Application is due on Feb 3rd at noon. This is a paid internship with housing included! For more information, please check out their webpage at http://rock.geosociety.org/mosaics/

  3. Danforth Plant Science Center Research InternshipsThe Danforth Plant Science Center’s REU summer Internship program is held eleven weeks each summer and exposes students to a rich research environment. The program gives students experience with all aspects of modern scientific research, from design to experimentation to reporting. Application deadline is February 6. Details and application online, http://www.danforthcenter.org/education-outreach/research-internships.

  4. University of Wisconsin - Stout L.A.K.E.S. summer program. This is an chance to do hydro research, and it is paid for! The program will run from June 14th - August 8th in Menomonie, WI. Applications are due on February 15th. This is a NSF funded opportunity. Please check out the webpage at https://uwstout.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cLUt5f4RpXKRI45

  5. Like tropical research? Then check out the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and their summer internship offered June 6th - August 14th. You can get airfare, housing, and food allowance along with a $5,000 stipend. Applications are due by Feb 15th. Flyer here. Please go to the webpage http://www.stri.si.edu/reu/english/

  6. REU Program in Sustainable Nanotechnology and Research Experiences for Veterans Program in Sustainable Nanotechnology. Two parallel programs that places students in research labs in the mid-west and one in Washington State to participate in projects related to nanoparticles and nanomaterials. Undergrad program here http://susnano.chem.wisc.edu/reu. Veteran program here http://susnano.chem.wisc.edu/rev. Deadline to apply is February 15th.

  7. Miami University REU in Ecology and Environmental Sciences. Miami University of Ohio offers a ten week residential research program that offers field trips, hands-on ecology research and offers experiences in two of my favorite research domains - urban ecology and traditional ecological knowledge. I'm not aware of another undergrad research experience that offers this dynamic offering. Program details here. Application deadline extended to February 16. Good students from under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Apply online https://sites.google.com/a/miamioh.edu/ecoreu/application.

  8. Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, TriCAM REU. This new summer REU is seeking undergraduates from chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, mathematics (applied and pure), statistics, and engineering. Students without prior research experience, including freshman and sophomore students, are especially encouraged to apply. Students will work in teams applying computation and math to real-world problems. One of the goals of the program is to use a team approach to show the power of diversity. In many labs, REU students work one-on-one with a graduate student. These are mentored, diverse, all-student teams tackling their own projects. Online application deadline is February 28. Details here http://www.seas.harvard.edu/k-12-community-programs/reu.

  9. White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Internship Program. Policy Interns can be undergraduate, graduate, or professional students in any major degree program. There are eight different policy tracks, corresponding to the major divisions of the OSTP. Online application includes 2 letters of recommendation, writing sample, and cover letter. Access full details and application at this link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/about/student/. Strict application deadline is 11:59 PM EST March 6.

  10. NSF now has an opportunity for undergrads studying marine science to do research at Little Cayman and study Coral Reefs. Eight successful applicants will live and work at the Cayman Research Centre from June 20th - August 14, 2015. Applications are due March 15, 2015. This is an amazing opportunity. Please check out their webpage for more information. http://reefresearch.org/research/research-experience-for-undergraduates/

  11. Here is a 1 week workshop for Native Americans in Genomics. Applications are due April 8th, and it is open to all Native peoples from anywhere in the Americas, Alaska, Hawaii, and members of the Canadian First Nation or Metis communities. The goal is to increase the number of Native Americans in science research, leadership, and teaching careers. This is competitive. For more information, check out the webpage. http://conferences.igb.illinois.edu/sing/home

 


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Additional places to comb for STEM internships, REUs, Fellowships and Mentoring opportunities

a. Energy.gov http://energy.gov/diversity/stem-internships-fellowships-and-mentoring

This post has several listings of afterschool and research opportunities for students from middle school to college and adult learners.

b. Army Education Outreach program http://www.usaeop.com/

I recently was awarded a supplemental grant to hire two undergraduates as research students for next academic year. That’s when I discovered the amazing breadth and variety of research opportunities for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. See this flyer of all of the great STEM outreach programing the US Army supports (link here). The listing of paid High School and Undergraduate Research Opportunities are indexed here http://www.usaeop.com/programs/HSAP/index.htm. Search by state.

c. National Science Foundation REU Listing. http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/. Search by field of interest.

d. The University of Wisconsin offers several Summer Research Opportunities in various STEM disciplines. Visit their web site for more information http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/diversity/srop/index.html . One of my undergrads has applied for a summer research experience. If all goes well, he'll be there this summer and if you apply and get in you can be there, too.

e. University of Arizona offers several research opportunities for Arizona students via the Undergraduate Biology Research Program. Different programs, different requirements and application processes/dates. Visit the website for more information. http://ubrp.arizona.edu/programs/. Of note is the Native American Cancer Prevention Program (NACP), a 12 week summer science internship program for Native American students. Application deadline is February 1st.

DNLee is a biologist and she studies animal behavior, mammalogy, and ecology . She uses social media, informal experiential science experiences, and draws from hip hop culture to share science with general audiences, particularly under-served groups.

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