The Department of Physics along with the Penn State University Material Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) has been designated a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site by the National Science Foundation Division of Materials Research. Positions are available for research projects in laboratories located in various Penn State departments and are open to undergraduate students who are majoring in physics, chemistry, material science, all branches of engineering, etc. and have an interest in materials research. The REU program gives visiting undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in frontier materials physics and materials research at a major research facility. Students work closely with a Penn State faculty member, together with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the research group. By participating, students experience the challenge and excitement of a career in research (and perhaps the occasional frustrations too). In addition students are able to acquire valuable skills, participate in seminars and join in a variety of extra-curricular activities.
This web page describes the summer research positions. Please follow the included links to view lists of researchers who supervise REU students and to view students' abstracts from previous REU programs. Fill out the online application and send your supporting materials as soon as possible since the selection process will begin the third week of February. (We do take application after this date; however, note that many of our positions will have already been offered to at this time.)
A key aim of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates site program is to bring the opportunity to participate in materials physics and materials research to students who would not normally have the chance to do so. We are also strongly committed to encouraging the participation of members of groups presently underrepresented in the physics community, including women, minorities and the disabled. Direct research experience is one of the most effective ways to prepare undergraduates for careers in mathematics, science and engineering. The National Science Foundation and other federal agencies have established REU programs to attract talented students into research careers and to help meet the nation's need for mathematicians, scientists and engineers for the future.
We have approximately twenty positions for visiting undergraduates (and eleven students from Penn State University Park funded under a different program) to come and work on materials physics and materials research projects at Penn State over the summer. Penn State is one of the largest land-grant universities, with approximately 40,000 undergraduates and graduate students at the University Park campus. The condensed matter program at Penn State Univ. was ranked 12th in the nation in the U.S. News 2002 graduate school guide. The Physics department is a major research facility with a faculty of thirty-three, about thirty postdoctoral fellows and over one hundred graduate students.
The period of the program for the summer of 2010 is from June 2nd to August 6th. It is expected that students will normally be working here at Penn State throughout this time. If these dates conflict with your school's academic schedule please let us know on your application form. It may be possible to arrange alternative dates in some cases.
Students will receive a stipend of $4,800 for the summer.
For out of state students we will be able to reimburse you for some travel expenses to and from Penn State.
The University Park campus is located in central Pennsylvania, in the town of State College. State College is about a three hour drive or bus ride from Pittsburgh, about four hours from Philadelphia, Washington DC or Baltimore and five hours from New York. Flights into State College are available through Detroit, Philadelphia, Cincinnati or Washington Dulles.
The NSF requires that REU participants must be either US citizens or permanent residents. During the summer students must be enrolled in a program leading to a bachelor's degree. The only exception is for students transferring from one university or college to another. High school graduates who have not yet entered a bachelor's program, and seniors graduating before the summer are not eligible. Most students in the program will probably be college juniors, however applications are welcomed from sophomores and in exceptional cases those completing their freshman year.
An important goal of the REU program is to provide an opportunity to do research to students who would not normally have the chance to do so. This especially includes women, members of minority and the disabled, groups who are currently significantly underrepresented in the physics community and whose talents will be an important contribution to the nation's scientific resources for the future. Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the staff at (814) 865-3884 in advance of your participation or visit.
The visiting REU participants will be housed in university apartments that are a short walk from the department of Physics. Students will be responsible for making their own arrangements for meals. A number of restaurants are available both on campus and off campus. On campus meal plans are available. Convenience stores are also within easy reach should students want to use the apartment kitchens. Please note, you will be responsible for all problems and damages that may occur during your stay. Parking is an option and will be an extra charge.
Please fill out the online application and send in your supporting materials as soon as possible. Selection of participants will begin the third week of February. With your application you should send a transcript. You will need to have at least a 3.0 grade point average (B equivalent) to qualify. You should also arrange for one or two letters of recommendation to be sent directly to us. (We require one letter and recommend a second letter.) Probably the letters would be from your faculty advisor and a relevant science professor.
The selection process will start as soon as we receive the forms and letters. The main criteria for selection will be the student's academic record and letters. We will also take into account the student's enthusiasm for materials physics, and interest in career goals related to materials physics and materials research. The main aim to the selection process is to identify students who are well qualified, who have a keen interest in materials research and who want to find out whether a career in materials physics and/or materials research is right for them.
You should indicate your first, second and third choice of research area on the application form. When an offer of a position is made you will be contacted by the appropriate faculty advisor. This will help ensure that the chosen project is indeed the one you wish to do.
The first full day on campus will be spent on an orientation tour of the physics department, research facilities, libraries, and the campus. This will include recreation and cultural facilities, and other resource centers. You will meet your faculty advisor and the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in your research group. During the first weeks of the summer, we offer an introductory machine shop and a safety course. The machine shop course provides instruction and supervised shop time to develop the skills many times required in the fabrication of unique experimental equipment during your summer experience and, possibly later, in your doctoral research. Throughout the ten week period we shall have a weekly seminar which consists of professional development presentation followed by a research seminar where faculty describe their work, or other exciting current developments in their field. There is plenty of time for discussion and questions. There will also be picnics, outings and other recreational activities organized. The aim is to encourage the participating undergraduates to get to know the graduate students, postdocs and faculty on an informal level. This is one of the best ways of really getting a feel for what a career in materials research is all about.
Finally, at the end of the summer we will have a mini-research symposium on the research that has been carried out. Each student will present a few slides on their project and a poster about their research to an audience of the other students and the faculty advisors.