Application info for the 2024 Sustainable Physics REU
What is the Sustainable Physics REU?
REU students will do research in their preferred research discipline within physics or with the Center for Nanoscale Science. As part of the program students will have professional development training (see below) in science communication, attend research seminars and learn about how physics research interacts with sustainability issues (carbon-footprint, chemical waste, power usage, education- outreach, or the social/environmental side of large-scale observatories)
Dates:
Dates for the summer of 2024 is from May 28 to Aug 2, inclusive. It is expected that students will work full time and not be taking classes throughout this time (without permission of REU program). 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.
Stipends:
Students will receive a stipend of $7,000 for the summer for the NSF funded Physics and MRSEC REU Programs. Housing on campus will be paid for for NSF funded students.
Students of Penn State’s Physics Department will receive a scholarship determined by the department. Currently this stipend is $6000. Housing is not included for Penn State Physics Students.
Research topics
Visiting students will be matched with mentors from particle Astro-physics, Atomic and Molecular Optics, Condensed Matter Physics, Soft-Matter Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering and Chemical Engineering departments, according to their mutual interests. In your application you will have the opportunity to describe your research interests. Examples of previous research projects can be found on the research page.
Travel
We can reimburse out-of-state students for some travel expenses to and from Penn State for visiting students and change-of-campus students. 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 Chicago, Newark and Philadelphia.
Eligibility
The NSF requires that REU participants must be either US citizens or permanent residents (Penn State Physics Students can be of any nationality). 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 (for example students in 2-year programs transferring to a 4-year institution, or students in a 3-2 program). High school graduates who have not yet entered a bachelor’s program, and seniors graduating before the summer are not eligible. You must be 18 to live in on-campus housing as well. Most students in the program will probably be college juniors, however applications are also welcomed from sophomores and freshman.
Historical Underrepresentation in Physics
An important goal of the REU program is to provide an opportunity to do research to students who are historically underrepresented within scientific research, and students who have limited access and exposure to research at their current institution. This historical underrepresentation includes women, members of underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities 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 in advance of your participation or visit.
Housing Arrangements
The visiting REU participants will be housed in free on-campus university apartments that are a short walk from the department of Physics. Students will be responsible for making their own arrangements for meals. There is no meal-plan but all apartments have kitchens. A number of restaurants are available both on campus and off campus. Convenience and grocery stores are also within easy reach. Please note, you will be responsible for all problems and damages that may occur during your stay. Parking is an option as well and will be an extra charge.
Group Training:
The first half day on campus will be spent on an orientation and tour of facilities. This will include recreation and cultural facilities, and other resource centers. You will meet other REU students, and work together to setup a welcoming, collegial work-environment. You will complete lab safety training online and meet your faculty advisor and the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in your research group.
Outreach:
Part of the REU is to allow you, the students to have a broader impact on the community. Outreach activities which occur during the su
mmer will be designed for students to have the opportunity to participate. One opportunity is for REU students to share your undergraduate experiences with Upward Bound High school Students. Our primary outreach activity will be to design a science-demo booth themed on Physics and/or Sustainability for the Arts Fest Kids Day in July. A third optional activity is to volunteer for AstroFest, which happens on Penn State campus late at night in July. All of these experiences provide an opportunity to practice communicating to the public.
Professional Development:
The focus of this REU program is on research across physics and how sustainability can be part of research (even if the research topic isn’t directly related to sustainability). Each week we will also have a meeting where we will cover topics of professional development aimed at boosting your communication skills in a research setting (communicating with the public, to your peers, or to other scientists), and creating your science-identity for the world (Linked in, etc). There will also be research talks where faculty will describe their current research, how sustainability impacts their research and other exciting current developments in their field. There will be plenty of time for discussion and questions. To foster discussion about science and other topics there will also be networking and teambuilding activities organized to encourage everyone to get to know each other, and graduate students, postdocs and faculty on an informal leve
l. This is one of the best ways to get a feel for what a career in science is all about.
Finally, at the end of the summer we will have a joint research symposium where you will give a short presentation on your project and a poster about your research to an audience of the other students who were engaged in summer research, your graduate mentors and your faculty advisors.