Eligibility

What kind of academic background is required for the REU program?

• Applicants must be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at the time of the REU (summer). At the time of the REU, students are generally rising juniors and seniors. Students may come from a wide range of majors, including: atmospheric science, biology, chemistry, computer science, ecology, engineering, environmental science, geography, geology, geosciences, mathematics, meteorology, oceanography, physics, and statistics.

I am graduating in May. Can I still participate?

• Students who have received their bachelor’s degrees and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates at the time of the REU (summer) are not eligible.

I am currently a first-year student. Am I eligible for the REU?

• Yes. We encourage you to apply.

I am not a US citizen or permanent resident. Can I still apply? 

• No. Our funding for the program is provided by the Federal Government, which has the restriction that participants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

I am not a Penn State student. Can I apply for the REU?

• Yes. The REU program is open to any undergraduates from any institution.

 

Application process

Who is eligible to apply to the REU program?

• A strong science background is ideal. Preference is for applicants who have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or greater.

What other skills would be useful for my application?

• Skills in computer programming are a plus for many projects. Some experience making measurements in laboratory or field settings may be helpful for some projects. Good verbal and written communication skills are useful because of the interactive nature of the program and because participants are expected to write up their research results at the end of the REU. Previous research experience, however, is not a requirement.

What is the selection process?

• The program directors, with input from the faculty mentors, review the applications and select students based on their academic record, accomplishments, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Consideration is also given to the diversity of the cohort because it is believed that students from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, home institutions, and undergraduate majors will create the best learning environment.

How are students matched with faculty mentors and research projects?

• After the students are selected, research project descriptions written by faculty mentors are sent to the students. Students express their interest in the various research projects and the program directors match students with research projects. Students are informed of their research project before arriving at Penn State.

When do I apply?

• For 2024, applications are due February 16 and reference letters are due February 23.

When will I be notified if I have been accepted to the program?

• We expect to begin making offers by March 15 and we will notify every applicant of our decision by April 15.

Is an official transcript necessary to apply, or can I send an unofficial one?

• An unofficial transcript is fine.

 

Program details

Do I get paid?

• Yes. The stipend for 2024 is $6000 for the full REU.

Is my REU stipend taxable?

• Yes. It is taxable and you should report it in your tax filings. No deduction is taken on your stipend payment because it is not big enough to get taxed, but if you have other sources of income during the year, then you will end up paying some income tax on it later. Since it is a stipend and not a salary, you will not pay social security tax on it.

Is housing provided?

• Yes. Students typically live in apartments on campus. Students lived in White Course Apartments in 2023 and Nittany Apartments in previous years.

Is food provided?

• No. Though students may purchase meals on campus at a discounted rate, students typically do their own cooking in the apartments.

Are funds for travel to and from Penn State provided?

• Yes, we cover travel up to a fixed amount that is able accommodate most students.

What is the workload as an REU participant and what is expected of me?

• Hours are up to your mentor, but generally you should plan on putting in regular work hours (eight-hour weekdays). The work will include some combination of experimental design, data acquisition, analyses of data sets, numerical modeling, writing a research report, and presenting findings at a symposium.

What is the time commitment of the REU?

• The 2024 appointment is from May 29 to August 2.

Are there any days off?

• We follow Penn State’s holiday schedule, which means Juneteenth and Independence Day are days off during the REU.

Is participation in the full REU required?

• Yes. In rare cases, an exception may be made by the program director if a student has a prior professional obligation.

What do I do outside of regular work hours?

• We generally leave the evenings and weekends unstructured. State College and Centre County have numerous recreational opportunities, including hiking, cycling, and arts festivals.

Can I take a second job or a class while I participate in the REU?

• We highly discourage these activities and prohibit them during regular work hours. What you do outside of regular work hours is up to you. Everyone is different, but we think the key to success in the REU is immersing yourself in research during the day and using the evenings and weekends for taking care of yourself.

Does participation in the REU make me a Penn State student for the summer?

• No. There is no course enrollment associated with the REU. Also, though many of the free services available to Penn State students are also available to REU students for free (e.g., libraries and most computer resources), some resources that are fee-based (e.g., dining services and recreational facilities) have additional charges for non-Penn State students.

Can I use my REU research as a starting point for a senior project or other independent study credit at my home institution?

• Absolutely. We strongly encourage (but do not require) that you continue your REU research in some form at your home institution. This increases the chance of publishing your REU research, which is a significant accomplishment that can help you to gain employment or admission to graduate school.

Can I present my research at a national conference?

• Yes, and the REU will cover up to $1000 in travel. Any remaining costs are typically covered by the research budgets of mentors. We strongly encourage attendance at a national conference, such as annual meetings of the American Meteorological Society and the American Geophysical Union. Most REU participants take advantage of this opportunity, which is often a highlight of the REU experience.

How do I contact the REU program for further information?

• The director of the REU program is Dr. Raymond Najjar (rgn1@psu.edu) and the co-director is Dr. Natasha Miles (nlm136@psu.edu). You should email either of them with additional questions.