Through a renewal of our previous award from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Chemistry is pleased to announce continuation of the program to support undergraduate researchers. The Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program provides an opportunity for students contemplating pursuing a research career in chemistry to perform a state-of-the-art research project in many areas of chemistry, including Analytical Chemistry, Biological Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry, in close collaboration with one of our faculty members and their research group.

Application Materials: Application packets can be directly downloaded from the Chemistry Department's web site, http://www.chem.pitt.edu/reu/.   Questions can be addressed by contacting the program either by E-mail, debhunt@pitt.edu, or by voice, 412-624-8203.  Please note that a completed application consists of (i) the application form, (ii) a current transcript, (iii) two letters of recommendation (using a supplied reference form), and (iv) a written personal statement of interests and goals for your science education/career.   With the exception of application materials, all communication will be handled by email; applicants are therefore advised to supply a legible email address that is checked at least daily.  Application materials can be emailed or snail-mailed to the University of Pittsburgh as indicated on the forms.

Application Deadline: All application materials are due to the REU Summer Program, Department of Chemistry, 107 Chevron Science Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 (FAX:  412-624-8611) by March 1, 2005.   Please note, all materials must be received by March 1, including letters of recommendation.

Number of Awards:  For the Summer 2005 Program, we anticipate selecting 10 undergraduate researchers. Selected students will be notified by email as soon as possible after March 1.

Faculty Sponsors: Applicants who are accepted into the program will be asked to identify three projects that they wish to participate in. For information about specific research projects, visit the Departmental REU web site and select Projects, the URL of which is http://www.chem.pitt.edu/~reu/reu05/projects.html.  Successful applicants will be assigned to Projects by the REU Selection Committee, taking into account applicant preferences, supervisor preferences, and available space.

Eligibility: The following statement about participant eligibility is quoted directly from the NSF Program Announcement:  "Undergraduate student participants supported with NSF funds in either Sites or Supplements must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.  An undergraduate student is a student who is enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a bachelor's degree. Students who are transferring from one institution to another and are enrolled at neither institution during the intervening summer may participate. High school graduates who have not yet enrolled and students who have received their bachelor's degrees and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates generally are not eligible."

Requirements: The following activities will be required of the REU research participants: (1) intensive “hands on” scientific training in an established research laboratory; (2) participation in weekly tutorials on the common theme; (3) participation in the half-day Ethics Forum, (4) presentation of your project at a poster in a city-wide symposium; (5) an oral presentation and discussion with peers and members of the scientific community  at the University of Pittsburgh at the end of the program; (6) entrance and exit interviews with the Program Director; (7) attendance for the entire program duration as noted above, unless special exemption is arranged in writing with the program director, and (8) evaluation of the program and yearly response to post-program surveys.

Stipend: Each Fellow will be awarded a stipend of $4000 for the 10 week program. This will be paid in 3 installments during the summer.

Room and Board: Each participant will be provided with University Housing and a $200 allowance for meals (to tide students through until receipt of their first stipend check). Students with residences in the Pittsburgh area will not be required to move into the dormitories.  A temporary (restricted) ID will be provided for each participant.  Students who must travel to and from the program by air can apply for partial reimbursement of their transportation costs.

Academic Credits: This is an award to support research and no academic credits are awarded. All undergraduate researchers are not to enroll in summer courses while participating in this program.

Certificate: Upon successful completion of the Summer Program, each undergraduate will receive a certificate bearing their name, the title of the research project, and the signatures of their faculty sponsor and the Program Director. This certificate may be used in connection with future post-graduate applications. Fellows can also anticipate that their sponsors will generally be well qualified to write letters of recommendation in connection with such applications and to assist them in enrolling in the quality graduate program they desire.