Research Experience for Undergraduates
Undergraduate students are invited to explore new directions in earthquake studies and related fields through the National Science Foundation sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The three Earthquake Engineering Research Centers, Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center, Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER) and Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) each sponsor up to eight students from universities and four-year colleges to spend ten weeks in the summer conducting individual research projects that contribute to ongoing research programs of the Centers. The REU program begins in June and concludes in August. Arrangements are made for students whose schedule conflicts with the program dates. Students may submit applications to more than one Center.Eligibility: Undergraduate students in their sophomore or junior year, who have expressed an interest in earthquake engineering or related fields, are eligible to apply. However, students cannot participate in the REU program at the same university in which they are enrolled as undergraduates. Students are eligible to apply to any other university within the three Centers. Applicants need to be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Research: REU participants are paired with a faculty advisor and the student joins the faculty member's research team. Each participant has a predetermined individual research project, chosen during the selection process, and is responsible for completing the project within the allotted time.
Locations: Undergraduate student researchers can work on visiting summer appointments at any one of the MAE Center seven core institutions.
Activities: A number of activities are planned to stimulate the research skills of the students and to enhance their written and oral communication proficiencies, including a Communications Workshop. Another annual summer event is the Earthquake Engineering Symposium for Young Researchers, jointly sponsored by the three Centers. This symposium supplies a forum for REU participants to present the results of their research. The Center provides workshop and symposium travel and lodging accommodations. Participants are strongly encouraged to publish their results and to present their research at a professional society undergraduate conference.
