REU Program

CASA Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program Summer 2011

The CASA REU Program is an 8-10 week intensive research experience that offers a select group of undergraduate students the opportunity to work alongside leading engineers, social scientists, and computer science experts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Oklahoma, Colorado State University, the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, the University of Virginia and the University of Delaware. 

Locations and Projects

CASA REU projects are funded through several partner REU sites as well as through core CASA funds. Application procedures and deadlines vary by project location. Students applying for an REU project advertised by one of our sites should also send a copy of their application to Dr. Rees (see address at bottom of page). Project descriptions may be downloaded on the right unless otherwise noted below.

General Application

Students may express broad interest in a CASA REU opportunity across our campuses by submitting an application directly to Dr. Rees. Applications of this nature should clearly define the type of research question and field of study the student is interested in.

University of Massachusetts - Due Data Varies as Noted

College of Engineering REU Site – DUE February 15th, 2011

June 1 – July 29, 2011

Additional information and application materials: http://www-new.ecs.umass.edu/reu

1. Evacuation Modeling (Professor Jim MacGregor Smith)

2. Design of a Wireless Infrasound Sensing Node (Professor Michael Zink)

Computer Science REU Site – DUE March 4, 2011

June 1 – August 5, 2011

Additional information and application materials: http://reu.cs.umass.edu

No CASA specific projects have been identified, but interested CS students should consider applying and contact Dr. Rees to discuss interest areas and potential projects.

Other/CASA Core Funding – DUE March 15th, 2011

June 1 – July 29, 2011

1. Phased-Array Weather Radar Testing (Professor Stephen Frasier)

2. Radar Technology Market Analysis (Professor Dave McLaughlin and CASA staff)

3. Design of an Urban Test Bed (Professor Paula Rees and CASA staff) 

4. Other projects may be available upon request 

University of Oklahoma, National Weather Center – DUE February 16, 2011

May 23 – July 29, 2011

Additional information and application materials: http://www.caps.ou.edu/reu

No CASA specific projects have been identified, but interested CS students should consider applying and contact Dr. Rees to discuss interest areas and potential projects.

University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez – DUE March 15th, 2011 

Program Dates TBD

Faculty Advisors – Sandra Cruz-Pol and Jose Colom

To Apply: Complete CASA application and submit to both  colom@ece.uprm.edu and rees@ecs.umass.edu. 

Full project descriptions are currently not available. Please contact Dr. Rees to discuss.

1. Optimization of Solar Energy Design for Off-the-Grid (OTG) Radars  

2. Citing and Installation of OTG Radars 

3. Hard Target Detection by OTG Radars

4. Radar-Radar and Radar-Gauge Data Comparison

University of Delaware – DUE March 15th, 2011

Program Dates TBD

Faculty Advisor – Joe Trainor

To Apply: Complete CASA application and submit to both jtrainor@udel.edu and rees@ecs.umass.edu. 

Project descriptions are currently not available but will be in the area of Disaster Research with a focus on social sciences (see www.udel.edu/DRC for additional information on the relevant on-going work at UDel). Please contact Dr. Rees to discuss.

University of Virginia – DUE March 15th, 2011

Program Dates TBD

Faculty Advisor – Ellen Bass

To Apply: Complete CASA application and submit to both ejb4n@virginia.edu and rees@ecs.umass.edu. 

Project descriptions are currently not available but will be in the area of Systems and Information Engineering with a focus on severe weather response (see http://www.sys.virginia.edu/ejb/ for additional information on the relevant on-going work). Please contact Dr. Rees to discuss.

Colorado State University – Due Date NA

Program Dates TBD

Faculty Advisors – V Chandrasekar, Anura Jayasumana

To Apply: Contact Karen Ungerer <kungerer@engr.colostate.edu>and Paula Rees <rees@ecs.umass.edu>. 

Project descriptions are currently not available but will be in the area of Electrical and Computer Engineering (see http://www.engr.colostate.edu/ece/facultystaff/index.cfm for additional information on the relevant on-going work). 

Cross-Campus Synergy

The following elements are additional features (intended to facilitate cross-disciplinary and cross-campus communication) of this REU program:

• A weekly to bi-weekly research discussion or lecture via Polycom teleconferencing facilities will be presented, to connect our REU students at different campuses. These facilities are available at all sites and will be a key feature of the REU program;
• Students will report their research cross campuses with final presentations due at the conclusion of the program;
• An REU webpage on the CASA website will be provided where final presentations will be posted.
• We will work with students to identify conferences and/or journals where their work may be presented.

In addition to these features, each campus will plan for local activities such as field trips to industry and social activities, taking advantage of local industrial partners and local summer research programs.

Stipend

Students who are selected to participate in the CASA REU program will receive funding to pay for housing and meals, travel to and from the REU site,  and laboratory, software and computer materials. The exact amount of this funding varies by site location.

Selection Criteria and Application Package

The REU Program participants will be selected by committee. The committee will vary based on the project location.  Students majoring in the following disciplines (or other closely related fields) are invited to apply: electrical engineering, computer systems engineering, computer science, meteorology, civil and environmental engineering, industrial engineering, education, and the social sciences.

All undergraduate students will be considered for REU positions although preference will be given to students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate study. Women, minorities, and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Community college students are also eligible to apply.

The National Science Foundation requires that all students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to be considered for the REU Program. Other selection criteria that is taken into consideration includes the qualifications of the applicant (including courses taken, grades, interests and motivation), any previous research experience, and a good match of faculty and student research interests.

Deadline and Submission Procedures

Due dates vary by project as noted above. Applications for core funding should be submitted via email directly to Dr. Paula Rees as a combined PDF file or sent via snail mail to the address below. Authors should submit letters of recommendation - on official letterhead - separately via email or snail mail. Copies of applications submitted directly to REU Sites should also be sent to Dr. Rees.

The application packet should include:

• Application form 
• Unofficial transcript(s) 
• One letter of recommendation on college/university stationary from a faculty member who can comment on your potential for academic research (letter author to submit separately) 
• One-page statement of why you would like to be involved in the REU program; please include any information regarding prior research experience
• Provide proof of health insurance (member card)
• Provide copy of green card (if permanent resident) 
• List of 1 to 3 potential projects listed that would be of interest & the location of those projects, or brief description of what you are interested in work on that is not listed

For more information or to submit a copy of your application to CASA, please contact:
Dr. Paula L. Sturdevant Rees
CASA Director of Education and Outreach
Blaisdell House, 310 Hick's Way
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

Phone: 413-545-5528
Email: rees@ecs.umass.edu