Illinois Physics REU

Employer
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Physics Department
Location
Urbana, Illinois
Salary
-
Posted
Dec 05, 2024
Closes
Feb 03, 2025
Discipline
Physics, Other
Role Type
Other, Researcher
Career Level
Other
Education
Other
Work Mode
Onsite
Contract Type
Other
Organization Type
Other

The Department of Physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign hosts a 10-week National Science Foundation (NSF)–sponsored summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU). Offered since 1993, the REU provides undergraduates the opportunity to conduct research under the supervision of our world-class researchers.

Students participating in this program will spend the summer,  May 27th, 2025 – August 1st, 2025 (10 weeks), on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus working directly with senior physics faculty on challenging, meaningful projects. The summer experience is aimed at developing students' research literacy skills and exposing them to the wide diversity of physics subfields using experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches:

The NSF-funded REU program can only support citizens or permanent residents (including Green Card holders) of the United States, but the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics is excited to host at least one international student each summer. 

All students must be enrolled at institutions other than the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

 

Application Information

 

To receive full consideration for the program, apply online by January 24th, 2025.

A completed application consists of the following:

  • an online application, which requires at least one letter of reference (two letters is strongly recommended) (advice on getting strong reference letters),
  • a 250–word (approximately 1/2 page) Research Statement describing your personal research goals and any previous experiences in physics or research that support your selected projects,
  • a 250-word (approximately 1/2 page)  Personal Statement describing your unique experience in physics (or STEM in general) and how this REU will impact your future in physics,
  • and an official or unofficial transcript from the most recent semester.

This website (Pathways to Science) has resources with helpful information on preparing applications to summer research programs.

Eligibility

  • Students must be currently enrolled (summer 2025) in an undergraduate program at a two-year or four-year institution (recently graduated seniors are not eligible for the program) in physics or a related field.
  • Students must be a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States to be eligible for National Science Foundation (NSF) funding.
    • NSF funding accounts for 12 student spots in the REU. 
    • The NSF-funded REU program can only support citizens or  permanent residents (including Green Card holders) of the United States.
      • This includes U.S. citizens studying abroad. 
  • International students currently in the U.S., undocumented students and students with DACA status are also welcome to apply to the REU and may be funded by the Physics Department .
    • Department funding accounts for a minimum of 1 student spot in the REU. 
  • Students are best prepared if they have completed their sophomore year by May 2025 with at least 4 semesters of physics and having an average technical (math/physics) grade point average of 3.0/4.0. 
    • This requirement does not apply to community college students. Interested community college students who have completed one year of studies are very much encouraged to apply to our program.
    • Some research topics recommend more prior preparation than others. To review the research topics, check out the Projects tab, or click here. 
  • Applications are not accepted from currently enrolled students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Timeline

  • December 1, 2024 — Applications open!
  • December 15, 2024 — 2025 faculty projects finalized
  • December 18, 2024 — Applications office hours with Irene 1PM to 4PM (Central)
  • January 15, 2025 — Applications office hours with Irene 1PM to 4PM (Central)
  • January 23, 2025 — UIUC summer programs webinar 6PM to 7:30PM (Central)
  • January 31, 2025 (11:59PM) — Application deadline
  • March 3, 2025 — Offer letters sent to REU prospective participants
  • March 10, 2025 — Deadline for REU participant acceptance
  • May 24–May 26, 2025 — REU participants arrive on UIUC campus
  • May 27–May 30, 2025 — REU Research Bootcamp
  • July 31–August 1, 2025 — REU final project presentations
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