Guidelines and FAQ

What are the application materials?

In addition to basic contact and biographical information, applicants are required to upload three document:

1) Personal statement. Use this statement to describe your interest in the summer REU program(s) at the University of Michigan, your academic and research preparations, and your goals after graduation. You can also talk about your experiences in teaching and outreach, as well as describe any adversity that you faced in your educational journey. You are also encouraged to discuss why you are interested in certain research projects or working with certain faculty members.

2) Unofficial transcript, including grades for the first academic term in the 2023-24 school year

3) Resume or CV (3 page max). You are encouraged to list any awards or scholarships that you received in the Resume.

Where is the application?

The application will be linked on this website no later than Jan 1, 2024.

The application for the MRSEC program on polymers and 2D materials is at https://etap.nsf.gov/award/5413/opportunity/6799

The application for the Electric Vehicle Center projects is still in progress. Both applications will be nearly identical; however, for administrative reasons, they need to be nominally separate.

You are welcome to use the same personal statement for both applications.

When is the deadline?

Applications received by Jan 31, 2024 will receive full consideration. Applications received after Jan 31 will be considered if space is available.

What are the academic eligibility requirements?

Students must have already completed at least 3 semesters or 4 quarters of full-time coursework at an accredited college or university prior to starting this program. Most students will have finished their second or third year of undergraduate study. A limited number of slots will be available for students who have finished their undergraduate degrees by May or June 2023.

My school is on the quarter system, and I cannot start until Jun 15. Can I apply?

Yes, you can apply and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. However, you may need to find your own housing after Aug 2.

I’m enrolled in a joint BS/MS program. Am I eligible?

Yes, students enrolled in a joint academic program are eligible based on the same criteria as those in four-year universities

I’m in a joint BA/JD, BS/MBA, or BS/MD program. Am I eligible?

No, students enrolled in joint professional programs are not eligible.

Can I work with a faculty member not listed?

Yes, you may state any faculty member at the University of Michigan as your interest. If you are selected, the program coordinator will contact the faculty members to help you find an appropriate project. However, the projects listed on the Home page have already been confirmed; there is no guarantee that a faculty not listed will have an open position for a summer undergraduate student.

Will listing a certain faculty member or project give me a preferential advantage?

In general, no. Student selection will be made by a small committee of UM faculty, not by the faculty member listed on the project. 

Should I contact the faculty member before applying?

If you have a question about their project, feel free to reach out directly. However, most faculty are very busy and will not have time to respond to all inquiries. Unless they are writing your recommendation letter, they will not be able to help your application. Once you are selected, we will work to match you with a project and faculty adviser.

Can international students participate? 

The Center for Materials Innovation Projects are limited to US Citizens and Permanent Residents, in compliance with NSF Guidelines on Materials Science Research and Education Center (MRSEC) sites. 

The Electric Vehicle Center has no restrictions on citizenships. However, we are still determining if we can provide stipends for students on an F-1 student visa.

How is this program different from the SURE or UROP program?

The SURE and UROP programs are designed for University of Michigan students. This REU program is designed for students not enrolled at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. 

How should I submit recommendation letters?

Please ask the letter writer to email the letter to Ms. Akesha Moore (akeshacw@umich.edu). Please ask your writer to include your name in the subject line (e.g., Recommendation for [First Name] [Last Name]). If you have questions about whether a letter was received, please email Akesha. The recommender should email the letter from a work email address, not a personal one.

What if my letter writer is late?

We may review your application without the letter. However, if no letter is received by Feb 15, we may decline your application. We will try to follow up with you if your application is strong but we do not have a recommendation letter.

What if I have more questions?

Please email the program coordinator Akesha Moore (akeshacw@umich.edu) if you have specific questions.