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University of Oklahoma

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Summer 2008 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

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Now accepting applications!

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Details of Program
 

Research Groups at OU 
 

Application Materials
 
 

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Details

This NSF-REU program is aimed at students who are interested in Physics and/or Astronomy and who may have potential for future graduate study. While some background is of course needed, we are interested in hearing from any motivated and talented student in the sciences. You must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US or its possessions, must be currently enrolled in a program leading to a Bachelor's degree, and must not have graduated by the summer of 2008. (Students who will be graduating are welcome to contact us regarding our graduate program.) The REU program will take place from June 2 through August 1, 2008. Some flexibility in starting and ending dates may be possible. 

All applications received by February 16, 2008, will be considered in full, with later applications considered as space permits. A complete application will consist of an application form, two or three letters of recommendations, a transcript or class list, and a personal statement. At least two of your references should come from teachers or professionals in science. Letters of reference should be mailed separately with the forms we will supply. Application and recommendation forms may be obtained  below.

For the summer REU program, a site grant from the NSF plus funds from the state of Oklahoma as well as internal funding from OU will support about 15 students in a program of research, educational and social activities during the summer of 2008. Students accepted into the program will be directly involved in the on-going research of our own Physics and Astronomy faculty. In addition, we are arranging a twice weekly series of lunchtime seminars with faculty, OU students and post-docs. These seminars will first cover some topics in modern quantum physics, particularly particularly focusing on how these relate to current research, both basic and applied. As the summer progresses the students themselves will be actively involved in presentations and discussion of their own research. Faculty will also give presentations on future careers in Physics and Astronomy and preparation for graduate school. Students will receive undergraduate credit from OU for REU participation.

In addition, social activities and many opportunities to sample cultural and recreational events and facilities around Norman will be arranged. 

Participants will be housed near campus, two per two-bedroom apartment, in a complex with an on-site pool and tennis courts. Housing expenses will be subsidized; student costs are estimated at $150/month. In the event students do not have their own cars, bus service to campus and nearby commercial centers is readily available. In addition to subsidized housing, participants will receive a stipend of $3500 and up to $300 in transportation expenses. We typically have about 20 undergraduates in the program.

Research at OU:

The University of Oklahoma is a comprehensive research University with over 22,000 undergraduate and graduate students. We are located in Norman: a town of about 80,000 people which is 25 miles from Oklahoma City. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has a full-time faculty of 28, approximately 50 graduate students, and a long history of educating scientists and engineers (the latter through our Engineering Physics program) at the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. levels. Current research in our department is focused in four areas: 

*Astronomy/Astrophysics
*Atomic, Molecular, and Chemical Physics
*Solid State/Condensed Matter Physics
*High Energy Particle Physics
Each research group contains at least six faculty, both experimentalists and theorists. All of our research programs are externally funded, with state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities. These include Laser Labs, Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics Labs, a Molecular Beam Epitaxy Lab,a High Magnetic Field Lab, a Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Lab, Particle Detector Development Labs and a comprehensive Computer Network.  Our own undergraduates actively participate in this research, and have served as co-authors on 30 papers in major refereed journals. 
 

Obtaining an application 

You can obtain an application for the 2008OU-REU program in one of three ways: 
  • Use our electronic request form to ask for an application to be sent to your address.
  • Download a PDF version of the application packet.
  • Contact us directly: 
    • The University of Oklahoma
      Department of Physics and Astronomy
      Norman, OK 73019
      (800) 522-0772; (405) 325-3961
      FAX (405) 325-7557;
      email: reuphy@physics.ou.edu

 

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For more information:

The OU-REU is funded by the National Science Foundation and the University of Oklahoma .

The NSF keeps a list of all NSF-REU sites . Follow the link to find REU programs in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Astronomy and many other disciplines!

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Sponsor: OU Physics & Astronomy
Developer: Kieran Mullen
Updated December 19, 2007
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