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2021 REU INFORMATION 

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM)) under Cooperative Agreement No. DMR-2039380

2021 PARADIM REU Calendar

2021 calendar CU


Dear Students:
 


Thank you for your interest in the 2021 PARADIM REU Program. Please be sure to read the information below carefully and submit your application by the deadline!
 


2021 Programs Summary

During the summer of 2021, the Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM) -- will sponsor Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program from June 8th  through August 13th. Engineering and science students with broad interests across disciplines focusing on micro-electronics/interface materials discovery and research are eligible to apply to the PARADIM REU Program. (See restrictions and eligibility requirements below)

The undergraduates taking part in this ten-week programs will receive hands-on and technology experience through research with applications to chemistry, electronics, materials science and physics. There are four (4) research projects available that are designed and supervised by PARADIM faculty and technical staff. Interns will work with their assigned faculty and graduate students on projects using the unique resources offered in PARADIM facilities. At the conclusion of the experience all REUs will participate in a convocation to allow interns the opportunity to present their work to their peers and mentors in a concise scientific presentation. Interns will be required to complete a written report, akin to a research paper, summarizing the findings of their research project. These reports are published and distributed to the interns and sites, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and others.


 

 

 

Program Funding

 

Participants receive a $5,000 stipend, plus housing and reasonable travel expenses. Funding is contingent on full participation/completion in the ten-week program, convocation presentation(s), final reporting, and program evaluation.

PARADIM Applicant Restrictions and Eligibility Requirements

  1. Cornell University students are not eligible to apply.
  2. If you have already participated in a PARADIM REU Program, you are NOT eligible to participate again.
  3. You must be a U.S.A. Citizen or a Permanent Resident of the United States.
  4. You must be 18 years of age or older by May 31, 2020.
  5. First year students are typically NOT eligible. You must be a sophomore CURRENTLY or higher and you must not be graduating before the end of the program in August 2021.
  6. You must have valid health insurance coverage for the summer.
  7. You must not have already earned a four-year degree of any kind.

We have very specific goals of hiring underrepresented minorities, women, and undergraduates with no previous research experience -- although, not to the exclusion of well-represented undergraduates.


Application Requirements

 

PART 1 of the application includes:

1. Completed online application (profile, research preferences, registration of recommenders, etc.).

2. Submission of relevant college coursework in Science, Technology, Math and Engineering -- in chronological order, first to last, including your current semester/quarter. Please do not send a transcript now! If and when you accept an REU internship offer from us, you will then be required to submit an official transcript to Mr. James Overhiser (jlo34@cornmell.edu), before your official award letter can be sent to you. (Contact info below.)

3. Personal Essay. Your essay is critical to the selection process. It is through your words that we ascertain your ‘fit’ with our programs. Please submit a well-written essay, 1-2 pages long, in which you discuss the relationship between your present studies and a career in engineering or scientific research. As preparation, you may wish to discuss your career interests with one or more professors, and include any insights you gain from these discussions, and any other sources, which explain how this program might help you prepare for your future. Explain any honors and awards that you have received that are relevant, and discuss any prior research experience and / or any research field you are most interested in. If you do not believe your grades reflect your potential, please explain them in this essay. (Make sure your full name is on each page of your essay.)

4. Resume/CV. This resume should focus on your scientific achievements and activities. List any honors and awards that you have received that are relevant, as well as any prior research experience.

Items 1-4 constitute your online application, which must be submitted by Wednesday, February 25, 2021 (5:00 p.m. Pacific, 8:00 p.m. Eastern)

5. (Additional) If you are a citizen of another country AND a permanent resident of the USA, you MUST submit a copy of your Green Card (both sides) for your application to be complete. For specific information on this step please refer to the Detailed Information Related to REU application below.  (If you are a citizen of another country and you ARE NOT a permanent resident, you are not eligible for our programs!)

6. Two Letters of Recommendation from faculty members who know you well and can comment with authority on your research potential. -or-  If you can identify a person better qualified to evaluate your abilities, i.e., a graduate student TA, a co-op adviser, or past REU Program / industry mentor, please feel free to have that person write one of your recommendations.

Recommendations must be uploaded online by Wednesday, February 17, 2021 (5:00 p.m. Pacific, 8:00 p.m. Eastern).

 

PART 2 of the application includes: (If you are offered a placement in the PARADIM REU program)

 

7. Official course transcript. Along with your acceptance into the REU program we require an official transcript of your coursework.  Once received, the transcript will represent the final acceptance into the program.


Application Notes

  • Do not include your social security number on any document. It is illegal for us to distribute your SS#! Your application will be reviewed by various people within PARADIM and needs to be free of restriction.
  • The application will list four (4) Research Projects specific to the PARADIM REU program and ask you to rank your preferences. This is one aspect on how we will decide your appropriateness for the programs. This prioritization does not guarantee participation in your top choice if accepted.
  • You will receive an automated email once you successfully submit your on-line application/profile to indicate that your completed application was received. You will also be notified via email by the PARADIM Education and Outreach Director 1 week before the February 19, 2020 recommendation deadline if your application is incomplete or in need of corrections. If your recommendations are not submitted by the deadline your application will not be accepted for review.

 

Mr. James Overhiser
PARADIM REU Program Coordinator
PARADIM Education and Outreach Director
233 Thurston Hall
Ithaca NY 14853-2700

(jlo34@cornell.edu)
1-607-255-2198

 


 

Please click here to begin the application process.

 

Your online application must be submitted by Wednesday, February 10, 2021 (5pm PST/ 8pm EST)

Your recommenders have until Wednesday, February 17, 2021 (5pm PST/ 8pm EST) to upload their recommendation letter.

 

 



 

All 2021 PARADIM REU application components must be received
by the final deadline of Thursday, February 25, 2021

 

Detailed information related to REU application

  1. Transcripts. We do not require an official transcript as part of your application. If you are accepted, we will supply instructions for getting an official transcript to us expediently. Your internship award will be contingent on your declared coursework matching the coursework in your official transcript.
  2. Application Materials: We log and file all the materials we receive -- whether or not we know we are going to receive them and whether or not we have an application to which to attach them. We hang onto all materials until well after the application deadline. We will let you know as soon as possible if your application is not complete. Please refrain from emailing to ask!
  3. Application Submission: You MUST upload your essay as the final step to submit your application, and you MUST upload your essay by the ONLINE APPLICATION DEADLINE. If no essay is uploaded by the ONLINE APPLICATION DEADLINE, then your application does not exist and ergo, will not be included in the award process.
  4. Application Confirmation & Completion: Once we receive your online application components an automatic email will be sent to your preferred email stating that the online application is completed.  This email will remind you that the complete application also needs to include the letters of recommendation.   The PARADIM Director of Education and Outreach will send you a confirmation email and let you know as soon as the required recommendations have been received. One week before the FINAL APPLICATION DEADLINE, the Director of Education and Outreach will email the students whose application is incomplete to apprise them of still missing recommendation(s).
  5. Essay: Your personal essay is critical to our selection process. It is through your words that we ascertain your 'fit' with our program. Please submit a well-written essay, 1-2 pages long, in which you discuss the relationship between your present studies and a career in engineering or scientific research. As preparation for writing this essay, you may wish to discuss your career interests with one or more professors and include any insights you gain from these discussions which explain how this program might help you prepare for your future. Be sure to include statements regarding any research field you are most interested in. If you do not believe your grades reflect your potential, please explain them in this essay.

Please use the following format for your essay.

  • Times, font size 12,
  • Use page margins of one inch on all sides.
  • TWO pages maximum
  • Single space is fine.
  • CRITICAL: Put your FULL NAME as a footer on every page, along with the page number.
  • Do NOT include your social security number anywhere in your essay or any other document. It is illegal for us to distribute SS#s.
  1. Resume, 1-2 pages as a pdf.  This resume should focus on your scientific achievements and activities. Note any honors and awards that you have received that are relevant, as well as any prior research experience. Put your FULL NAME at the top of your resume. PDF your resume and upload your resume’ as a PDF. The often-intricate formatting of resumes is sometimes lost when uploaded as a Word document. Do NOT include your social security number anywhere in your resume.
  2. Proof of Permanent Residents. If you are a citizen of another country AND a Permanent Resident of the United States, your application must include a copy of your Green Card, BOTH SIDES. Email that directly to the PARADIM Director of Outreach and Education (jlo34@cornell.edu), as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf, and name the file "YourLastNameGreenCard". 

 

If preferred, you can send your information through the US Postal System (James Overhiser, PARADIM Education and Outreach Director, Cornell Material Science Engineering, 233 Thurston Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853) or fax [(607) 255-2365)] to PARADIM w/ATTN: James Overhiser. We will black out your resident number and will not send it on to anyone.

 

By law, if you are NOT a United States citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States you are not eligible for our program.

  1. Time conflict. If you need to start the program late or leave early, you MUST put a note in your essay clearly stating that you have a schedule conflict with our program dates, and then we can figure out if it's possible to work around that conflict. A conflict does not necessarily eliminate your application from consideration. If you are accepted and then ask for concession on the time required for participation, this will cause an immediate release from the program. It is important to your successful application that you make it clear in your essay, if you have a scheduling conflict.
  2. Project Summaries. We do not have more exact project information for you to peruse ahead of time. Students are selected for particular projects by the project leader based primarily upon THEIR needs and THEN, the applicant's research preferences (as rated on your application) and experience (as reflected in your essay).
  3. Academic eligibility. First year college students, high school students, recent high school graduates, and Cornell University students are NOT eligible.

 

 

 

IN ADDITION! Cornell PARADIM Partners with the Johns Hopkins University PARADIM REU Program!

https://www.paradim.org/reu/jhu

While we will share the PARADIM application with the JHU REU staff, please visit https://www.paradim.org/reu/jhu for specifics on the JHU REU application process. For starters, if you are interested in this JHU PARADIM REU Program, then by February 29th, please send your statement of interest, resume, and the contact information for three recommendations to paradim@jhu.edu


The Johns Hopkins University PARADIM Research Experience for Undergraduates Opportunity for Materials Discovery:

Three Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) positions are available at the Platform for the Accelerated Realization, Analysis, and Discovery of Interface Materials (PARADIM) facility located on the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Homewood campus in Baltimore, Maryland. The REU students will work in collaboration with Professor Tyrel M. McQueen and Dr. W. Adam Phelan in advancing materials discovery of novel electronic and magnetic quantum materials. REU participants will be integrated in the Institute for Nanotechnology for Biology and Engineering REU program at JHU and participate in additional scientific enhancement opportunities including a professional development lecture series and the annual presentation CARES Symposium.

 

2021 Application link