The College Program for Women in Science and Engineeting (WISE) and the Institute of Optics have established an Undergraduate (REU) Program funded by the National Science Foundation to support ten to twelve highly-qualified students to undertake supervised research projects in the Institute of Optics, for a period of 10 weeks each summer. Departmental faculty conduct research in diverse experimental and theoretical areas of optics and engineering. Each summer, the Department's research effort involves approximately 20 undergraduate students, in addition to approximately 100 graduate students, and 25 faculty members. Some of the research performed by past undergraduate research assistants has been published in scientific journals. Students may also present their work at national conferences and undergraduate research symposia at the University of Rochester.

Program: Over the 10-week summer research period, participants attend a series of informal seminars covering research topics as well as others, such as preparing for graduate school. These seminars are intended to foster discussion among REU students and faculty, and to serve as a basis for further social and scientific interaction. Students whose projects are primarily experimental are encouraged to attend mini-courses in electronics and in machine shop techniques. The core research experience takes place in the context of research groups working at the University's research facilities.

Students present their work at a symposium at the end of the summer. They are encouraged to work with their research advisers toward completion of publications, submission of abstracts, and presentations of their work at professional and student conferences.

Descriptions of types of  REU projects can be found here.

Stipend and housing: Participants receive a stipend for the 10 week program. See the application form for current stipend levels. Housing (usually with other summer research students) is available on the UR campus. Many students choose to live off-campus in summer, sublet apartments or commute from home. Funding may also be provided in the following academic year, to allow students to complete scientific articles on their research work and/or support their attendance and presentations at conferences.

In order to enhance social interactions, when possible, Optics REU students are housed in the same dormitory areas as students from other REU programs at Rochester. In addition, some activities may be held jointly with other REU programs at Rochester, including the REU programs in Physics and Astronomy, the McNair Program, the REU programs in Chemistry,  in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and in Bio Mechanical Engineering.

Participants: Rochester's REU Program in Optics and Engineering aims to support a diverse group of participants. More than half of the NSF REU funds support students from other institutions, and the program aims for 50% representation of women and minority students. University of Rochester students, particularly those who have partial funding for summer research from other University sources (such as Advantage Scholars), are encouraged apply to the REU program. 

To apply: Applicants should be U. S. citizens or permanent residents of the US. Applicants may not be receiving their bacheler degree at the end of this academic year. The completed application must include the following: an application form submitted online which includes a statement of interest, the student's grade transcript, and two letters of recommendation from  people familiar with their abilities, interests and motivation towards research. All materials should be sent by March 1:

Ms. Connie Jones, REU Program
Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Rochester
Wilson Blvd., B&L Bldg.
Rochester, NY 14627-0171
phone: (585) 275-5306
fax: (585) 275-8527
email: connie@pas.rochester.edu

For an application form, giving current program dates and stipends, go here.

The REU program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the University of Rochester's Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Project of College,  and the Insititute of Optics.

For a list of other REU programs at Rochester, go here.
For a list of other REU programs funded by the NSF nationwided, go here.