Department of

Electrical Engineering

Serving society through excellence in education, research, scholarship, and public outreach


Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates
Program in Electrical Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply to this EEREU program?

US citizen or a legal permanent resident of the United States is eligible to apply, according to REU funding restrictions by our program sponsor, the National Science Foundation.

In addition, an eligible applicant should have already completed freshman year by May prior to the start of the summer program, and have at least one more semester of full enrollment in college (graduating no earlier than the Dec. following the summer program), to be considered an undergraduate student.

I am an undergraduate student currently enrolled at the Penn State University Park Campus. May I apply?

Due to the configuration of the EEREU program, PSU students currently registered at the University Park Campus are considered only if sponsored by an EEREU faculty (see Faculty Mentors). Once supported by an EEREU faculty, the PSU student would be a full member of the REU program participating in all activities, including seminar, workshop, and field trips.

Faculty sponsorship consists of the following two factors: (a) Faculty provides research project and supervision, during the summer and until the completion of the student's summer research, including student's end-of-program symposium presentation and the research paper publication in our EEREU Annual Research Journal. (b) An individual agreement exists between the faculty and the student on financial compensation to the student, if any, and the rate of the compensation if applicable. Please contact potential faculty mentor or the program director for possibilities of individual support and include such information in online application.

PSU students currently registered in branch campuses outside the University Park Campus are welcome to apply.

I am an international student currently enrolled in a university in the US and plan to come to PSU for graduate study, may I apply?

Unfortunately, due to funding regulations by National Science Foundation, you are not eligible to apply for our REU positions. The restriction does not however limit your choice to get involved in research. If you have an intention to apply to graduate school at Penn State and like to work with a particular faculty at the Dept. of EE, PSU, during the summer, you may explore the opportunity by contacting the faculty directly. Financial compensation, available or not, will depend on the resources the faculty have. EE faculty directory may be found at http://www.ee.psu.edu/Directory/Faculty.aspx.

I am an international student currently enrolled in a university outside the US, may I apply?

While we encourage your pursuit of hands-on research and perhaps a future career in engineering research in the USA, our financial support can only be applied to US citizens and permanent residents of the United States, regulated by NSF guideline. Our program is looking into possibilities to extend research experience to exchange/international undergraduate students; such an opportunity will mostly come from international bilateral collaborative agreement. Until that happens, we are not able to accommodate international students in this program.

What is life like as an EEREU scholar?

You will work on a specific research topic under the guidance of a faculty mentor. While you will be spending most of your time in research labs, you can also expect to be part of the following major group activities: The Weekly Scientific Seminar and Workshop on ethics; The Bi-weekly Field Trips; NSF EEREU Mini-Symposium towards the end of the program; and the publication of your research report paper in EEREU Annual Research Journal at the end of the summer program.

You also have the option to participate in social and recreational activities during some of the weekends. For questions regarding EEREU compensation, living, travel, etc. please check out our Life as an EEREU Scholar information page.

When is the application due?

The application deadline and other key dates are listed here.

Can I send my transcript electronically?

Unofficial electronic transcripts are acceptable when applying to our EEREU program (email to eereu@engr.psu.edu). However, official transcript should be available upon inquiry.

Can my reference letter(s) be sent electronically?

Yes – Reference letter may be mailed, faxed, or emailed, to:

Mrs. Mary Ann Henderson
316 Electrical Engineering East
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
Telephone (814) 865-0184
FAX (814) 865-7065
E-MAIL eereu@engr.psu.edu

How competitive is the summer REU program at EE, Penn State?

The EEREU program at Penn State typically receives about 100 applications by March each year for 12 funded positions. Therefore it is quite competitive. However, many applicants apply to multiple summer opportunities, so it is not uncommon that some may not be able to accept our offers thus the percentage of being selected is actually higher than it seems.

How long is the program? What if I have to come later?

The REU session is 9 weeks long starting right after the Memorial Day weekend. We strongly encourage full participation of the program, as the total program is only nine weeks and each week counts. We realize some students’ schools are on a quarter system or release a few days later to join our program. Any arrangements, if deemed necessary, must be worked out with the REU Director and your program mentor, prior to accept the offer.

What are the factors for the selection process?

The most important factoris that you have interests in exploring your potential in electrical engineering research. If you are majoring in EE, ECE or related engineering fields, you are expected to have very good preparation in your major areas. Courses taken, major GPA, etc. speak for your preparation. If you major in physics, chemistry, mathematics, materials science and engineering including bioscience and bioengineering, or related science fields, you are expected to be well prepared in these fields and also have an interest in pursuing graduate studies in electrical engineering.

While your GPA, major GPA, and other standards are used as reference, we look to identify particularly those students with interests and determination in pursuing a research career, and with strong recommendations.

We strongly encourage applications from women students, students of underrepresented minority groups, students of HBCU schools, those with physical disabilities, and those with limited access to research facilities.

Most students selected to the program are college juniors; however sophomores and in exceptional cases freshman are also selected.

Can I request to work on a specific topic or to work with a particular faculty member?

We try very hard to match your research interests with research area and related faculty. Please feel free to let us know (on your application form) your research preferences and if you have specific commitment or desire to work with a particular professor.

However the objective of this program is to provide research experience and to broaden your views on the various and interdisciplinary aspects of electrical engineering, therefore we encourage you stay open minded on research topics.

If I'm accepted to the program, where will I stay and what should I bring?

EE REU Site Program provides communal housing (shared four-bedroom garden apartments) for the participants. The location of the Summer REU Program housing is The Nittany Apartments, owned and operated by Penn State University. You should bring whatever you need to feel comfortable for 9 weeks. Some suggestions – what to bring - from our EEREU alumni may be a good place to get you started on packing.

Can I take a summer course (for credit) during the time I participate in the EEREU program?

Our REU program is an intense research/educational activity (8 hours a day and 40 hours a week). Classes in summer session are also intense and typically not available in evenings. It is thus not recommended that you take summer classes while in the REU program; unless a specific class is available that does not compromise your time commitment with the REU program.

A possible mechanism to earn credit in summer is that you may register in one of Penn State’s independent study courses (EE 496) for 1-3 credits, if the credit is acceptable as senior project credit in your school. Your REU faculty mentor here will assign your grade based on your REU research report and research presentations.You need to provide a letter from your undergraduate advisor at home school and to get further assistance from Mr. David Salvia (undergraduate coordinator, EE, PSU) for PSU registration.

Do I need to have medical insurance during the summer?

We strongly recommend that you carry some form of medical insurance for the summer. You will be asked to provide insurance information or to sign a form acknowledging that you have been fully informed on such a matter.

During the time you are at Penn State for summer research, work related incidents will be automatically covered by Penn State. However, the University does not provide medical insurance for summer program participants. In the event of illness or injury (outside work) requiring treatment, hospitalization, or surgery, personal or family medical insurance must be used.

Most full time college students carry medical insurance during regular semesters that is good through the summer – please verify your status or consider the options of buying summer coverage.

Whom can I contact if I have further questions?

Contact Mrs. Lena Getman, 814-863-6315, or email at eereu@engr.psu.edu.