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Frequently
Asked Questions*
About the NSF-REU Program in Bridge Engineering
1. What is expected of me as a program participant?
The goal of the REU program is to familiarize students with the research process and to help undergraduates in determining whether they wish to go on to graduate school and/or pursue a research-related career. Participants will be oriented to UD library resources to enable them to conduct literature searches, and they will work with faculty and grad students in the lab and/or the field on designated research projects matched to their interests. Midway through the program, students will give brief presentations on their work; at the end of the 10-week period, they will give longer presentations in a mini-research symposium. Although the program time period is limited, students will be expected to have gathered at least the base material for a paper or conference presentation by the end of the summer.
2. What types of activities will I be involved in?
A preliminary schedule will be posted for the summer of 2004 later in the spring. You can also view the final schedule for 2003 to get a better idea of all activities.
3.
Is there a typical schedule for weekdays on campus? What about weekends?
A typical weekday schedule is for the students to work on their individual research
projects in the lab, the library, or the field, as appropriate. Weekends are
pretty much free, although students do have access to the labs and computer
rooms over the weekends and are free to work on their projects if they wish.
While program participants are encouraged to do things together, the weekends
are considered free time. Most of the optional social and cultural trips are
scheduled for weekends (see the answer to Question 7).
4. What kind of clothes will I need for the summer?
For the most part, the program is casual, and Delaware is warm and humid in the summer. For lab work, have at least one pair of heavy pants like jeans and a pair of heavy-duty boots. For field trips, bring along one nice but not overly dressy outfit like khakis and a shirt or blouse. Otherwise, shorts, t-shirts, sandals, sneakers, jeans, etc., as well as a lightweight jacket or sweatshirt for the occasional cool day, should be fine.
5. What are the living arrangements for the program?
The University of Delaware has several summer research programs each year, and at least one dorm is allocated to students in these programs, including the NSF-REU in Bridge Engineering Program. The cost for a double is covered by the program. All living arrangements are made through the UD Undergraduate Research Program. Students in the various programs interact with one another in the dorm, and many social activities are planned to include all participants. Participants must live in the dorm; off-campus living is not permitted.
6. What about meals?
The residence hall has limited food preparation facilities where students can make very simple meals and snacks. It is recommended that students bring some basic utensils if they plan to use the dorm kitchen. A weekly seminar for participants on Fridays includes lunch. A $250 travel allowance is intended to cover the cost of food on field trips.
7.
For overnight trips away from the campus, such as to Pittsburgh for the Bridge
conference, are lodging or meals provided?
The trip to Pittsburgh is the only educational trip that involves an overnight
stay. The program pays directly for the students' lodging, and the $250 travel
allowance may be used towards food (it is added into the first paycheck along
with your stipend). The other bridge-related trips are day trips. In addition
to these trips, the Undergraduate Research Program at UD sponsors trips for
all of the undergrad researchers who are here over the summer (spanning a bunch
of programs) to places like the beach, Washington, DC, New York City, and amusement
parks. For these trips, some of which take place over an entire weekend, only
the transportation is provided. These social/cultural trips are completely optional,
and students are responsible for food, lodging (if any), and any entrance fees
or tickets.
8. Can I bring a car to campus? Is a car necessary?
Participants can bring cars to campus; summer parking stickers are available for $62. We will provide you with a proof-of-employment letter that you can take to Parking Services on your first day here to purchase the sticker. However, it is not necessary for every participant to have a car. We usually have at least a few participants who bring cars, and we encourage REU students to do things together on the weekends. For getting around on campus during the week, a car is not needed. Students can walk, bike, or use free campus busses.
9. Do I need to bring a computer?
The dorms are wired for computer hookups and Internet connections, so you can bring a computer or a laptop if you wish. We will also provide desk space and computers for all participants in the department's facility in DuPont Hall. Students will also be issued email addresses for the summer and set up with computer accounts.
10. What campus facilities will be available to me as a summer student?
All NSF-REU participants will be issued temporary campus ID cards for the summer, allowing access to the University libraries and to the fitness facilities in Carpenter Sports Building. The Trabant Student Center, which includes a food court, ATM, and campus store, is also open in the summer. In addition, Main Street, which is just a block or two from the main campus buildings, has restaurants, a book store, drug stores, a variety store, bagel shops, etc.
11.
When do we find out what research projects we will be working on?
After we have all of our participants' acceptances, we compile of list of research
projects with our faculty advisors. The list is posted on our web site, and
we ask that each of the students choose his or her top 3 projects. We then match
the requests with the projects. Last year, we were able to give all of our students
at least their third choice and, in most cases, their first or second.
* If you have
further questions, please email Diane Kukich.