Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Eligibility

What kind of academic background is required for the REU program?
The REU program is open to any undergraduates from any institution. Applicants must be enrolled in a bachelor degree program at the time of the REU or be enrolled in a two-year community college in a STEM-related major. Students completing their first or sophomore years are particularly encouraged to apply, but rising seniors will also be considered. Preference will also be given to students for whom this is their first intensive research experience.

I am graduating in May. Can I still participate?
Students who have received their bachelor’s degrees and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates are not eligible.

I am a first-year student. Am I eligible for the REU?
Yes, as a first-year student you are encouraged to apply. However, you should have begun taking courses in STEM.

I am not a US citizen or permanent resident. Can I still apply?
The funding for this REU is provided by the United States Government as part of a grant from the National Science Foundation. The specifics of the grant require REU participants to be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.

Application Process

Who is eligible to apply to the REU program?
Undergraduate students (first-year, sophomore, and junior) working toward a degree in STEM with particular interest in interdisciplinary environmental science are encouraged to apply. No specific major is preferred. Students studying biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, engineering, environmental science, geoscience, meteorology, physics or related fields are encouraged to apply. We prefer students who have taken at least one or two introductory courses in a STEM field.

What other skills would be useful for my application?
Previous research experience is not required. Applicants should have excellent oral and written communication skills, strong problem solving skills, self-motivated, focused, and able to work as part of a group and independently. Experience working with field data, conducting statistical analysis, familiarity with GIS, R or Python is helpful but not necessary.

What is the selection process?
The program directors, with input from the faculty mentors, review applications and select students based on their academic record, statements of interest, academic goals, and recommendations. Consideration is also given to the diversity of the cohort because we believe that students from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, home institutions, and undergraduate majors will create the best learning environment. Because time management and organization is important to professional success, consideration is also given to students who balance undergraduate studies with full- or part-time jobs.

How are students matched with faculty mentors and research projects?
After the students are selected, program directors and faculty mentors consider student interests and academic background to match students with research themes. Students are informed of their project focus and their REU research mentor will provide additional information about the project area before arrival for the summer REU. Within the general research theme, student teams will have significant autonomy to develop their specific research questions.

What is the deadline for applications?
Only applications received prior to 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, February 24, 2025, will be considered.

Where do I apply?
Applications can be submitted through the National Science Foundation’s Education & Training Application portal. ETAP provides a “common app” for all NSF funded research and training opportunities.

When will I be notified if I have been accepted to the program?
All applicants will be notified of decisions by March 10, 2025. Students will have two weeks to accept the offer of admission before we move to wait-listed applicants.

Is an official transcript necessary to apply?
An unofficial transcript for each undergraduate institution that you have attended should be submitted with the online application.

How will I provide recommendations?
In the online application, you will be asked for the names and contact information for two faculty or other academic mentors who can speak to your qualifications for the REU. We will contact them directly for a recommendation. Please make sure to ask permission of each recommender before entering their names in the online application.

Program Details

Do I get paid?
Yes. A stipend of $700/week for the 9-week REU summer program. REU student internship positions and operation of the REU site are contingent on availability of funding from the National Science Foundation.

How many students will participate in the REU?
Each year, a cohort of 12 undergraduate students will be offered summer research internships with the Environmental Microplastics REU to work with six faculty mentors from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and City College of New York.

Is my REU stipend taxable?
Yes, your stipend is taxable and you should report it in your tax filings.

What is the workload as a REU participant and what is expected of me?
You are expected to work a standard 40-hour week during the 9-week summer REU program. The particular hours and days will be negotiated with your mentor and dictated by your project. For example, if you need to do night or weekend sampling, that may extend your work time outside of the traditional work day and week. Generally speaking, you will work an eight-hour day on Monday – Friday. This includes research experimental design, data acquisition, field work, analysis of data, writing, preparing results, and required workshops. Typically, students arrive between 8–9 a.m. each weekday, take a 30-minute lunch break, and finish between 4–5 p.m. A few weekend activities are scheduled during the summer but generally evenings and weekends are non-work periods, unless some aspect of your research requires a different schedule.

What is the time commitment of the REU?
The 2025 summer program will begin on Monday, June 9, 2025 and conclude on Friday, August 8, 2025. Students should plan to arrive in Geneva, NY on Sunday, June 8, and depart from New York City on Saturday, August 9.

What will be the summer schedule?
REU participants will spend the first 5 weeks of the program at HWS in Geneva, NY where they will develop and project with their research mentor, carry out fieldwork and initial sample preparation and analysis. Participants will also engage in a series of professional development and leadership workshops, participate in scientific communication workshops, and have the option to participate in training in geographic information systems (GIS) and data analysis and visualization in the R statistical computing language. On Saturday 12 July 2025, participants will travel to New York City to complete their analyses at the City College of New York and prepare their final research products. We will gather to present results and celebrate the program on Friday 8 August before students depart for home.

Am I required to participate in the entire REU program?
Yes, participants are expected to be present for the entire 9-week program. In rare cases, the program director might allow a student to miss a few days for a prior professional commitment.

Can I use my REU research as a starting point for a senior project or other independent study credit at my home institution?
Yes. We strongly encourage (but do not require) students to continue their REU research in some form at your home institution. We also encourage you to continue to collaborate with your REU research mentor, which increases the chance of presenting and publishing your REU research, which is a significant accomplishment that distinguishes you from other candidates for graduate school or employment.

Is support available to present my research at a professional scientific conference?
Yes. If you successfully complete your project, you will be invited to work with your research mentor to prepare and submit an abstract for a professional conference during the academic year following your REU experience. The REU program will provide funds to help support your travel, registration, food and housing during the conference.

How do I contact the REU program if I have other questions?
The director of the REU program is Prof. Nan Crystal Arens (Arens@hws.edu) and co-director is Prof. Linda Tseng (LTseng@ccny.cuny.edu). Feel free to email either of them with more questions.