NSF REU in Chemistry at the University of North Texas
Application Deadline is March 2, 2009NSF REU in Chemistry at the University of North Texas
Application Deadline is March 2, 2009Thank you for your interest in the NSF REU program at the University of North Texas. We have an exciting summer research program planned for Summer 2009. Please see below for further details.
Denton and the Dallas-Ft. Worth Area
This program focuses on chemistry research in all of the "traditional" areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical), and also provides opportunities in many "new" areas including computational chemistry and materials chemistry. Possible research areas include:
Analytical Chemistry * Inorganic Chemistry * Organic Chemistry * Physical Chemistry *Computational Chemistry * Materials Chemistry * Ligand Design * Kinetics * Catalysis * Synthetic Organometallic Chemistry * Non-electrolytic Solutions * Biochemistry * Layered Inorganic Materials * Metal Electrodeposition * Surface Chemistry * Organic Electrochemistry * Diamond-like Carbon Films * Organic Synthesis * Metal/Ceramic Nanocomposites * Optical Sensors * Gas-Phase Chemistry * Conducting Polymers * Fluorescence/Phosphorescence * Spectroscopy * Atmospheric Chemistry * Environmental Chemistry
In addition to a meaningful research experience, this program includes a career program led by former executives of major international chemical companies (DuPont, Eli Lilly), tours of local companies to see how chemistry plays a role, "hands-on" learning experiences training in scientific communication (written and verbal), leadership in chemistry seminars by top leaders of the 170,000+ member American Chemical Society, and an ethics in science component.
We plan to provide a strong research experience combined with important career training.
Eight students will be selected to participate in this program for Summer 2009. Early application is encouraged, as we anticipate heavy interest in this unique program.
Students who will begin their junior or senior year of undergraduate studies in 2009-2010 are eligible to apply. Outstanding students entering their sophomore will be considered, though preference will be given to juniors and seniors with similar qualifications. As per NSF requirements, all student participants must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S.
Participants will receive a stipend of $4,000 for the 10-week program. Double-occupancy accommodations at a UNT residence hall will also be provided by the program. Additionally, a travel allowance to/from the REU site is available.
Faculty mentors may encourage their REU students to present their summer research results at a regional or national chemistry conference. Upon request by the faculty mentor, $600 in travel funds is available to each REU participant who presents summer research conducted in this program at a regional or national meeting.
Students are encouraged to investigate the faculty web pages at http://www.chem.unt.edu/faculty for more information about faculty research interests.
The Department of Chemistry is a doctoral-granting program, with approximately 100 students in the graduate program. The department also has a particularly strong record of meaningful undergraduate research involvement, with UNT undergraduates actively and heavily involved in nearly all research groups. A large percentage of these undergraduates have published their research in major scientific journals and/or have presented their research results at national and/or regional scientific meetings. Thus, REU participants will find the department very welcoming, providing meaningful research experiences and close interaction with faculty mentors.
Further information about the department can be found at http://www.chem.unt.edu.
The University of North Texas is the fourth-largest university in the State of Texas, with 35,000 students. The university has two main libraries, with the science and math library located near the chemistry building. UNT subscribes to a large volume of science journals to which students will have access online as well as in the library. Additionally, access to many useful databases such as SciFinder Scholar is available.
Further information about UNT can be found at http://www.unt.edu.
Denton and the Dallas-Ft. Worth Area
Denton is a college town, with a population of over 100,000, located on the northern outskirts of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. It is 30 minutes from the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport (where most airline carriers fly), and approximately 50 minutes from Love Field (where Southwest Airlines flies). Denton offers many opportunities - a nice-sized mall, movie theaters, restaurants, . . . During the summer activities include concerts once a week outside the city's old courthouse. (There's a terrific ice cream place across the street!)
The Dallas and Ft. Worth area, with a population of over 5 million, offers an extraordinary number of activities including long-horn cattle drives down the middle of Ft. Worth (for the really adventurous, you may even climb on a longhorn!), athletics (e.g., Texas Rangers baseball, FC Dallas soccer, races at Texas Motor Speedway), numerous concerts (such as those at Billy Bob's Texas), Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, numerous museums (such as the Sixth Floor Museum), and the list goes on and on!
To apply for the program:
Complete the application form.
Be sure to include a one page personal statement (more information is provided on the application form).
Have two letters of recommendation sent to the below address.
For consideration, all material is due to the Program Directors no later than March 2, 2009.
Ms. Susan Brockington, REU Program Coordinator
Department of Chemistry
1155 University Circle, #305070
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas 76203
(940) 565-3554
or