Collaborative Research in the Chemical Sciences
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
A Ten Week Summer Program

What to Expect

By participation in the CRCS program, you will:

• Gain research experience in nationally recognized labs
• Prepare for graduate school
• Network with peers and research professionals
• Receive mentoring from top faculty
• Receive a competitive stipend and restitution for travel and housing
• Be eligible to receive academic credit and attend professional conferences

This program provides participants with an exciting, hands-on collaborative research experience in nationally recognized research laboratories. The CRCS program is department-wide and so offers research experiences in a variety of chemical disciplines including Analytical, Biological, Inorganic, Materials, Organic and Physical Chemistry.

Click here to see the participating faculty mentors in the CRCS REU program

In addition to the work that CRCS REU students perform in the lab, they also participate in workshops, seminars, social activities and field trips that provide opportunities for increased networking, learning and entertainment. Students are provided with the opportunity to attend professional conferences to communicate their research results and learn about the research of others. All students accepted into the program are supported financially with competitive stipends, travel assistance, housing and partial board. Students who excel are encouraged to apply for graduate school at the University of Arizona.

By the end of the summer students become familiar with both the technical skills of performing research within the lab and the social and cultural skills necessary to succeed in industry or academia. Students are generally exposed to a variety of research activities which may include literature searches, experimental design, bench work and lab notebook management, mathematical modeling, instrumental characterization, computer/software control and analysis, machine shop skills, lab safety, as well as communication, organizational and presentation skills. Some general expectations are outlined below.

1. Students accepted into the program are expected to work in their designated laboratory for a minimum of 40 hours per week to complete an academically appropriate research project designed in conjunction with their advisor. These projects are designed according to both the student’s interests and abilities as well as the real needs of the research group. By the end of the ten week session, students are expected to complete an abstract or summary of their work, a poster and a presentation.

2. In an effort to provide a richer experience and to contextualize the work performed within the lab, students will also be required to participate in a variety of activities outside the lab. These activities may include technical content and career seminars, as well as tutorials and workshops on the effective presentation of scientific research.

The Orientation will introduce students to the rationale behind research, how to set realistic goals and expectations, and how to handle frustration and setbacks. Students are encouraged to meet frequently with their faculty and graduate/postdoctoral advisors, particularly in the early stages of the program, to precisely define their projects and to review lab-specific safety protocols. Project plans will be approved by faculty advisors by the end of the second week of the experience.

Throughout the summer, students gather weekly for content and skill-set building seminars. Final reports (abstracts) will be due in the 9th or 10th week, at which time students may also be required to participate in a final symposium and present their work. These reports will be reviewed by the faculty advisors and may be bound in an e-journal to be posted online, and distributed in hard copy to all REU participants.

Students are also invited to participate in a variety of social events and extra-curricular activities including CRCS sponsored lunches, field trips and social activities.

This material is based upon work supported by the REU Site Program of the National Science Foundation No. CHE-0453466. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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