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Some time ago I found this list of REU programs in 2009 (I can't find a similar list for 2010). I think this sounds interesting, and I would like to hear if you know any similar programs. Specifically I would like to know if such programs exists in Europe (or at least if there are programs open for Europeans).

asked Feb 2 2010 at 18:33

Sune Jakobsen

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My suspicion is that the list for 2010 is not complete because some programs have not yet received approval from the NSF for this year. – Qiaochu Yuan Feb 2 2010 at 19:07

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One think to note, even though the programs are not approved and thus not sure, many programs have received funding for a couple years in a row. Many of the programs in the 2009 list will carry over. If you are interested in a program, you should visit the program website from last year and hopefully you will find information on this summer. However, Qiaochu is correct, that more will be posted. In particular, the REU at my university is not on that list, but we were approved for funding last week(I am the Graduate Student Mentor for the program). – B. Bischof Feb 3 2010 at 2:04

Usually REUs are administered by a university (even when the source of funds is NSF), and you have to be a student of that university to participate. On the other hand, if the student is fully supported by his/her home institution, and if there is a willing REU mentor at another institution, then it may be possible to do an REU there. – Igor Belegradek Jan 8 2011 at 0:36

@Igor: This has not been the case in my experience. Most REU programs that I know of are open and provide funding to undergraduates from any institution. – Alison Miller Jan 8 2011 at 3:18

@Alison: thanks, I had a misconception there. – Igor Belegradek Jan 8 2011 at 17:49

B. Bischof · Answer 1 · 2010-04-09 03:44:31Z UTC

In my experience, it depends on the specific funding of the program. Some programs funded by the NSF will require the applicants be Americans. But this is not always the case. Last year at my university, a student from Cambridge took part in the REU.

When applying for funding for these programs, the directors must include some explanation of who will be the participants. Additionally, many of these programs specifically encourage minorities to apply, sometimes including non-American applicants.

I encourage you to look at the specific programs to see if they allow foreign applicants, emailing them if it is not stated on the webpage.

Here is the webpage that I used when searching for an REU as an undergrad.

Additionally, just googling "NSF REU 2010" is helpful.

EDIT: Shameless plug: http://www.math.ksu.edu/reu/sumar/

Rod Carvalho · Answer 2 · 2010-11-19 07:28:35Z UTC

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Caltech has the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program, which is open to students from non-American universities.

I don't know what kind of Mathematics is being done at Caltech right now, but if you find some professor doing work that interests you, you can always send him an email with your CV explaining why you would like to work with him, and asking whether he will have SURF students in Summer 2011. Even if he will not, he might inform you of some colleague of his who will. The application deadline is around late February / early March 2011, I believe.The stipend is quite generous, in my opinion.

edited Nov 19 2010 at 7:28

Rod Carvalho

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I am not sure if the REU portrayal is accurate about "aimed at the given University's students". The REUs may have a preference for American students in general because they are often funded by the NSF, and can therefore only accommodate limited number of overseas applicants. – Willie Wong Nov 18 2010 at 23:29

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I believe the perception you expressed in the first paragraph is quite wrong. In fact, the main reason REUs are listed on a web site is so students from other schools can apply to them! – S. Carnahan♦ Nov 19 2010 at 3:01

Thanks for correcting me. I edited the post and removed the innacurate comment. Not having done my undergrad in the U.S., I should not have commented on what I have no direct experience of. Having said that, the point I was trying to make is that Caltech SURF is open to students at non-American universities, which seems to be what Sune was looking for. – Rod Carvalho Nov 19 2010 at 6:59

@Rod: I e-mailed the program committee on the kind of mathematics is done at the program. I received a response from Stefanie Garcia, who told me, amongst other things, the following: *..."When the time comes for you to apply, you must independently research various professors’ websites here at Caltech and contact those who are would be most interested in working with. Therefore, your SURF can be in whatever area of Mathematics your potential SURF mentor works in. ... " * The nice thing about SURF is that it's not only open to non-Americans, but also that you're given stipends ... – Max Muller Jan 8 2011 at 16:20

(Just like the American applicants) once elected. (by the way, text between the stars (*) in the previous comment was meant to be in italics.) – Max Muller Jan 8 2011 at 16:22

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Max Muller · Answer 3 · 2011-01-07 23:18:21Z UTC

Being interested in following such a program as well, I posted a similar question on Math SE. I recently found the program held at the university of Wisconsin [which is moving to Emory, but is still being run by Ken Ono]. It specializes in number theory. As it is funded by the NSF as well, foreigners have to pay for the program themselves, but it is open to non-Americans.

Good luck with finding a program!

Lea M · Answer 4 · 2011-01-13 07:24:27Z UTC

In the UK there is the EPSRC Vacation Bursary Scheme for undergraduates, which provides funding for students to undertake an individual research project under the supervision of a suitable advisor during the summer. I participated as an undergrad myself and found it to be a really good experience. As I understand it, the universities participating in the scheme deal with the organization, but there is some information available at the EPSRC website

Ben Webster · Answer 5 · 2011-10-19 03:39:12Z UTC

As another data point, this REU for next summer clearly states that application is open to all, but that non-US citizens or green card holders cannot be compensated in the same way, due to the terms of the grant. I suspect this is the case at most REU's, even if they don't make it as explicit.

Joseph O'Rourke · Answer 6 · 2011-01-07 15:50:15Z UTC

Here is a master list of NSF REU awards in the Mathematical Sciences: REU Sites: Mathematical Sciences. Sixty-six awards are listed.

Here is the analogous list in Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering: CISE REU sites. The CISE director tells me (7Jan11) that "The 2011 sites have not been awarded and we cannot release information until awards have been made." So the list is the current active sites that are continuing. Perhaps the same holds for the math list.

Andrew · Answer 7 · 2011-01-07 14:26:39Z UTC

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When I managed an REU in 2009, we weren't sure we had the funding until like May (or end of April?)... was frustrating but was the reality. Some more highly funded programs can avoid that trouble, but depends on the university.

answered Jan 7 2011 at 14:26

Andrew

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jamie · Answer 8 · 2011-01-13 14:39:29Z UTC

Here are some summer research opportunities in the US (and one in Hong Kong) that fund non-US citizens.

Research in Industrial Projects for Students (RIPS) 2011 at UCLA (Also has a program in HongKong)
http://www.ipam.ucla.edu/rips/

http://math.williams.edu/small/application-information/ (their website says they have funded non-US students in the past)

NIMBios 2011 Summer Program National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville http://nimbios.org/education/reu2011

DIMACS REU DIMACS/DIMATIA REU CCICADA REU Rutgers Math Department REU (foreign students enrolled at a U.S. university are eligible under the CCICADA program) http://www.dimacs.rutgers.edu/REU/2011/announcement.html

Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute MTBI Summer Research Program http://mtbi.asu.edu/SummerProgram.html

Research Experience for Undergraduates Summer Programs

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