REU Site: An Inclusive REU Program in Physics and Astronomy at the University of Utah

University Of Utah, Salt Lake City UT

Investigators

Abstract

This award supports the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Physics and Astronomy site at the University of Utah. The site will support eight students for nine weeks of summer research per year. The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Utah currently offers a wide variety of research opportunities and has a history of developing and managing high-quality, cohort-based summer research programs both for its own students and those visiting from other institutions. The objectives of the University of Utah Physics and Astronomy REU site program are to: 1. engage students in full-time active research; 2. provide professional development opportunities for students and mentors; 3. motivate students towards science and STEM careers by constructing an engaging, inclusive, and supportive cohort experience; and 4. improve students' science literacy and oral and written communication skills. Students who participate in this site will engage in a variety of activities that encompass: 1) rigorous and diverse research projects; 2) professional and career development workshops; 3) introduction into the scientific community culture; 4) community building; and 5) personalized mentorship. Students may also find research projects at Telescope Array (Delta, UT); VERITAS (Tucson, AZ); Frisco Peak Observatory (Milford, UT); and HAWC (Sierra Negra, MX). Students will participate in professional and career development activities to further their careers beyond the REU experience. This award is supported by the Division of Physics and the Division of Astronomical Sciences within the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.