A working model for defining a successful REU project, contributed by Michael Georgiopoulos, University of Central Florida

From CISEREUPI

Idea: Increase the success of a Summer REU Experience.

Objectives:

We correlate the research that our graduate students do in their dissertation with the research that undergraduate students will focus on in their summer REU experience.

In the fall semester of every year, graduate students with their faculty advisor define a research project for the summer REU.

Over the fall and spring semester, before the REU starts, the graduate student works on this research project, under the faculty mentorship, so that when the REU summer experience starts there is some certainty that the research will work.

The faculty mentor and the graduate student mentor of an REU team define a piece of this research project that the REU students can work on with a high probability of success.

During the summer REU experience the graduate student shadows the team of undergraduates that work on this project.

After the summer REU experience is completed the graduate student continues the work (if needed) for an eventual publication in a refereed venue (conference or journal).

What works:

The above process works if enough time is spent on a research project before it is assigned to an REU student team.

The above process works best if the graduate student mentor is a seasoned Ph.D. student.

The above project works best if the research topic assigned to the REU team is closely related to the graduate student mentor’s dissertation topic.

What does not work:

The opposite of what works.

Assessment:

Experience from the projects completed (three years in a row) with an NSF funded REU site.