Summer 2014 marks the 11th year that the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University is offering a summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. The program spans 10 weeks and involves undergraduate students from Texas A&M as well as students from other colleges and universities from across the United States. The hope is that students participating in the REU program will make significant contributions to ongoing faculty research and, more importantly, will gain an appreciation for and an interest in graduate school and a future research career.
Among the schools and universities participating students attend are Arizona State, Dallas Baptist University, Georgia State University, Jimmy Carter Early College High School/South Texas College, Maine Maritime Academy, Oberlin College, Oklahoma Christian University, Purdue University, Purdue University North Central, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, University of Alaska–Anchorage, University of Puerto Rico in Arecibo, University of the South, UT Arlington and Vassar.
The faculty mentors for the participants in the REU Summer 2014 program are Dr. Nancy Amato, Dr. Riccardo Bettati, Dr. Yoonsuck Choe, Dr. Guofei Gu, Dr. Tracy Hammond, Dr. Daniel Jimenez, Dr. Andruid Kerne, Dr. Andreas Klappenecker, Dr. Robin Murphy, Dr. Lawrence Rauchwerger, Dr. Scott Schaefer, Dr. Dylan Shell and Dr. Dezhen Song.
The REU program includes participants from several programs including the Computing for Disaster REU Site, the CRA-W/CDC Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (DREU) Program, the Dwight Look College of Engineering Undergraduate Summer Research Grant (USRG) program, students from Mexico participating in the Engineering and English Intensive Internship Program sponsored by CANIETI and students funded by individual faculty members
This 10-week program is designed to be an opportunity for students who qualify to learn more about the department, the college and the university while also contributing to ongoing faculty research. There are weekly brown bag meetings at which speakers lecture on various relevant subjects and the students are able to discuss their research and experiences this summer with each other. Other REU events scheduled include a Brazos Valley Bombers baseball game, and a visit to NASA. The program will conclude on August 8 with an Undergraduate Summer Research Grants Poster Presentation and Awards Ceremony.
“This is such a great opportunity for all undergraduate students,” said Theresa Roberts, REU program coordinator. “I really look forward to finally meeting the students. It is an exciting time to get to know them and hope that their time here in Aggieland is both educational, information and enjoyable!”