Ken Vickers – Director Research Professor, Physics (1998 – present)

1. University of ArkansasMicroelectronics-Photonics (microEP) Graduate ProgramSummer Research for Undergrads (or, how to get a jump on grad school) Ken Vickers – Director Research Professor, Physics (1998 – present) Eng Management, Texas Instruments (1980 – 1998) 479 575-2875 vickers@uark.edu http://microEP.uark.edu Fisk University November 2007 Nashville, TN

2. Why Undergrad Research • Fall/Spring – do it at Fisk University • Great way to know faculty members • Prepares you for success in summer programs • Lets you apply your classroom theory • Summer – do it somewhere • Fisk – great start to a compressed MS degree • Industry – great way to get on the “hire after graduation” list of your targeted company • Other Universities – great way to get on the “must fund” list of your targeted grad program Fisk University - Nashville, TN

3. Aspects of Summer Programs • Industry • Start looking in January at the latest • Use any on-campus career resources available • Use internet industry publications • Universities • Nationally funded programs on the internet • www.nsf.gov • www.igert.org • www.agep.us • Search university sites for “undergraduate research” to find locally funded opportunities Fisk University - Nashville, TN

4. Example of Internal FundingUA George Washington Carver Project • Originated in 1996 as a UA funded REU style partnership: http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/recruit/Carver/index.html • HBCU Administrators identify students matching research opportunities • Initiated by Colleges of Agriculture, Business, and Education • Now also supported by College of Engineering, Fulbright College, and five NSF REU sites on campus • Typically seventy-five students in these programs each summer Fisk University - Nashville, TN

5. NSF REU Program Attributes • The NSF as Customer • More US students choosing grad school • More underrepresented group students choosing grad school • More highly skilled BS graduates entering the workplace • The microEP Grad Program as Customer • Direct recruitment opportunity (matchmaking) • Distribution of “matchmakers” nationally • Peer “seal of approval” of program elements Fisk University - Nashville, TN

6. Understanding a Host Organization: (the microEP program as example) • The educational objective of the microEP program is to produce graduates that create and commercialize micro to nanoscale materials, devices, and systems. • This will be accomplished through rigorous interdisciplinary science/engineering graduate education; supplemented with soft skills, management, and entrepreneurial training. Fisk University - Nashville, TN

7. NSF REU Sites – microEP as an example • Submitted proposal and was funded for summers 2001- 2003; 2nd proposal funded for 2004-2008. • Included funding for REU students to take summer graduate ethics class • Included microEP Cohort methodology approach • Viewed as a prime recruiting tool • Dedicated three of twelve positions to Carver institutions • Expanded focus by 2004 to include coordination of all undergrad research programs on campus to create a “community of summer researchers” Fisk University - Nashville, TN

8. Setting up the REU Process • Project Planning • October: Web site updated for next summer • November: Contact partner institutions • December: Widespread email distribution • January: Research grant supplemental REU proposals • March 1: Application deadline • March 7: 1st round offers made • March 21: 2nd round offers made • April: Identify faculty/research projects • May: Enroll students, finalize housing, projects, etc. • Graduation plus 7-14 days: Start 10 week REU Fisk University - Nashville, TN

9. Setting up the REU Process • Infrastructure elements • Grad School enrolls participants for 1 hour class and handles tuition (automatic student access to infrastructure) • microEP office handles paperwork, housing, and event support • Faculty Director manages recruitment, selection, and daily operations processes (1 month salary) • PI and co-PI drive selection of students, recruit faculty, drive faculty/student matching, and monitor summer research progress Fisk University - Nashville, TN

10. Setting up the REU Process • Operational elements • Base stipend of about $4.5k to match industry • Housing and travel allowance of $2.0k • $500 research support/student • Weekly research review meetings • Common start date, then three day orientation and community building, for all REU/Carver participants • Common housing of all participants in one dorm floor (mix room-mates between programs) • All students treated as full site participants regardless of funding source Fisk University - Nashville, TN

11. Setting up the REU Process • Extra elements • All programs’ participants share three day opening schedule (Sunday check-in and dinner, Monday campus orientation, and Tuesday team building/creativity summer camp) • Float trip on the Buffalo River if possible • Thursday evening events every week, hosting passed between REU/Carver programs • Road trip to Dallas semiconductor industry at week eight for UA microEP, UA Physics, and OU Physics REU participants (microEP hosted) Fisk University - Nashville, TN

12. Your Obligations as a Student • Research • 40 hour/week obligation (just to start) • Plan to act like a grad student (professional) • Expect to be treated like a professional • Community • Treat it as an experiment in trying out another part of the country • Experience another learning environment • Represent yourself and your school well • Form lasting friendships • Have fun Fisk University - Nashville, TN

13. Common Start Date and Opening Night Dinner Fisk University - Nashville, TN

14. Research Community Creation: Summer Camp for REU Participants Camp concepts by Dr. Ed Sobey (www.invention-center.com) Fisk University - Nashville, TN

15. Socialization Across REU Sites: Trips and Thursdays Fisk University - Nashville, TN

16. Zyvex Corporation, Dallas MEMC Southwest, Sherman Texas Instruments DLP, Dallas Professional Development:Dallas Semiconductor Industry Fisk University - Nashville, TN

17. The Summer Community 2007 Fisk University - Nashville, TN

18. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad ProgramSo What are the Results?

19. Setting up the REU Process • Research • Projects from ME, ChE, EE, Civil Eng, Physics, and Chemistry faculty • Full spectrum from great to terrible projects and results, with average being better than “good” • Participation • Faculty and student participation ran full spectrum, with average better than “good” • Recruitment • microEP recruitment strongly dependent on the summer’s group identity • Overall, better than 50% grad school attendance Fisk University - Nashville, TN

20. Summer U/G Research at the University of Arkansas • NSF REU sponsored by microEP (http://microEP.uark.edu, then the REU button) • NSF REU sponsored by Physics (http://www.uark.edu/depts/physics/reu05/) • NSF REU sponsored by Chemistry (http://chemistry.uark.edu/1197.htm) • NSF REU sponsored by Mechanical Eng (contact Dr. Joe Rencis at jjrencis@uark.edu) • Internally funded Space and Planetary Sciences (http://spacecenter.uark.edu/97.htm) Fisk University - Nashville, TN

21. University of ArkansasmicroEP Grad ProgramQuestions?http://microEP.uark.edu