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Managing an REU Student

Managing an REU Student. David K. Mills Created for Louisiana Tech’s NSF-Funded Research Experiences in Micro/Nano Engineering Program. Tips for a Successful REU. Planning and preparation Early communication Student mentoring Select an appropriate project

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Managing an REU Student

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  1. Managing an REU Student David K. Mills Created for Louisiana Tech’s NSF-Funded Research Experiences in Micro/Nano Engineering Program

  2. Tips for a Successful REU • Planning and preparation • Early communication • Student mentoring • Select an appropriate project • Plan how to introduce the student to your lab • Encourage frequent communication • Show enthusiasm for the work • Include the student in social activities

  3. Planning and Preparation • Prepare a description of your laboratory interests. • Outline a research project • Order needed supplies • Select the most valuable journal articles • Decide what skills the student will need to learn

  4. Early Communication • Make contact with your student by phone or email. • Send the student introductory material (journals/project outline/overview of your lab)

  5. Student Mentoring • You cannot be with the student 24/7 or even 8 hours a day. • Pair the student with someone already in your lab. • Allow the student to have some independence.

  6. Appropriate Project • Not a Ph.D. project. • Answers a research question. • May lead to a conference presentation or other publication. • Appropriate to your laboratory. • Do not use your student as a pair of hands.

  7. Introducing the Student to the Lab • How much do you need to tell the student? • Who will the student work with primarily? • Group meetings. • Communications/Deliverables schedule. • Written expectations: • Hours spent in the lab. • Hours spent reviewing literature. • Documentation of the student’s work. • Written reports from the student.

  8. Communicating with the Student • Daily emails (informal) • Weekly summary of activity. • Action plan for each week. • Group meetings. • Feedback from other students (e.g. a graduate student mentor). • Communicate with Dr. Jones

  9. Show Enthusiasm • Why do you think your work is important? • Why do you think your project is interesting/fun. • Show that you have a life outside of the lab. • Share anecdotes/stories.

  10. Social Activities • Lab parties/socials. • Encourage socialization with your other students. • Encourage the student to participate in REU-sponsored activities.

  11. Action Plan • Each objective includes • Title • The objective to be accomplished • The deliverable • The target date

  12. Objective Example • Title: BACKGROUND READING AND LITERATURE REVIEW ON LBL ASSEMBLY & NANOFILMS • Objective: (1) Identify literature on the application of LbL assembly to biomaterials for cell and tissue engineering. • What cells have been studied? • What materials have been studied? • What are the major assessment techniques? • What questions have been asked? • What controversies have arisen? • What questions remain to be answered? • Deliverable: (1) 1 page summary of findings, (2) Copies (paper, pdf) for our Lab files. • Targetdate: JUNE 10th. A longer summary will be due AUGUST 1ST.

  13. REU Expectations for Your Lab • Content Area • Laboratory Techniques • Safety Considerations • Expected work hours • Documentation • Communications • Meetings

  14. Example Expectations • Content Areas from the Literature • LbL assembly & NanoFilms • Biomaterials for dental implants • TMJ research • Osteoblast cell biology • Laboratory Skills • LBL assembly method • Cell culture • Immunocytochemistry • Protein Assays

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