LearnLab Undergraduate Research Opportunity

LearnLab Undergraduate Research Opportunity Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh have an exciting opportunity summer research experience for undergraduates (REU) available for undergraduates.  The application for this program can be found at http://www.learnlab.org/opportunities/LearnLab_Summer_REU.php. This REU program is sponsored by LearnLab, a Science of Learning Center funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). We encourage applications from students who would like to conduct research in the fields of psychology, education, computer science, human-computer interfaces and language technologies. LearnLab's REU program allows talented undergraduates to spend 8 weeks during the summer in a research laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh, or one of our research partners.  The REU program supports LearnLab's commitment to training a diverse set of science, technology, education, and psychology leaders. Applications are encouraged from students who wish to learn to conduct research in a modern academic research laboratory under the guidance of experienced scientists and engineers and experiment in real classroom environments. The REU program will expose students to the excitement and opportunities of a research career. This experience will provide excellent preparation for students interested in subsequently pursuing a Masters or Ph.D. degree. Although students from other years may apply, this opportunity is most fitting for a student at the end of the junior year of undergraduate studies. Each student will receive a fellowship stipend of $4000 for the eight-week REU program. Food, housing and travel will also be provided. Students will conduct research in an area matched to the interests expressed in the student's application. Guidance and supervision of the research project will be provided by the faculty member as well as, in some cases, a postdoctoral fellow and/or advanced graduate student. Seminars specific to those participating in the REU program will be held weekly including seminars on graduate admissions and career opportunities in science, education, computer science and engineering. In addition, LearnLab seminars and those held by Carnegie Mellon's Human Computer Interaction Institute and Language Technologies Institute and seminars at Pitt's Language Research and Development Center will be open to the students, giving them exposure to a wide range of research in learning sciences. There are several benefits that the participating students may receive. If the student's research in the summer is of high quality and has added value to an ongoing research project, past students have been asked to be a coauthor on the research team's publication on that subject. Addition of publications to the resume of a graduate school applicant always greatly improves the application. If the quality of the research is high, the faculty member who advised the student would likely be willing to write a letter of recommendation for the student which could be included in a graduate school application. Research experience in one of the National Science Foundation's premier research centers will be viewed attractively. Finally, a summer spent in one of the National Science Foundation's premier project areas is a plus in an application whether it be for entry to Carnegie Mellon or the University of Pittsburgh or to any other institution. There are scholarships available for graduate work on projects in LearnLab. The student should inquire about these possibilities during the summer program. REU Program Dates: Students will begin their research experience on Sunday, June 1, 2014 with a welcoming reception and information session. The REU program will end on Friday July 25, 2014 with a poster session in the afternoon. Submission of an application indicates that the applicant agrees to be present from June 1 to 4pm July 25, 2014 inclusive. Application Deadline: Deadline for applications is February 17, 2014. Students will be informed of our decision by March 3, 2014. Minimum Requirements: Students should have a minimum of 3.5 GPA out of 4.0, although we will consider students who show by other measures that they are exceptional and who have GPAs over 3.2. Class standing and grades in specific subjects that are close to the field of research will also be considered, as are recommendations.  Students must also be United States citizens or have a current F1 visa. Number of slots/ positions available: LearnLab can accommodate as many as 10 positions, although in any given year, we may decide to fund less than 10 applicants.