We will have a program during the summer of 2020. Watch this space in the December timeframe for new application information! Last year's Program Flyer is here.
Application process updates
Hit "refresh" to see if there are any updates on our selection process. Each update is tagged with the date and listed below.
12/2/19: I am working on updating everything for summer of 2020 and will have the application posted by Christmas break. Until then, anything on this page is subject to change.
Program details:
The 2020 program will run from (TBD... probably May 26 - July 31 (travel days are Monday, May 25, and Saturday, August 1).
- You receive a stipend: $5,000. These funds are distributed at the end of May, June, July, in proporation to how many weeks of the program occurred in that month. These funds are considered a scholarship / fellowship and could be taxable, depending on your overall tax situation.
- You also receive some subsistence: $500. This helps with food costs in first month.
- Travel to/from Norman: up to $600.
- National Conference Travel:up to $1,500.
- We provide housing: in modern, furnished campus apartments, usually Traditions Square. In that complex each student has a private, locking bedroom in 4bed/2bath apartments. Additional options are available when needed. Costs for certain situations could fall to the participant, such as costs related to housing for family members, because that is outside the scope of our funding.
We are gathering the project descriptions: Project Proposals for 2020. We will update that page as we receive the rest of the project proposals.
The 2020 application will be online soon!
It has 4 parts, one of which is optional.
- the application (link below, but read all this before clicking on it!)
- two references, preferably from your advisor and professors in your major (or related) classes, who know you well
- your college/university transcripts
- (optional) a current resume
Applications are due by 11:59pm CT, February 10, 2020
Items to prepare ahead of time:
- your essays
- calcluate your in-major GPA
- identify your references, ask them if they are willing to write for you, and have their name, title, and work email address handy
- Give them the following link so they can prepare their letters: http://www.caps.ou.edu/reu/application-references.html
- (optional) prepare/update your resume
We strongly recommend that you prepare to write the essay questions by:
- taking a look at our new video (above),
- looking over past year's projects to get an idea of the range of research projects and how much you'd learn over the summer (e.g., go to each past year and click on either "Students & Mentors" or "Projects": 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, etc.)
- note that NONE of the projects involve storm chasing,
- and click around through the web sites of our partner organizations, or, now that they're posted, the 2020 Project Descriptions to help you figure out what interests you the most.
- 1. What have you done to explore weather or climate outside the requirements of your major? [aim for about 150 words; form will limit you to 2,000 characters]
- These activities or actions could be from before you started college, or extra things you're doing while in college. This essay allows non-meteorology majors to show their interest in meteorology- or climate- or radar engineering-related fields, and allows meteorology/atmospheric science majors reveal ways in which their major is personally meaningful to them.
- 2. What careers are you currently considering? [aim for about 250 words; form will limit you to 2,000 characters]
- Please tell us about how your experiences in life so far have led you to the careers you are currently considering pursuing.
- 3. Why do you want to participate in a research internship? [aim for about 250 words; form will limit you to 2,000 characters]
- This should be a personal statement explaining why you would like to try doing research.
*Note: Our partner organizations list has been built over the past 20-some years. In any one year the list is shorter, based on individual scientists' ability to mentor in that year.
When you have all the above prepared and ready to go, and have at least 20-30 minutes to work on this (even with your answers prepared it will take some time to enter all your information), click here (link coming) to fill out the application. Applications must be complete by 11:59 CT on February 10, 2020!!
Reference letters will be requested directly from references and transcripts will be directly requested from applicants.
Things to keep in mind:
- NSF requests that REU sites select at least half of their participants from schools where research opportunities are limited, and that includes 2-year colleges.
- University, college, and community college students interested in a weather-related career by pursuing a bachelors degree in science, math, computer science, or, in our case social science, are encouraged to apply.
- Aspiring science teachers are also encouraged to apply.
- Applications from women and minorities are particularly encouraged.
Also of note: NSF funds many REUs, and you can apply to more than one. To find other programs, select one of the disciplinary areas (we're listed under Atmospheric Science) or search with keywords here: https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp.
You may also find this table helpful in finding sites that meet certain criteria including latest start date, whether they can accommodate various disabilities, whether they are aimed at certain stages of school, etc.: https://www.envsci.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/nsf-reu.html. Click on "View the Directory." Note that it is a community-driven compilation of information about REU sites.
Here are a few programs that you would probably be interested in if you're interested in ours:
- Due February 15, 2020: The University of Alabama - Huntsville, Remote Sensing of Land-Atmosphere Systems: https://www.uah.edu/essc/internships/reu
- Due February 10, 2020: William & Hobart Smith / Plymouth State University REU, Northeast Partnership for Atmospheric & Related Sciences (NEPARS): https://www.hws.edu/academics/nepars-reu/
- Due February 1, 2020: REU at Monterey Bay / California State University: https://csumb.edu/reu
- While nominally in ocean sciences, this REU has a few mentors at the Naval Postgraduate School, like Dr. Wendell Nuss, Dr. Tom Murphree and Dr. Haflidi Jonsson, who mentor students interested in atmospheric sciences. See: https://csumb.edu/reu/mentors-and-projects for more information on their research areas.
- Due February 14, 2020: The University of Utah, Research Experience in ALpine Meteorology (REALM): https://atmos.utah.edu/get_involved/reu/
You can find all the Atmospheric and Geospace Science REUs listed here.
Please check the FAQ before writing or calling!
Program Contact: Dr. Daphne LaDue, dzaras@ou.edu or 405-325-1898.All institutions of the National Weather Center and partner organizations are equal opportunity employers.