Application Deadline: Saturday, February 15, 2025 (at 11:59 PM)

NEPARS REU 2025 Summer Program Dates: June 2, 2025 - August 1, 2025

Important

• Please have your Academic Transcript ready for upload as a single PDF file before beginning this application. Unofficial copies are acceptable and encouraged.

• After you submit this form, your References/Recommenders will be notified as to where they should upload their recommendation. Please make sure you have an accurate email address for them and let them know you are applying for this program PRIOR to submitting this application.

• REU students accepted into the summer program will be conducting scientific research. All applicant and REU student information will be kept confidential, and only aggregated data (i.e., no student-specific data) will be used in any educational research presentation and publications.

• Applications are for the joint NEPARS REU Site which is split across two locations in Upstate New York (Hobart and William Smith Colleges) and central New Hampshire (Plymouth State University). The selection process will place successful applicants at locations based on research interests.

• If applicants have any questions about the REU application process or REU summer research program, please contact Dr. Nick Metz at HWS (nmetz@hws.edu) or Dr. Eric Hoffman at PSU (ehoffman@plymouth.edu).

In our REU program, we are vested in the success of each participant and mentor, and committed to working together to build a welcoming, inclusive environment that allows each person to express themselves, explore new ideas and take risks.

We are committed to:

• being a diverse community of people with ideas and approaches that make a difference locally, nationally and globally.

• developing solutions, processes, and knowledge for all people. As a result, we embrace the vision that diversity in our program generates better learning outcomes, better citizens, and better scientists.

We ask you to provide three brief personal statements that address your interest in science, experience(s) in working with others, and committment to diversity. Our hope is that you share some information about the person you are and want to become in an effort to complement the other information included in your application.

Funding for the NEPARS REU comes from the National Science Foundation. The NEPARS REU is helping with an educational study to describe the group of students interested in participating in undergraduate research experiences funded by the National Science Foundation. The collection of this data is important. Collecting information from students that are interested in participating in undergraduate research experiences has the potential to influence the design and scale of both efforts to recruit students and the programs that offer the opportunities themselves. You willingness to provide this important information will not influence any decisions on your REU application.

Who is conducting this research?

The analyses of information will be conducted by the directors of the NEPARS-REU program (Dr. Nick Metz and Dr. Eric Hoffman).

What am I being asked to do?

By participating in the study, your data will be combined with other applicants for analysis and individual identifying information (such as Name) will not be used. The following information from your application will be part of our analyses.

• Gender
• Race/Ethnicity
• Year of undergraduate education when applying
• Prior research experience
• Current academic institution
  
• Academic major and minor
• GPA

What should I know about participation?

Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. Your decision whether or not to participate will not have any effect on the review of your application by the REU program.

What are the benefits?

You will not receive any direct benefits from participating in this educational research study. However, you may indirectly benefit, if/when the findings of this investigation influence the scale and design of undergraduate research opportunities in the future. 

Will my information be kept private?

The data being collected is not easily identifiable; care will be taken to secure this information. Data will be stored on password-protected computers. While the results of the research study may be published or presented at conferences no individually identifying information will ever be included.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

If any aspect of the study or its relationship to the REU program you are applying to is unclear, please contact either of the REU directors; Dr. Nick Metz (nmetz@hws.edu, 315-781-3819) or Dr. Eric Hoffman (ehoffman@plymouth.edu, 603-535-2321).

Additionally, inquiries regarding concerns about the participant’s rights, or any other aspect of the research as it relates to subject’s participation can be directed to the Hobart and William Smith Colleges Institutional Review Board. Such inquiries should be directed to: IRB Chairperson, Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney Street, Geneva, NY 14456

• I have read the above Statement of Consent.
• I voluntarily agree to participate in the research study.
• I am 18 years of age or older.

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Student research positions are contingent on availability of grant funds. Hobart & William Smith Colleges and Plymouth State University are equal opportunity employers.