Molecular Interactions Virtual REU Program Application

Please save this form with your full name as the file name (for example, First name_Last name_MIV REU Application.pdf)

Please check this box to confirm that you are applying for the Molecular Interactions Virtual REU program.

Biographical information

Last name:

First name:

School email address:

Alternate email address (optional):

Cell phone number:

Permanent Address (not a campus address)

Street Address:

Address line 2:

City:

State:

Postal Zip Code:

Country:

Summer 2021 address (if different from permanent address)

Street Address:

Address line 2:

City:

State:

Postal Zip Code:

Country:

Your current college or university:

Type of college/university:

Community college

Small liberal arts college/university (less than 5,000 students)

Mid-size college/university (between 5-15,000 students)

Large college/university (more than 15,000 students)

Other

Did you transfer to your current institution from a community or tribal college?

Community college

Tribal college

No

Enrollment status as of Fall 2021 First year

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

Other:

What is your anticipated graduation month and year?

What is the last day of classes at your institution for Spring 2021? (month and date)

The MIV-REU program is specifically designed for participants whose circumstances

are NOT compatible with a traditional, in-person and on-site REU program.

In addition to being remote, daily work schedules are flexible according to participants’

schedules. Nevertheless, the training, professional development, community-building,

and science communication programming is designed to engage participants with 25-30

hours of guided work each week and will run from Tuesday, June 1 until Friday, August

13, 2021.

Will you be able to participate for the expected 25-30 hours per week during the entire

June 1- August 13 time period?

Yes

No (please explain below)

What is your current major?

Biological Sciences/Biology

Environmental Science

Animal Science

Ecology/Evolutionary Biology

Chemistry

Biochemistry

Chemical engineering

Other

Do you have a second major?

Yes (list in box)

No

Do you have a minor?

Yes (list in box)

No

In the box below, please list any awards/clubs/items of special interest in your college career:

What is your current GPA (on a 4.0 scale)?

If your GPA is lower than a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent), you may use this space to explain:

As part of your application, please submit transcripts from all institutions you have attended as a college student. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Have you previously engaged in scientific research, a special laboratory project, or other research-related endeavor?

Yes

No

If you answered yes to the question above, briefly describe your research experience.

How did you hear about this REU program (check all that apply)? Advisor/college professor

Email

Flyer

Online search

National Science Foundation website

Another student

Other:

Please check here to confirm citizenship (funding for this program is provided by the National Science Foundation, and all participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents):

I am a U.S. citizen

I am a permanent resident of the U.S.

Other:

Personal statement questions

Rather than uploading a personal statement, please answer the following questions in the boxes provided. Your answers must fit in the provided spaces.

1) Describe how your interests overlap with the features of the MIV-REU project and how this training would benefit your educational goals.

2) Your professor assigns a large project at the start of one of your classes in addition to thenormal exams, quizzes, and assignments for the course. They ask you to work on a project thatinvolves writing a 10-page paper, presenting an oral talk on this project, and making a posterpresentation. The assignment is due the last week of classes with no other deadlines. How doyou approach working on this project?

3) What are some examples of activities that you want to be part of a potential career that you think are a good match for your strengths?

4) When you graduate, do you:

Plan to apply directly for careers

Plan to apply to graduate programs (if so, which field/program)

Plan to apply to professional programs (e.g. medical school, dental school)

I’m not sure yet (very acceptable answer!)

Other:

5) Do outside responsibilities, such as family obligations or employment sometimes make it difficult for you to complete your course work? How do you approach and handle these competing demands on your time?

Yes

No

Are you currently active in the U.S. military or a veteran?

Yes

No

6) If selected, when during the week would you expect to be able to dedicate the cumulative 25-30 hours of time to work on this project? For example, weekday mornings? evenings?weekends? unpredictable?

Reference letters Please list the name and email address for your reference letter writer.

Your reference letter should be an instructor in a college-level course. Academic advisors can also serve as letter writers.

Note that the reference letter must be submitted directly by your reference, and not by you. Please provide your reference with the reference letter form from the MIV-REU website. You will need to fill out the top part of the form before sending it to your letter writer. Your reference letters must be received by April 15, 2021. Please coordinate accordingly with your letter writers.

I waive the right to see the reference letter.

Optional Demographic Data Providing this information is optional. In order to track the effectiveness of our recruiting efforts we request some personal information from our applicants. The data is only use internally and a summary is provided to the National Science Foundation to improve recruiting and participation efforts.

Are you the first member of your immediate family to attend college?

Gender (please specify in box)

Race/Ethnicity (please select all that apply):

Native American or Alaskan Native

Asian

Black or African American

Middle Eastern or North African

White

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

Hispanic, Latinx, or Spanish origin

Other (please describe)

We are committed to inclusiveness and diversity. Please describe any accommodations needed for participation in the summer REU.

Program Expectations

Participants are expected to:

1. Conduct research 20-30 hours per week.2. Complete on-line assessment surveys at the start and at the end of the program.3. Attend scheduled meetings and participate in events throughout the summer

program, including science communication events.4. Present the progress and results of your research at events throughout the

summer and at the end-of-summer symposium.5. If appropriate, work with your research advisor to write up the results of your

research for presentation at an external conference or for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

6. Adhere to the expectation that REU awardees are "ambassadors" for the program who aim to disseminate the results of their work and experiences broadly.

7. Commitment to the creation of an inclusive learning environment. MIV-REU is committed to an inclusive environment that celebrates the diversity of its community. We view our opportunity to teach, serve, and interact with many, varied individuals to be a privilege. We will strive to reach, support, and show respect to every person and we expect our community will do the same.

I understand and agree to these conditions (in lieu of signature, type your full name in the box below)

By submitting this application, you affirm that all information provided in this application is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

Please save this form with your name as the file name (for example, First name_Last name_MIV REU Application). Please email your complete application as an email attachment by April 15, 2021 to mivreu@umn.edu.

Application checklist:

Completed application form saved as a .pdf file Transcripts from all institutions attended (unofficial copies are acceptable) Recommendation letter, submitted by letter writer

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.