Summer Research

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>I will be a freshman in the fall starting college. Down the road I'd like to do summer research. I know of REU's and interning at your own college, but can you do research at a different school (not listed in REU)? I'm studying MechE, more interested in AeroE though, which my school doesn't have.</p>

<p>i.e something like Caltech's SURF?</p>

2

<p>Caltech SURF allows non-caltech student
[Summer</a> Undergraduate Research Fellowships … S U R F … <caltech> …](<a href=“http://www.surf.caltech.edu/applicants/index.html]Summer”>http://www.surf.caltech.edu/applicants/index.html)</caltech></p>

<p>Yes you certainly can. There are two types: #1 as long as the professor at that school agrees to become your mentor, and #2 it’s a special program like SURF, or NSF research…</p>

3

<p>Thanks…so for example say I want to study at UIUC or Purdue. When I just contact a professor that researchers what I’m interested in?</p>

4

<p>

Actually there are 3 cases:</p>

<ol>
<li>summer research at your current school</li>
<li>summer research at a different school that is assiosited with programs like NSF research, SURF for caltech. They are expecting to receive students outside the school.</li>
<li>summer research at a different school that is not in #2.</li>
</ol>

<p>Since #1 is out of your way, and caltech has this SURF, you can start contacting the program as soon as now.
[Summer</a> Undergraduate Research Fellowships … S U R F … <caltech> …](<a href=“http://www.surf.caltech.edu/applicants/application/non-caltech.html]Summer”>http://www.surf.caltech.edu/applicants/application/non-caltech.html)</caltech></p>

<p>You have to contact a mentor that you want to work with.
Browse via the website, and I would recommend go to the Catlech forum here on CC, and ask the students for opinion - like which mentors (if there are mutliples that you are interested in). </p>

<p>Early interaction would be good. Email those professors with a concise email - just tell them if why you contact them, and what you are interested in. People would turn down the email if it’s too lengthy the first time :)</p>

<p>Just ask them if they are willing to become this SURF mentor ship.</p>

<p>If you live around the area make an appointment with him if he agrees. Don’t visit him without his consent!</p>

<p>Again, read that website thoroughly.</p>

5

<p>Thanks a bunch. Don’t think I can meet with him/her personally considering I’m from New England!</p>

6

<p>I see Purdue also has a SURF program:</p>

<p><a href=“https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/Research/SURF[/url]”>Office of Research - Research - College of Engineering - Purdue University;

7

<p>Also appears that NASA has a ton of summer programs for undergrads</p>

8

<p>NASA, NSF, these are the most famous one.
Very competitive however.</p>