NSF-REU Summer Research Program
This year's program will be held June 1 – August 6, 2010.
The application deadline is February 15, 2010.
The program, funded by the National Science Foundation, focuses on interdisciplinary projects in biological, environmental, and materials chemistry. In our program, students become full members of a research group, carrying out fundamental research on topics that span the chemical sciences. Most students find the program to be a useful way to explore the graduate school experience at a top Chemistry program. Our faculty have an outstanding record of providing students rewarding summer research experiences, usually resulting in co-authorship on publications and/or presentations. In addition to the focus on individual research projects, students will participate in weekly career development seminars, highlighted by a Career Day with Ph.D. chemists speaking about their career paths. Students in the Chemistry REU will interact with students in other undergraduate research programs across campus.
Students receive:
- a stipend of $4500
- free dormitory housing.
- one credit of summer research, with tuition and required fees paid by the program.
- Travel allowance
- $500 Aggie Buck account (basically a debit card for meals on campus and for many off campus sites).
Who is Eligible?
This is a competitive program open to undergraduate chemistry majors enrolled in 4-year U.S. Universities other than Texas A&M who have completed their third year with a 3.0 GPA or better with strong letters of recommendation. Outstanding students who have completed their second year will also be considered. Students must have completed 2 semesters of general chemistry and general laboratory, 2 semesters of organic chemistry and organic laboratory, and 2 upper level courses, which typically include any of the following: analytical, spectroscopy, instrumental analysis, advanced organic, physical chemistry, biochemistry.
We welcome applications from members of traditionally underrepresented groups, including minorities and women.
How Do I Apply?
- You must apply on or before February 15, 2009.
- To apply online visit www.chem.tamu.edu/research/undergraduate/apply.
The following documents are required for your application to be reviewed.
- Completed application
- Statement of purpose
- 2 letters of recommendation
- Official undergraduate transcript
Send letters and transcripts to:
Texas A&M University, Dept. of Chemistry
Summer Research Program
PO Box 30012, College Station, TX 77842-3012
gradmail@mail.chem.tamu.edu
1-800-334-1082
What Projects are Available?
Click on the faculty member’s name to view their webpage to learn more about their research interests.
| Faculty Member | Sample Project Title |
| Biological Chemistry | |
| Kevin Burgess | Syntheses of Peptidomimetics to Mimic or Disrupt Protein-Protein Interactions |
| Brian Connell | Transition Metal-Catalyzed Heterocyclization Reactions |
| Paul Cremer | Protein Folding on a Chip |
| Marcetta Darensbourg | Synthetic Analogs of Enzyme Active Sites: The Bioorganometallic Chemistry of Acetyl CoA Synthase and Hydrogenases |
| Yi Qin Gao | Accelerated Molecular Dynamics Simulations for Slow Protein Dynamics and Folding |
| Paul Lindahl | Iron Metabolism in Mitochondria |
| Wenshe Liu | Genetic Code Expansion to Install Unnatural Amino Acids to Proteins |
| Frank Raushel | Origin of Substrate Specificity in Enzyme Superfamilies |
| Daniel Romo | Natural Product Total Synthesis and Cellular Receptor Isolation |
| Eric Simanek | Polymer Therapeutics for Cancer and other Diseases |
| Dan Singleton | Isotope Effects and Bioorganic Reaction Mechanisms |
| Coran Watanabe | Natural Product Analog Synthesis and Bio-Assays/Cell Based Screening |
| Jiong Yang | Synthesis of Bioactive Natural Product and Synthetic Methodology Development |
| Environmental Chemistry | |
| David Bergbreiter | Using Soluble Polymers to do Green Chemistry |
| Abraham Clearfield | Preparation of Porous Hybrid Materials with Controlled Pore Sizes for Sequestration of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Media |
| Francois Gabbai | Molecular Sensors for the Detection of Cyanide Ions in Water |
| Simon North | Direct Imaging of Atmospheric Photochemistry |
| Hongcai Zhou | Preparation of porous metal-organic frameworks for vehicular hydrogen storage and carbon dioxide sequestration |
| Materials Chemistry | |
| James Batteas | Hybrid materials for energy and the environment |
| Janet Bluemel | Catalysts Immobilized on Oxide Supports by Rigid Linker Scaffolds |
| John Fackler | Polynuclear Copper, Silver and Gold Complexes – New materials with Interesting Properties |
| John Gladysz | Syntheses and Chemical and Physical Properties of Molecular Gyroscopes |
| Christian Hilty | Characterization of Pore Structure in Materials Using Low-Field NMR and Dynamic Nuclear Polarization |
| Dong Hee Son | Synthesis and magnetic characterization of transition metal oxide nanocrystals |
| Oleg Ozerov | Discovery of new transition metal structures using polydentate supports |
| Manuel Soriaga | Magnesium Alloys as Hydrogen Storage Materials |
| Karen Wooley | Non-toxic, anti-biofouling coatings development through complex polymer chemistry |