What application materials are required?
In addition to basic contact and biographical information, applicants are required to upload three documents:
1) Personal statement of no more than 500 words. Use this statement to explain your interests in semiconductor technology and your career goals.
2) Unofficial transcript, including grades for the first academic term in the 2023-2024 school year
3) Resume or CV (2 page max). Please list any awards or scholarships you have received.
Furthermore, applicants should ask a mentor to submit a letter of recommendation on their behalf. More information on the submission processes is listed below.
You will need to be logged into a Google account (personal or institutional) to submit the application.
When is the deadline?
11:59 pm on February 12, 2024.
What are the academic eligibility requirements?
Applicants must be enrolled in an Associates Degree or Bachelors Degree program at a U.S. institution, including U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.). Students who have already completed their bachelors degree or will complete it before the end of the program in August 2024 are not eligible.
In addition, students at U-M Ann Arbor are not eligible to apply. Applicants from U-M Flint and U-M Dearborn are welcome.
We encourage applications from students at minority serving institutions, at primarily undergraduate institutions (institutions with no PhD program), at community colleges, and at institutions with limited nanofabrication facilities.
In accordance with Michigan State Law and U.S. Federal Law, this program will not discriminate against nor give preference to any individual on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), marital status, height, weight, or disability.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the start of the program.
What are the selection criteria?
The selection criteria as as follows. Applicants are encouraged to address these points in their personal statement.
- Interest in semiconductor technology
- Willingness to perform hands-on research in a cleanroom environment
- Educational, cultural, or geographic background that is underrepresented in graduate study in their discipline in the United States or at the University of Michigan;
- Demonstration of a sustained commitment to diversity in the academic, professional, or civic realm through their work experience, volunteer engagement, or leadership of student or community organizations. By commitment to diversity, we mean efforts in the U.S. to reduce social, educational, or economic disparities based on race, ethnicity, or gender, or to improve race relations in the U.S.
My school is on the quarter system, and I cannot start until June 15 (for example). Can I apply?
Yes, you can apply. Please note the date constraint in your personal statement, and we will do our best to accommodate.
Can I list a faculty member who does not have a project listed?
Yes, you may list any faculty member at the University of Michigan who works in semiconductor technology. However, only the projects listed on the Project Descriptions page have been confirmed; there is no guarantee that a faculty not listed will have an open position for a summer undergraduate student or that we will have space in the REU program (which is limited to nine students per year) to accommodate their project. Therefore, you are encouraged to list at least one project from the published list.
Should I contact the faculty member before applying?
If you have a question about their project, feel free to reach out directly. However, most faculty are very busy and may not have time to respond to all inquires. Once you are selected, we will work to match you with a project and faculty advisor.
Are there quotas for students?
No.
Can international students participate?
Our program is limited to US citizens, US nationals, and permanent residents. Applicants must be enrolled in an Associates Degree or Bachelors Degree program at a U.S. institution, including U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.).
Does my personal statement have to address all selection criteria?
We encourage all applicants to attempt to address all selection criteria. However, applicants weak in one criteria and strong in the others may still be competitive.
How is this program different from other summer undergraduate programs?
Our program is unique in that it is dedicated towards hands-on experiences with semiconductor technology, an interdisciplinary field.
As a large institution, the University of Michigan has a large number of undergraduate research opportunities program. These include the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP), Community College Summer Fellowship Program (CCSFP), and a variety of NSF-sponsored REU programs including at the Physics and Chemistry Departments. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all programs that they are interested in. All programs are administered independently–applying to one program will not positively or negatively affect applications to a different program.
How should I submit recommendation letters?
Please ask the letter writer to email the letter to shore-reu@umich.edu. Please ask your writer to include your name in the subject line (e.g., “M-SHORE REU recommendation for [First Name] [Last Name]”). The recommender should email the letter from their work email address, not a personal one. If you have questions about whether a letter was received, please email shore-reu@umich.edu.
What if I need to edit my application?
Once you submit your application, you should receive a submission receipt which will include a link to edit your application. If you cannot find the link or need help, please email shore-reu@umich.edu.
If I have previously participated in this M-SHORE REU, may I apply to participate a second year?
One of the goals of the M-SHORE REU is to provide a hands-on semiconductor-related research experience for students who have not yet had such an experience. A second goal is to increase the number of individuals who have access to this type of experience. Therefore, priority will be given to applicants who have not had such a research experience. Students who have already participated in our M-SHORE REU program are discouraged from applying again.
When will you begin sending out acceptance notifications?
We intend to begin sending out acceptance notifications beginning in mid-March 2024.
What if I have more questions?
Please email shore-reu@umich.edu.