REU Program Student Application

NSF REU Site: Independent Field Research in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior at Mountain Lake Biological Station

Application Deadline: February 20

Form Instructions -

Important: If you would like to save a draft of this form and come back to it later, you must first create an account. (Scroll to the bottom of this form to create an account.) Otherwise, fill out the form below and press 'Submit REU Application'.

Please also note:  Two file uploads are required - a one page essay, and a transcript.  And make sure you follow up with your reference letter writer to make sure your application is completed by the deadline.  Provide your reference letter witer with this link:  http://mlbs.org/reureference.

A) Personal Information
Addresses
Current Contact Information
Optional Permanent or Alternate Contact Information
Emergency Contact

Housing or work life concerns or constraints:

We request information from all Station residents on medical conditions or allergies that may require medication, treatment, or special consideration during your stay at the Station.  This is for your own safety and comfort, and is not required.
 

Below are some examples.  Leave blank unless you wish to report specific conditions or constraints.
Colorblind, hearing impaired, or other constraints that might make it difficult to identify animals at a distance, or to perform fine scale operations under field conditions; allergies or medical conditions that should be considered or would prevent you from participating in long hours of field work in remote locations; unwilling or unable to handle and manipulate animals (eg. small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, adult and nestling birds).

 

B) Program Application

Eligibility and Expectations: To be eligible you must be returning to an undergraduate degree program in the fall following the REU program. If you will be graduating in May or June in the year of the program, you are not eligible. To be eligible you must also be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. In addition, as a REU researcher you are expected to be in residence at the Station for the full ten weeks of the program. Special scheduling needs (eg. short trips away) can often be accommodated if rasied in advance and agreed to by the research mentor and program coordinator.  Field biologists often work long and irregular hours six or seven days a week. REU program participants must agree to the same. Commuting is not permitted. It is also important to consider that field work is often physically strenuous and demanding. Program participants need to be physically fit and willing to embrace physical labor, demanding hiking, and long hours in the field in all weather conditions.

Please upload a carefully written one-page essay (600 word limit and 10MB max file size) that describes the experiences that qualify you for this research internship.  Please discuss any other research experiences you've had, what you got out of them, your interests and professional goals, and what you hope to achieve by spending the summer at Mountain Lake.

Recommendation:
Please request a reference letter from one research mentor, academic advisor, or science instructor who knows you and your potential for research well. Nonacademic or "community" referees (e.g. coaches, religious leaders) are much less valuable. The recommendation should be completed on-line. Please provide your referee with this web address mlbs.org/reureference  (also a menu choice on REU program pulldown menu) . Please remember to check with your referee near the deadline to make sure the recommendation has been submitted. Missing letters will prevent consideration of the application.

Agreement respecting confidentiality:
Please check the box below if you agree to waive access to this recommendation form under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy act of 1974.  I understand that the recommendation form will be used by MLBS solely in its procedures relating to program admission.

Course Information:

Please upload a file containing your most recent undergraduate transcript.  Unofficial copies are acceptable. (10MB max, but please keep as small as you can.)

C) Other Information Useful in Project Placement and Mentor Assignment

(include Campus, if your school has more than one)

(including Natural, Computer, and Social Sciences, Engineering, and Education)

Previous research experiences should be discussed in your essay.

Travel and Availability:
Sometimes the dates of particular research projects do not exactly match the standard dates of the program. Please indicate the earliest date you could arrive at Mountain Lake if an early start was required.

D) Demographic Information Required by the NSF

The National Science Foundation requires that we report these demographic data on each program applicant. Ethnic and racial definitions are defined by the NSF.

Select one or more.

Please provide details

E) Review and Submit Your Application

Thank you very much!

  • You may save a draft and return later if you wish.  To do so you will need to create a new account, or log into an existing one.    

  • Remember to follow up with your letter writer to ensure your application is complete by February 20.  Application review begins on February 20 and takes several weeks.  During that time you may be contacted by potential mentors wishing to learn more about you.  Offers are made by the REU Coordinator in March.  For questions about the program or your application please call 434-982-5486 or email mlbs-reu@virginia.edu.

  • Mountain Lake Biological Station values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action in all its programs.

  • When you are ready . . .