The goal of the Chemistry REU program at the University of Kansas is to attract promising undergraduate students to careers in the chemical sciences. The core feature of the program is ten weeks of research performed in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary and supportive environment. Approximately 30 projects are available to participants each summer, covering the full spectrum of research areas represented in the Chemistry Department. The research experience is integrated with professional development and educational activities that comprise our career enhancement program (CEP). One component of the CEP is a series of panel discussions focused on career opportunities in chemistry. These panels feature chemists of diverse background and experience, and often involve visits to research establishments at KU and the greater Kansas City area. A recent addition to this series is a panel discussion held at the KU Bioscience and Technology Business Center, featuring entrepreneurs who are attempting to bring their scientific innovations to the marketplace. Another recently added component of the CEP is a three part short course on green chemistry, which highlights ongoing research at the KU Center for Environmentally Beneficial Catalysis as well as emerging areas of related interdisciplinary research in industry and academia. The program concludes with the participants presenting their results at a campus-wide Summer Undergraduate Poster Symposium, featuring up to 100 posters from a variety of STEM disciplines. Our recruiting efforts focus on students from primarily undergraduate institutions who have little or no prior research experience. The ten NSF-funded participants each summer are joined by several KU student researchers who fully participate in all program activities. We typically have an international student as part of the cohort each summer as well. The KU Chemistry REU program owes its success to long-standing and enthusiastic commitment to undergraduate research by Chemistry Department faculty and by the University administration.

Chemistry REU program at the University of Kansas

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.