Frequently Asked Questions
What are the application deadlines?
The application system will open annually on November 15 and applications will be accepted through a priority deadline of February 1.
Is there a stipend?
$7,000 stipend for 10-week period ($700 per week).
How will I get to the University of Kentucky to start the program?
The REU provides travel for REU participants to travel roundtrip to the University of Kentucky including $650 per student.
Where will I live?
The REU is hosted at the University of Kentucky and will provide housing on campus. Examples of current housing can be found here:
What will I eat?
The REU provides meals through a voucher card on the University of Kentucky’s Campus.
Is there funds to attend a conference?
REU participants will be provided funds to travel to national conference on a competitive basis.. We anticipate providing partial coverage the costs of airfare, hotel, and registration fees for a total of $500.
How often will I meet with my mentors?
Each REU participant will be assigned a faculty mentor, who will initiate contact with the participant 4 to 6 weeks prior to their arrival on UK’s campus to provide onboarding materials via e-mail, phone, or video conferencing based on student preference.
Upon the cohort’s arrival on campus, each student will be assigned at least one graduate student or postdoctoral mentor with whom they will work and communicate on a day-to-day basis.
Faculty mentors, in addition to holding weekly lab group meetings, will interact with the participants and their graduate student mentors in an advising role at various times throughout each week. At a minimum, the REU participant will interact daily with graduate students and/or the respective faculty mentor(s) and attend weekly team meetings, in addition to two to three weekly REU group meetings and activities.
Are there any social / field trips?
In addition to professional development, several programmatic features and social activities are incorporated into the program.
UK-OUR will sponsor structured activities (i.e., summer research kickoff picnic, Kona Ice social, a Mid-summer research social).
Socials with faculty and graduate student mentors will also take place (i.e., game nights, volleyball, ) mentor/mentee lunches).
Field trips to Appalachian Regions of Kentucky will also be offered including Mammoth Cave National Park (the world’s longest cave system), Robinson Forest (university owned forest that focuses on forestry and water quality research) and kayaking in the Red River Gorge (a federally designated National Geological Area, National Natural Landmark, National Archaeological District and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places).
As a a note, social activities are optional and are scheduled during evenings and weekends to avoid interfering with research productivity.