The goal of this program is to bring in ten students each year for summer research, primarily from the Northwest area and specifically including students from the Tribal Community Colleges in Montana. Meals, except for a few weekends in June when the residence hall cafeteria is not open, are also provided. The students spend the summer working on independent research projects in the labs of their assigned faculty mentors.
All students work closely with their graduate student mentors as well.
Safety training and laboratory orientation is provided on the first day of the program. Students are encouraged to participate in social events such as a barbecue, a whitewater rafting trip, and a day hike. The culmination of the summer research program is a poster session where each student presents his or her work to the entire department. An awards dinner follows the poster presentations and formally concludes the summer program. For the Summer of 2001, the REU program will be held June 4 - August 10, 2001.