University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) College of Engineering and Computer Science

2016 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

Organizational Background

The Office of the Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Technology (OST-R) within the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded, in the fall of 2013, a grant to establish the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS). The Center for Railway Safety, which is headquartered at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), operates as a consortium with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and the University of Nebraska Transportation Center (NTC).

The UTCRS aims to reduce the number of accidents and equipment failures experienced in rail transportation systems. This will result directly in reduced fatalities and injuries in addition to reduced economic losses to stakeholders. New technology and associated workforce development will lead to improved safety assessments, safety counter measures, decision-making tools, and greater long-term safety gains. With these goals in mind, the UTCRS offers the following summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU):

Research Experience for Undergraduates:

The UTCRS Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) provides undergraduate engineering students the opportunity to participate in a research-intensive ten-week program. Participants selected for this program will work closely with faculty members, graduate students, and undergraduate mentors on selected research projects; students also have the opportunity to make short presentations to mentoring faculty and peers during program meetings. At the end of the program participants are required to create a formal research poster presentation of their results and of their experience at the end of the program, and submit a written, final report describing the results of their research.

Duration

May 31, 2016 – August 5, 2016 (10 Weeks)

Financial Support

The UTCRS will provide the selected summer research interns with a $6,000 stipend ($600/week) to cover living expenses, and will reimburse up to $500 in travel expenses.

Summer 2016 Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) Program Application

To apply

If you are an engineering student, at any of the above consortium member institutions (UTRGV, TAMU, or UNL) interested in participating in this educationally rewarding opportunity you must submit a complete application packet to railwaysafety@utrgv.edu.

The packet should consist of one PDF file that contains the following, in the order as they appear below:

1. A completed and signed application form,
2. Your current resumeé,
3. One letter of recommendation from one of your professional/academic references; this reference should be from an individual that can attest to your academic abilities (i.e. faculty member, research advisor, mentor, etc.), and
4. Your official transcript. You can use your unofficial transcript for submitting your PDF application file but you must have the Office of the Registrar mail a current official transcript on your behalf to:

University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS)
College of Engineering & Computer Science
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
ENGR Portable 1.100
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg, TX 78539-2999

Application Deadline:  December 15, 2015.

Aspiring applicants should submit their application as soon as possible. Number of participants selected will be based on competitiveness of student applications received and available funding.

Questions or Concerns:

Summer 2016 Research Experience for Undergraduate Students (REU) Program Application