The Stressed Life Cells: REU Program Application

Instructions

Read through the entire application and gather the information and materials you need before starting.  You will not be able to come back later to make updates or corrections.

If you collect your required documents in advance, submission should take 10-30 minutes. 

For this University of Kansas application, you will need

• personal information (including student/college information)
  • your date of birth
  • an email address
  • demographic information (race, ethnicity, gender, veteran status, disability)
  • contact information, including phone and mail address
  • social media addresses
  • college enrollment information

• your Satement of Purpose essay (already completed, in pdf format, see our website)
• Up-to-date transcripts (in pdf format)
• email address of at least one faculty member from your institution who will write a Letter of Reference on your behalf. Once you submit the application, an automated email with instructions will be sent to your reference writer. To allow them more time to prepare, you may wish to notify them in advance of your submission.
• a list of four potential REU mentors selected from the mentors list on our website

Step 1. Complete all fields in this form (below), especially those marked by an * (required). You will not be able to submit the application without completing items with an *. Once you submit your application, please print the confirmation page for your records.

Step 2.  Upload your Statement of Purpose essay in pdf format. You will be prompted to upload the document after you submit the first page.

Step 3.  Upload your transcripts in pdf format.  (See our website for more information)

Step 4.   Click Submit Application.

Frequently Asked Questions

• If my college or university has a different calendar, with classes ending after the start of the program, am I still eligible to apply?
  • Yes, your application will be considered.  In the past, we have been able to accommodate off-schedule participants.   Please make a note of any scheduling concerns in the “Describe Accommodations Needed” box in the application.  If selected, we will do our best to accommodate your schedule

• I am a first-year student and feel more comfortable asking my high school teachers for a letter of recommendation.  Is this allowed?
  • While we prefer to read letters from those who can describe your most recent academic accomplishments, we do understand this predicament with first-year students, and letters from high school teachers would be acceptable.  Please request the letters from science teachers.

• May I use the ETAP application portal or the application on the Stressed Life of Cells website?
  • You may use either (see below).  Our questions are modeled after those on the NSF ETAP application.

• I made a mistake in submitting my application/forgot to upload a document/etc.  What should I do?
  • If you are using this application portal (hosted on The Stressed Life of Cells website), you may simply resubmit as a new application. ETAP is managed by the National Science Foundation, and you would need to contact their help desk.

• How will I know if my application was received?   
  • If your submission is successful, you will be able to close the application. You will also receive a a semi-automated email notification when a Letter of Recommendation is received.  These notifications are sent in batches and may not be immediate.

• I plan to apply at the last minute.  Can I arrange for Letters of Recommendation to be sent earlier?   
  • Yes, have your letter writer email the LOR to mb-reu@ku.edu

• If my LOR arrives late, will my application still be considered?
  • Yes, we will review applications while allowing time for late LOR submissions.