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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How are the participants selected?

A: Each mentor chooses their own student. Mentors read as many of the applications as they wish, and submit a ranked list of acceptable students to Dr. Trilling, who then juggles these lists and makes the actual offers to students.

Q: How many students are selected into the program?

A: The NAU REU program anticipates selecting around 10 interns for the Summer 2021 program.

Q: Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to apply?

A: Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its possessions per NSF requirements.

Q: How do I contact the NAU REU program?

A: Send correspondence to reu@nau.edu.
To check on the status of your application (complete/incomplete), please go to the Login Site and use your email address/password to access your application. Please note, once you have submitted your application, you cannot make any changes to it or upload additional information.

Q: What is the deadline for applications?

A: You must register and start your application by 11:59pm, MST on January 31, 2021, and your application submission must be completed by 8:00am, MST on February 3, 2021. Supporting documents (transcripts/reference letters) are due by 8:00am, MST, February 7,2021. It is your responsibility to check on the completeness of your application before the deadline and to make sure your references have been submitted. We do send out reminder notices to references regarding the program deadlines.

Q: Do you require official transcripts?

A: You can provide an official or unofficial copy of your transcripts that is in digitized format (pdf or text). We prefer that transcripts are uploaded to your application directly, however, if your university is forwarding an official transcript to us, it should be sent to:
Dr. David Trilling
Northern Arizona University
Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science
NAU Box 6010
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-6010

Q: Do I need to have previous research experience in order to apply to this program?

A: No previous research experience is required.

Q: What types of computer skills are required?

A: Computer programming skills are important for most internships, however, specific languages and skills are unique to each research project and mentor, and that information is not known in advance of the application process.

Q: When are acceptance notices sent out?

A; We will begin contacting successful applicants on March 1, 2021, but it can take several weeks before the acceptance list is finalized.
If you have not heard from us during the first two weeks of March, it is likely that you are not on the initial offer list. All applicants will receive an email regarding our decision by the of March to early April.

Q: My school is on the quarter system, and I won’t be finished with my final exams until after your REU program starts. Is it still possible for me to participate?

A: In most cases the answer is yes. We really prefer all the students to start at the same time, but we often make exceptions. The only real problem is housing; the program dates are based on the NAU ten-week summer session, and the dorms close down at the end of that session. Some students have been able to arrange alternate housing and stay in Flagstaff for a longer time. Some students have been able to make up the missing week of work by working on weekends. Generally, these arrangements are made between the student and the mentor.

Q: I am married and wish to bring my spouse along. Is different housing available?

A: Yes, it is easy to bring a spouse. NAU has married student housing, although generally in the summer there are no apartments are available. Typically, a regular dormitory will be set aside for couple/family housing. In this case, the program would contribute the cost of “normal” housing towards your housing bill. For more information on housing, see the web page for NAU’s Residence Life.