Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Building Pathways to Community Disaster Resilience
This research experience for undergraduates (REU) program aims to safeguard human and physical infrastructure against disasters. We use methods that center community needs and value local knowledge. By joining us, you will have the opportunity to investigate:
- Disaster planning and preparation.
- Rural and urban infrastructure challenges and solutions.
- Resilience of water, energy, and transportation systems.
Support for this program comes from a Kansas NSF EPSCoR initiative known as ARISE, which stands for Adaptive and Resilient Infrastructures driven by Social Equity.
Compensation
Each participant receives a $7,000 stipend along with summer housing and a campus meal plan.
What to Expect
Each summer, 12 undergraduates are paired with professors at one of three universities in Kansas:
- Kansas State University (KSU)
- University of Kansas (KU)
- Wichita State University (WSU)
For roughly 9 weeks in the summer, undergrad participants will:
- Attend a 3-day orientation to meet the team and learn about the program
- Conduct research guided by a faculty mentor
- Attend workshops on communication, data science, etc.
- Take field trips to learn about infrastructure and support regional communities
- Present a research poster and a 3-minute talk
Eligibility
Participants must be currently enrolled as undergraduates who have completed their first year of college. Only U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents are eligible to apply. Students from all majors are encouraged to apply, especially those from science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
How to Apply
Before you launch the application form, be ready to provide the following items:
- Video OR Written Essay – in either a video or essay format, please answer these questions: Who are you? What experiences have shaped your life? What does being resilient mean to you (give an example)? How will this program support your career plans? Format for video: 3 minutes max. Format for essay: 2 pages max; PDF file with your name at the top.
- Unoffocial Transcript from your university coursework – upload file
- Resume (1-page max; PDF preferred) – upload file
- Two Letters of Recommendation – Ask two people who are familiar with you to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. One letter should speak to your work experience (professional skills). One letter should speak to your academic skills. Upload letters with your application (PDF preferred).
Review of applicants starts Feb. 17, 2025, and continues until all 12 spots are filled.
About our team
REU Leadership:
- Jason Bergtold (he), Professor, Agricultural Economics, Kansas State University
- Belinda Sturm (she), Professor, ARISE Director, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas
- Visvakumar Aravinthan (he), Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Wichita State University
Potential Faculty Mentors:
- George Amariucai (he), Associate Professor, Computer Science, Kansas State University
Husain Aziz, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Kansas State University
- Justin Hutchison (he), Assistant Professor, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas
- Joel Mendez (he), Assistant Professor, Public Affairs & Administration, University of Kansas
- Bala Natarajan (he), Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University
- Anil Pahwa (he), University Distinguished Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Kansas State University
- Edward Peltier (he), Associate Chair and Professor of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas
- Ehsan Salari, Associate Professor of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Wichita State University
- Lior Shamir (he), Associate Professor, Computer Science, Kansas State University
- Vaishali Sharda (she), Assistant Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University
- Elaina Sutley (she), Associate Professor, Associate Dean of Diversity School of Engineering, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering, University of Kansas
- Xiaoheng Wang (she), Assistant Professor, Public Affairs, Wichita State University
Staff:
- Alej Martinez, Program Coordinator for Education and Community Engagement, Kansas NSF EPSCoR
- Claudia Bode, Education, Outreach, and Diversity Director, Kansas NSF EPSCoR
You Belong Here
This REU program is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) award number 2148878. Any opinions, findings, & conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) & do not necessarily represent the views of the NSF.