The University of Wisconsin Madison NAC REU Program

The University of Wisconsin. Madison NAC & REU Program Eric Hooper, Director Snezana Stanimirovic, Principal Investigator Robert Benjamin, Program Manager

Overview of the REU �Primarily NSF funded; attracts other funding. � UW-Madison graduate school support for underrepresented minority students. � Other universities & entities (e. g. , Sloan foundation). �~ 10 students for 10 weeks each summer. �Each has own research project w/mentor (team). � Observational & theoretical astronomy. � Instrumentation & laboratory astrophysics. � Astroparticle physics w/Ice. Cube, HAWC, etc. �Common work room + labs in some cases. Live in apartment complex w/other campus REUs. �Professional development.

Recruitment �NAC! �Personal connections + meetings like NSBP/NSHP, SACNAS. �Goal is to recruit high-potential students, with particular emphasis on those underrepresented in the field & from smaller institutions.

Selection of Participants � Common application across UW-Madison REUs. � Personal statement. � Two recommendation letters. � Transcript. � We read ~150 - 200 completed applications “short” list of ~40. This list prospective mentors. � Mentors give us a ranked list & we make offers. � Mentors give different weights to the components. � Advice: � Personalize your statement; show interest. � Indicate your degree of focus / flexibility.

NAC (REU++): Our Goals �Increase the reach of opportunities for undergraduate students in astrophysics who have access to a wide range of research opportunities & then go on to graduate school or other successful career paths. �Develop a consistent recruiting approach to augment current efforts. �Consistently have an effective cohort. �Extend the mentoring connections. �Access professional development opportunities of NAC.

NAC: Cohort I. � Brian Brooks (2013; joined first NAC cohort as an alumnus). Working at Space Telescope Science Institute. � Sinclaire Manning (2014). Graduate student at University of Texas at Austin. � Andria Palmer (2014). Just graduated from University of West Florida. � Miona Short (2014). Local UWMadison student. Currently in senior year.

NAC: Cohort II. �Peter Doze (2015). Texas Southern University. Currently starting graduate school at Rutgers. �Ryan Hubbard (2015). Currently undergraduate at Howard University.

NAC: Cohort III. �Natalie Delworth (2016). Brown University. �Travis Stadler (2016). North Carolina A&T University. Image courtesy Travis Stadler

NAC: Future �Continue recruiting. Goal is to have a cohort (> 1!) every summer. �Continue mentoring relationships. �Call on our alumni to meet current NAC students at AAS meetings. �Expand national recognition of and reach by the NAC.

UW-Madison REU Contacts �Web: www. astro. wisc. edu/undergrads/uw-madison-reu -program �General: reu@astro. wisc. edu �Director (Eric Hooper): ehooper@astro. wisc. edu �Research mentor training: www. researchmentortraining. org We will be launching the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) in January.

Thank You �To NAC Central & NRAO. �Other NAC sites and supporters. �To Howard University (especially Marcus Alfred). �To the NSF. �To our students!

Some Demographics Underrepresented Applicants & Participants 60 Percentage of Pool 50 40 underrepresented applicants 30 underrepresented participants 20 10 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Percentage of Pool Applicant & Participant Percentages by Gender 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 women applicants women participants 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014