REU-Blinks Program for Undergraduates
For questions regarding the REU-Blinks program please email head of the program Dr. Adam Summers at fishguy@uw.edu.
Application status update for 2024 REU
Applications for 2024 REU is open!
Application instructions at the bottom of this page.
2024 Dates: June 9th through August 3rd
ARE YOU A SCIENTIST INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM?
SEE: MENTORING A SUMMER INTERN
Program Description
The REU-Blinks Summer Internship Program links undergraduate students with scientist-mentors as collaborators in marine science research projects. The program takes advantage of the pristine environment, remarkable biodiversity, and the scientific and technical resources at UW Friday Harbor Laboratories, a marine science research facility in the San Juan Islands.
We have combined the following programs into one rewarding summer internship to encourage a shared experience:
- National Science Foundation REU program
- Anne Hof Blinks Research Fellowship program, which targets groups who are historically underrepresented in the marine sciences
The REU-Blinks Program offers a full immersion research experience for motivated undergraduates and post-baccalaureates. FHL is dedicated to encouraging diversity in its student body including underrepresented groups, the program seeks 10-15 students of diverse backgrounds and interests to participate in a eight week summer research project in the marine sciences. By linking interns with marine scientists in a 1:1 research experience, interns learn both the process and the substance of scientific research. As the research progresses, interns will be encouraged to become semi-independent collaborators. The experience will expose interns to the life and work of a marine science research laboratory. The program will incorporate workshops, seminars and training sessions in addition to hands-on research.
The mentors and projects vary from year to year according to the developing research interests of resident and visiting researchers. Research projects are designed by the scientists to be achievable projects which dovetail with their research plans. Projects are posted below. Interns will work semi-independently with mentor supervision for approximately 40 hours per week.
As participants in the FHL community, interns will participate actively in FHL community activities, e.g. attend the weekly seminars, eat in the Dining Hall and live in the student dormitory. Early in the summer session, there will be a meeting of student participants with graduate students and mentors to share perspectives on graduate programs and participation in academic life, with a brief description of ongoing projects, and a question/answer session. At the end of their internship, interns will present their research in a short powerpoint talk. Interns will also write a scientific paper describing their work, and revise it based upon feedback from the mentor.
The Projects
The Setting
FHL is University of Washington’s marine science field research station. Located north of Puget Sound in the San Juan Islands, FHL takes advantage of a remarkable diversity of marine habitats and organisms. FHL hosts 15-20 courses per year and approximately 100 independent researchers during the year. The campus, situated on a preserve of almost 500 acres, is the site of thirteen lab buildings, a dining hall, 3 dorms and numerous other housing units.
Research at FHL emphasizes marine invertebrate zoology, phycology, fisheries science, conservation biology, cell and molecular biology, biomedical sciences, oceanography and other scientific disciplines. Investigators and students use diversified field resources as well as modern analytical technologies such as a CT scanner, nucleotide sequencer, scanning laser confocal microscopes, centrifuges, HPLC, TEM, SEM and other equipment. FHL is equipped with a 58′ research vessel, numerous smaller boats, cold rooms, and an extensive seawater system serving numerous lab buildings. The facility includes a computer lab, networked research labs, wi-fi connectivity, a well equipped stockroom, a 17,000 volume library, and SCUBA facilities.
Financial Support
Participants will be provided with financial support to meet costs of room, board and round trip travel, plus a stipend ($500/week).
Eligibility
The NSF REU Site grant supports U.S. citizens or permanent residents during their undergraduate careers. The Blinks Endowment supports students who bring diversity to the FHL student body in any phase of their undergraduate studies (including recent post-baccs) and allows non-US citizens.
The University of Washington is committed to providing equality of opportunity and an environment that fosters respect for all members of the University community. See the UW Policy on Non-Discrimination for details.
To Apply
In addition to providing name, address, and other personal information, you will need to include:
- A transcript.
- Think of a professor or employer who can comment on your qualifications and put them down as a reference. FHL may contact and request a letter of recommendation from your reference if a mentor would like one to help select an intern. Please let your reference know in advance and ask that they supply the letter within 1-2 weeks of being contacted by FHL. Please do not include a letter of recommendation in your application materials.
- A CV or resume. This is optional.
- In the application, you will be asked to provide two statements. Please answer both statements in the same box (labeled ‘personal statement’).
- Statement 1. Tell us who you are and what you have accomplished to date.
- Statement 2. Tell us who you want to be and how you want to get there. If appropriate, mention how your project choices relate to your goals.
For requesting a reference to be a letter of recommendation, copy and paste the paragraph below into an email to the person:
I am applying for a Summer Research Internship at University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs. The application requires a reference that FHL may contact this January or February should they need a letter of recommendation. Please let me know if you can provide a letter for me within a 1-2 week turnaround should FHL request one. Thank you!