**The 2011 IREU Summer Research Program is contingent upon award notification pending from NSF.
About the Program
When does the program start and how long does it last?
The program start date varies by laboratory and housing availability at the different institutions, but generally the starting range is between mid-May and early June. All ACS-IREU scholarship recipients must commit to a 10-week program, which ends mid-August at the latest.
How many scholarships will the ACS-IREU program provide?
There are 21 guaranteed scholarships.
What does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship is calculated as follows: up to $1,500 for trans-Atlantic travel to/from the host institution; all expenses paid pre-departure orientation in DC (mandatory) — approximately $650; A stipend of $2,400 to cover housing and meals; up to $350 allowance for language instruction; $200 international medical and accident insurance; up to $750 to present poster of results at the ACS National Meeting upon return (also mandatory).
Will I have an opportunity to meet other scholarship holders before the start of the program?
Yes. ACS will hold a pre-departure orientation around mid-April in Washington, DC, that all ACS-IREU scholars are expected to attend.
Eligibility Criteria
I am not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Am I eligible to apply?
Unfortunately not. The ACS-IREU program is funded by the REU program of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF requires that REU participants be U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders).
I do not have prior research experience. Am I eligible to apply?
No. In order to receive the ACS-IREU scholarship and participate in this program, students must have one semester or summer of prior research experience. One of the recommendation letters must be from a past research advisor.
I will finish my bachelor’s degree before the internship. Am I eligible?
No. NSF requires that participants retain an undergraduate status through the duration of the program. Post-baccalaureates are not eligible.
Do I have to speak German, French or Italian?
Not to work in the laboratory. English is the international language of science and everyone in the participating laboratories speaks English. It is recommended, however, that basic “survival skills” in the language of the country you are applying for be acquired before departure in order to handle basic daily life outside the laboratory. The ACS-IREU program will provide an allowance for language training that can be used to purchase CD’s or hire a few lessons from a private tutor.
My GPA is below the minimum required. Should I still apply?
You may still apply. However, if your GPA is low due to poor grades in math and sciences (chemistry, biology, and physics), your chances of getting accepted are low. Nevertheless, your chances may improve based on outstanding recommendations from a research advisor.
Application Process
What happens if I submit an incomplete application package?
We do our best to send reminders when certain portions of your application have not been received. It is, however, your responsibility to follow-up with your references and registrar’s office to ensure that all materials have been sent before the deadline of January 31. If we have not received all materials by January 31, your application will not be considered.
Do I have to send an official transcript or will an electronic version suffice?
We must receive an official transcript. It does not matter if the transcript has an “issued to student” stamp.
Who should write the two required recommendation letters?
One letter must be from your prior research advisor and the other from a chemistry/biochemistry professor that knows you in the classroom or academic laboratory. Letters from teaching assistants are not acceptable.
Can the letters be mailed rather than submitted through the online form?
Submission of two online recommendation forms is required. However, if your reference wants to send a letter in addition to his/her online form, that is acceptable.
Will you inform me when all materials are received?
We will send a confirmation email to all applicants who have completed the process a few days after the January 31 deadline.
When will applicants be informed about acceptance?
The process takes a few weeks. A committee meets to select a few students (8-10) per given project/advisor. Those applications are sent to the corresponding advisor and he/she prepares a ranked list. Acceptance letters are sent to his/her first choice. In some cases an advisor is willing to accept more than one student in his/her lab, in which case acceptance letters are sent to the top two ranked students. If for any reason a student declines the scholarship or does not respond in the time required, the scholarship is offered to the next student on the list, and so on. Rejection letters are not sent until all positions are filled. The system is designed to provide the best possible match between student and mentor interests.
Travel and Stipends
Do I need a visa or work permit?
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to spend up to 3 months in European Union member countries. The University of Perugia, however, requires that participants enter Italy with a Short-Stay Schengen Visa in order to provide students with additional benefits subsidized by the university.
What does the scholarship cover?
The scholarship is calculated as follows: up to $1,500 for trans-Atlantic travel to/from the host institution; all expenses paid pre-departure orientation in DC (mandatory) — approximately $650; A stipend of $2,400 to cover housing and meals; up to $350 allowance for language instruction; $200 international medical and accident insurance; up to $750 to present poster of results at the ACS National Meeting upon return (also mandatory).
Is the stipend sufficient to get by?
The stipend is sufficient to pay for university subsidized housing and meals. Meals outside of the university, entertainment, and additional travel must come as an out-of pocket expense.
When and how do I arrange and pay for my own travel?
Upon acceptance, you will receive information to contact an ACS travel agent to book your flights for the pre-departure orientation in Washington DC and your trans-Atlantic flights. These tickets are charged directly to the program grant account.
How will I find housing?
Information about housing will be provided in the acceptance letter by your mentor. In most cases, reasonably-priced arrangements are made directly by the mentor at a university dormitory or nearby shared apartment. In a few cases, information will be provided to you to reserve your own.
How do I know what to bring and not to bring to Europe?
It is always advisable for students to read travel books and online travel sites for packing/travel tips as soon as they get accepted to the program. To provide expert advice, we invite one or two program alumni to the pre-departure orientation.
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