F.A.Q
General Questions
  1. What are the program's start and end date?
    The program will start on May 28th, 2024, and will end on August 4th, 2024.
  2. What are application deadlines
    The priority deadline for applications is March 10th, and the deadline for all applications is April 2nd.
  3. How much is the stipend?
    The stipend is $7,000 given incrementally throughout the 10 weeks. You will also be provided free housing and a comprehensive meal plan on campus.
  4. What were the projects assigned to the 2023 REU students?
    The projects can be found here.
  5. When do I find out what projects I will be working on?
    REU students, faculty, and projects are closely matched after participants have been accepted. The REU participant will be notified of this match as soon as possible. Each student's major, research preference, and experience are taken into careful consideration regarding project match.
  6. What will the UHCS REU participants be doing during the 10 weeks?
    The REU participants will be working on their assigned research project, having regular meetings with their mentor, attending talks and webinars, and participating in team building activities. Please note that this REU program provides you a full-time research position. Thus, REU participants are not allowed to register and attend any class at any university or online.
  7. When do I find out if I am accepted?
    All applicants will be notified starting mid-April to no later than May.
  8. What are the application requirements?
    Prospective REU participants must complete the online application. No prior research experience is required. Participating students need to be enrolled in an accredited U.S. university or college and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. We will give preference to rising seniors and juniors, but freshmen and sophomores will also be considered if they have a strong record. High school graduates who have been accepted at an undergraduate institution but who have not yet started their undergraduate study are also eligible to participate. The applicants need to have a solid mathematical background, which includes calculus and knowledge of basic algorithms and data structures. They also need to be proficient in one of the following programming languages: C++, Java, or Python.
  9. Can a permanent resident applicant apply for your program?
    No, if you are still in a process for a permanent resident, you are not qulified to apply.
  10. If I have a working permit, can I apply for your program?
    No, participating students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
  11. I am an international student. I understand that participating students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. May I know if international students could take advantage of the REU program at University of Houston while not taking stipend?
    In general, we don't accept foreign students into the program. If a student's current university is willing to sponsor the student by paying for the expenses, we may make an exception.
  12. I have a bachelor degree and have decided to switch my career path to computer science. Can I apply for your program?
    Any student who has an undergraduate degree that is substantially different from Computer Science is eligible for the summer REU program.
Housing Questions
  1. What about housing?
    Housing will be coordinated and provided for REU participants on-campus. UH porvides different kinds of housing and for this year, REU students will live in Moody Towers. More details about housing will be updated.
  2. Do I have to pay for the housing?
    No, the housing will be provided and paid by the REU program. The bill will be handled by the REU program directly.
  3. What's the check-in and check-out time for the dorm?
    Please check-in between 8am-5pm on Sunday (the day before the program starts) and , check-out after 5pm on the last day of the program (Friday) or the next day (Saturday). Please e-mail the REU assistant about your fligh infomation and your approximated check-in time for the dorm.
  4. What about food?
    Food is provided for REU participants on campus. Each meal is usually 'all you can eat' with a lot of variety.
  5. Do I have to pay for the food?
    No,you will receive a Cougar Card upon your arrival, which you can use to purchase meals on campus.
  6. What dining options do I have?
    Dining options can be found at the University of Houston Dining.
  7. Are there any available fitness facilities on campus?
    The REU participants can use the Wellness Recreation Center on campus for a small pro-rated fee. The Department of Campus Recreation is committed to enhancing the quality of life for University of Houston students by providing comprehensive facilities, programs and services. More information will be provided during the orientation.
Stipend Questions
  1. How much is the stipend?
    The stipend is $6,000 given incrementally throughout the 10 weeks.
  2. What can be reimbursed?
    *TBD
  3. Does UH issue tax form 1099-MISC for my stipend?
    Based on the NSF statement (Section III Award Information): "The REU experience is a research training experience paid via a stipend, not employment (work) paid with a salary or wage. In this case, the student's training consists of closely mentored independent research. For administrative convenience, organizations may choose to issue payments to REU students using their normal payroll system. The funds received by students may be taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and may also be subject to state or local taxes. Please consult the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for additional information. Students might find the IRS's "Tax Information for Students" website (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/students/students-page-higher-education) to be particularly helpful."
     In summary, UH does not issue 1099 for your stipend.

Please contact us if you have more questions.
Acknowledgement: This project is sponsored by NSF under CNS-1551221 and CCF-1950297. Special thanks to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics for its financial support. The University of Houston is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.