About the NEWT REM Program
A joint effort by Rice University, Arizona State University (ASU), the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and Yale University, the Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT) is the first national center to develop next generation water treatment systems enabled by nanotechnology. The aim is to enable access to suitable water almost anywhere in the world by developing high performance, easy-to-deploy systems for drinking water and industrial wastewater treatment systems enabled by nanotechnology.
In collaboration with NEWT, the Rice Office of STEM Engagement offers NEWT REM, a summer program with a focus on nanotechnology-enabled water treatment for undergraduate and community college students. It includes a 9-week internship in a NEWT research laboratory to provide hands-on research experience. Participants are matched to a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher mentor who can help guide their research. Participants work on independent research projects to be presented at a conference in the spring of 2025.
2024–2025 NEWT REM Program*
Undergraduate and community college students of all majors that are enrolled in El Paso, TX, or Tempe/Phoenix, AZ schools are welcome to apply, but preference will be given to STEM majors.**
The application deadline has been extended to March 29, 2024. All supporting documents, including recommendation letter writer contact information, transcripts, and personal statements, are due at the time of application submission.
*Program times, dates, locations, and compensation subject to change before the first day of the program.
**Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident to apply due to our funding agency.
- Program Dates
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- June 6 - August 9, 2024
- Program Structure
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The NEWT REM includes:
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A 2-day orientation at Rice University in Houston that introduces participants to NEWT, the scientific literature, and laboratory safety;
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Work with assigned graduate student/postdoctoral research mentors on an independent research project at ASU or UTEP;
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Weekly cohort meetings with program director to discuss research experience; • Round robin tours of student internship laboratories; and
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Participation in The Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in Washington, DC, where participants will present their research and participate in professional development activities.
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- Application
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Undergraduate and community college students of all majors are welcome to apply, but STEM majors will receive priority consideration. Students must be enrolled in a community college or university in the El Paso, TX; or Tempe/Phoenix, AZ area.** Applicants will be required to submit:
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Unofficial transcript of grades from your university or community college and any other higher education classes you have taken;
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A personal statement about why you are applying to the NEWT REM program. This statement should be max 1 page in length and will be used to determine selection and lab placement.
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We also require two letters of recommendation from a professor, advisor, or employer, but one letter must be from a STEM professor. Please provide the contact information for your references on your application and we will contact them directly.
If you are unable to upload these documents to your application, you can email them to stem@rice.edu.
Applicants will be notified of their status by the end of April. Space is very limited, therefore, completing the application process and being selected for an interview does NOT guarantee placement in the program. Once final candidates have been selected, all other interviewed applicants may be placed on a wait list.
**Must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident to apply due to funding agency requirements.
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- Benefits & Expectations
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The expectations of NEWT REM interns include, but are not limited to: • Working full-time (40 hours/week) in the laboratory for the duration of the internship; • Documenting summer hours and submitting time sheets on time;
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Completing a poster on summer research;
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Attending and presenting at the ERN Conference; and
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Timely completion and submission of all course assignments and homework.
For completing all program requirements, interns will receive:
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9-weeks worth of sustained and supported professional development at ASU or UTEP; • $8,000 in stipends (spread out over the summer);
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Free economy parking at the host university;
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Networking opportunities with fellow students; and
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Training and guidance in presenting and delivering scientific poster presentations.
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- Program Flyer
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Below is the NEWT REM flyer. You can access a PDF version for download here.
NEWT REM Administration
If you have any questions about NEWT REM, contact the program lead below.
Jorge Loyo, Ph.D.
NEWT Associate Director of University Education
713-348-8116 | jorge.loyo@rice.edu
