NEWT Research Experience for
Community College Students

About NEWT REU

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 REU, a 10-week program with a focus on nanotechnology-enabled water treatment for community college students. It includes a 10-week internship in a NEWT research laboratory to give 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 at the end of the summer.

2022–2023 NEWT REU Program^*

Community college students of all majors that are enrolled in Houston, TX; El Paso, TX; or Tempe/Phoenix, AZ schools are welcome to apply, but preference will be given to STEM majors.^**

Applications are closed.

The application deadline was March 15, 2022. All supporting documents, including recommendation contact information, transcripts, and personal statements, were due when you submit your application.

^{**Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident to apply due to our funding agency.}

Program Dates and Locations

HOUSTON LOCATION Rice University 6100 Main Street Houston, TX 77005 June 2–August 12, 2022 Mondays–Fridays	PHOENIX LOCATION Arizona State University 1151 S Forest Avenue Tempe, AZ 85281 June 2–August 12, 2022 Mondays–Fridays	EL PASO LOCATION The University of Texas at El Paso 500 West University Avenue El Paso, TX 79968 June 2–August 12, 2022 Mondays–Fridays

Program Structure

NEWT REU includes:

• A beginning 2-day orientation that introduces participants to their host university, laboratory safety training, and digital media training;
• Working with assigned graduate student/postdoctoral research mentors on an independent research project;
• Weekly meetings to discuss research experience;
• Round robin tours of student internship laboratories; and
• The SCI Summer Research Colloquium, where participants will present their research.

Applications

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. 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 in the Houston, TX; El Paso, TX; or Tempe/Phoenix, AZ area.**

Applicants will be required to submit:

• Unofficial transcript of grades from your community college and any other higher education classes you have taken;
• A personal statement about why you are applying to the NEWT REU program. This statement should be max 1 page in length and will be used to determine selection and lab placement.
• 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.

Click Here to Apply

Benefits & Expectations

The expectations of NEWT REU 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;
• Completing a poster on summer research;
• Attending and presenting at the SCI Summer Research Colloquium; and
• Timely completion and submission of all course assignments and homework.

For completing all program requirements, interns will receive:

• 10-weeks worth of sustained and supported professional development at Rice University;
• $6000 in stipends (spread out over the summer);
• Free economy parking at the host university;
• Networking opportunities with fellow students; and
• Training and guidance in presenting and delivering scientific poster presentations.

Program Flyer

Below is copy of the NEWT REU flyer. You can access a PDF version for download here.

NEWT REU Administration

If you have any questions about NEWT REU, you can contact the program lead.

Jorge Loyo, Ph.D.
NEWT Associate Director of University Education
713-348-8116 | jorge.loyo@rice.edu

^{*Program times, dates, locations, and compensation subject to change before the first day of the program.}