REU ERWiN

Experimental Research on Wireless Networking (ERWiN)

University of Notre Dame
Computer Science and Engineering

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the goals of the REU Site?

Increase the number of professionals and scientists in the areas of wireless networking and mobile computing.
Develop students skills and abilities in applying computing tools and methods to real-world problems.
Prepare students for graduate school and independent research by simulating life as a graduate student under the mentorship of faculty.
Build lasting ties between students, their home institutions, and the faculty, staff, and students at the University of Notre Dame, providing a basis for future cooperations.
Evaluate and focus your career interests.
Enhance your written and oral technical communication skills.

What are the benefits of participating?

Work alongside experienced research faculty and graduate students.
Gain real-world experience in a rapidly evolving field of research and work with state-of-the-art technology.
Receive a stipend of $4,500 for the ten-week internship.
Receive travel reimbursement (to and from South Bend) of up to $800.
Receive an allowance for housing and meals ($150 per week). Housing on campus will be arranged, but students are free to live off-campus if preferred.
Some of the best projects will receive an award.

What responsibilities will I have?

Interns will work on a research project, mentored by one or more faculty.
Interns must attend weekly seminars and programs.
Interns must work a minimum of 40 hours per week at the REU site.
Interns must prepare and submit a written report of the work performed.
Interns must give an oral presentation and/or present a poster describing their project and results.
Interns must design a web page describing their project and their experience.
Interns must complete an exit interview.
Interns are asked to assist in further recruitments at respective schools.

What exactly will I be expected to do?

The exact type of work of requirements are difficult to specify (and also depend on your research mentor), but the following are some guidelines for the program.

Attend all scheduled meetings. You will meet frequently with your mentor to discuss the goals for the week and the progress made in the previous week. In the beginning, the goals will be very specific to ensure that they are attainable. Some of the meetings will be group meetings. For each meeting, be prepared to discuss your progress and any obstacles encountered.
Meet with your mentor as necessary. Try to find the right balance between solving a problem on your own (e.g., with the help of tutorials, manuals, online search) and contacting others knowledgeable about your research project for help when you get stuck. There will be several graduate students available to provide additional guidance whenever needed.
Create two presentations, one half way through summer, the second one at the end of the REU. The first one should give a good overview of your research project and the direction of your research. Feedback will be provided to improve your skills in both preparing and doing a presentation.
Write two reports describing your project, the solutions and results obtained, the obstacles encountered, etc. Further, write a paper, which is distinguished from the reports in that it should be a publishable entity. The paper will be formally written, concise, and it will contain only information related directly to your research. You will use LaTeX tools to write the paper and it will be due at the conclusion of the REU.

How will I find a project to work on?

Our REU web site will list a number of possible projects (during the application process you are asked to identify projects from that list that best match your interests) and additional projects will be suggested and discussed after arrival at the REU site.

What other activities (beyond work) will be provided?

There will numerous additional activies such as field trips, parties, and other informal social events. You will find details about these events on our schedule.

How will I get paid?

The exact method of payment will be established at the beginning of the REU. Most likely, the stipend will be paid in weekly increments.