Undergraduate Chemistry Majors (U2-U4) with GPAs of 3.0 or better are invited to apply for a special summer undergraduate research program in the department for Summer 2025. Students who have graduated by the summer and previous participants are not eligible.
Program Dates:
May 27 - August 1, 2025
Overview
This 10-week intensive summer program at the Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University offers undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in hands-on research across diverse areas of chemistry, including catalysis, environmental chemistry, synthetic chemistry, and biological chemistry. Participants will work closely with faculty mentors and graduate or postdoctoral researchers, developing valuable skills in experimental techniques, data analysis, and effective communication.
In addition to research, alongside other students immersed in summer research, students will attend weekly seminars that connect their work to broader regional and global challenges. Workshops on ethics, teamwork, and science communication will further support professional development. Participants will also have the chance to visit industry partners, network with alumni from various career paths, and build lasting mentoring relationships.
With access to state-of-the-art facilities, a collaborative research environment, and opportunities to present their findings at multiple symposia and outreach events, this program provides an exceptional platform for students to grow as scientists and connect with the broader scientific community.
Application
The application must include the following:
-
Faculty Advisor and Research Project: Identify and contact a Chemistry faculty member who agrees to host you in their laboratory for the summer. You should discuss and outline a potential research project with this advisor's group.
-
Research Proposal: Submit a one-page research proposal (strictly limited to one page) written by you. The proposal should clearly describe the research problem you aim to address, the methods you plan to use, and your specific role in the project.
-
Personal Statement: Provide a one-page personal statement explaining your career goals and how participating in this research experience will support your academic and professional development. Be specific about the skills and knowledge you hope to gain.
-
Advisor Letter of Support: Include a letter of support from your proposed research advisor. This letter should confirm their willingness to mentor you during the summer and provide insights into the potential research project and its alignment with your goals.
Expectations
Students admitted to the program are required to:
-
Research Commitment: Engage in full-time summer research for the 10-week term, dedicating a minimum of 40 hours per week to laboratory work.
-
Course Enrollment: Enroll in 0-3 credit hours of CHEM 491. (Please note: You are responsible for tuition for this course, and changes to the number of credit hours cannot be made retroactively.) Students are not allowed to enroll in any other courses, either at this institution or elsewhere, during the summer term.
-
Housing Arrangements: Secure your own housing, as housing is not provided by the program.
-
Program Participation: Take part in all scheduled programming, which includes weekly career development lunches, research seminars, and a Career Day event.
-
Final Deliverables: Complete a final research paper and present your work at a campus-wide poster session.
-
Symposium Presentation: Participate in a departmental research symposium to share your findings.
-
Program Assessment: Contribute to program assessment activities, which may include completing surveys and participating in interviews.
Benefits
-
Admitted students will receive a $4,000 research stipend for their participation in the program.
-
Admitted students will be eligible for a $750 scholarship to present their research findings at the ACS National Meeting in Atlanta, GA, scheduled for March 22–26, 2026; or any Chemistry regional meeting.
Deadlines
-
Intent to Apply: Students interested in the program should send an email indicating their intent to apply to reu@chem.tamu.edu by March 3, 2025. (This is not a binding commitment.)
-
Application Submission: All application materials must be submitted electronically to reu@chem.tamu.edu by March 28, 2025. Faculty advisors may send their recommendation letters separately from the student submissions.
-
Notification of Acceptance: Accepted students will be notified by April 18, 2025, or shortly thereafter.
Supported by
- Dr. Matthew ’82 and Patricia Harthcock
- Dr. Mike ’75 ’79 and Gabrielle “Gigi” ’78 Killough
- Dr. Patrick Killough ’75 ’82
- Dr. John Beckerdite ’76 ’83
- The North Family: Dr. Simon and Diana North, Dr. William and Geraldine North
