Note: The program will be held on-site at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and REU FoDOMMaT fellows will work in person during Summer 2024.
What’s REU FoDOMMaT?
FoDOMMaT (The Future of Discovery: Training Students to Build and Apply Open Source Machine Learning Models and Tools) is a 10-week on-site summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). FoDOMMaT will bring together 10 undergraduate students, particularly those who would otherwise lack such an opportunity, to work on cutting-edge projects. The program will begin with a week-long training where students are taught machine learning (ML) / deep learning (/DL) methods. They will work for the remaining nine weeks on a specific research project under the guidance of a pair of research mentors, one from the project’s research area and the other with expertise in machine learning. Students will be trained to apply machine learning and to participate in research where these tools are at the center of scientific discovery, preparing them to apply machine learning methods in other fields. Students will openly share their models and tools, including their home institutions, an undergraduate research symposium on the University of Illinois campus, and the science and engineering research community.
Highlights
- 10-week summer program offers opportunities:
- Intensive training in machine learning (ML) / deep learning (DL)ML/DL methodology and relevant software, as well as open source software development methodologies
- Leading-edge research projects supervised by NCSA researchers and interdisciplinary faculty members, leading to open source models or tools
- Develop ability to apply ML/DL to real-world, cutting-edge research problems
- ML/DL subject matter mentoring by a graduate student
- Access to state-of-the-art computing facilities to run these tools and models
- Immersion in interdisciplinary research activities
- Seminars by visiting researchers from industry and academia
- Social activities, networking and professional development events
- $600/week stipend, paid housing (arranged by the program), meal plan, one round trip to and from campus
Eligibility Criteria
All students who apply to FoDOMMaT must be:
- Citizens of the United States or permanent residents
- Enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree
- In good academic standing at their college or university
- Enrolled in any major and in any year of undergraduate studies
- Available full-time during the program
- At least 18 years of age by the start date of the program
- Some software development experience with Python is required as well as some exposure to machine learning (ML) via coursework, self-study, or other projects
- Advanced academic training in ML and software development is a plus, but not required
Priority is given to populations historically underrepresented in STEM, including those from minority serving institutions (MSIs)—such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and schools with low levels of research activity, including community colleges, applying from outside of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Program Requirements
- REU fellows must live in campus housing — arranged by the REU site program coordinator
- REU fellows must attend weekly seminars and professional development events
- REU fellows must prepare and submit a written report of the work done
- REU fellows must give an oral presentation of work performed at the REU Site
- REU fellows will work at least 35 hours per week on projects and up to 5 hours per week on professional development, attending program-wide activities and other engagements
- REU fellows are asked to assist in further recruitments at their respective school
Important Dates
- Online application: November 20, 2023 – March 17, 2024
- Program dates: May 20 – July 26, 2024
Acceptance
Offers of acceptance will go out by email on a rolling basis, so apply early. After the acceptance process is complete, the remaining applicants will be notified by email.
Once the program offer is accepted, an REU fellow is obligated to complete the summer fellowship (all 10 weeks) program and meet the program requirements.