For all correspondence, including sending transcripts if relevant, please use the email at the top of this page.
On some systems you can write a document to a PDF using the ‘print’ and 'print to file' option. You can also use one of many free online document converters such as freepdfconvert.com or Neevia Document Converter. Whichever method you choose, we advise you to check your document before uploading.
There are programs that can combine multiple PDF documents. You can also use a free online PDF merger such as pdfmerge.com.
It is best to use a proper scanner and store your documents in PDF format. If you don’t have access to a scanner and you have a smartphone, you can download a number of free apps to scan to PDF using your phone’s built-in camera from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
The Arecibo Observatory REU program is supported by the National Science Foundation through grant number AST/1559849. Partial support is also recieved from NASA through individual, PI-led science grants.
You should fill in the online form to start your application process. You should request one referee to write your recommendation letter, and put their contact information in the online form. The deadline for this online form is March 23, 2021, but we advise you to fill it in as soon as possible.
The application online form will provide a section for uploading documents.
We will send you a confirmation number by email once we receive your application.
We will be sending automated emails from the above email address during the application process. You should receive an email within minutes of submitting the form. If you do not, please check your 'junk' or 'spam' folders. If you still did not get any emails from us, please do inform us. Please do kindly check with your referees if they received our automated emails as well.
This website has been tested with the recent versions of Safari, Chrome and Firefox. You should enable javascript if it has been turned off. Please email us if there are any problems, and we will gladly assist you.
Please note that you can only upload PDF files (with .pdf file extension). If you still get an error message, please email us with the error message so that we can debug the problem. If we are unable to fix the problem, you can email us your documents, and we will upload them for you.
This is a text field that is not sensitive to format, so you can provide it however you wish. We expect to use the telephone number only in rare cases; most communication will be by email.
TThe REU program funded by the National Science Foundation is eligible only to US citizens or permanent residents due to NSF regulations. Nevertheless, foreign nationals can be considered for a self-paid internship if they provide a payment plan and show proof that they have either the required funds, or a letter from a sponsor (for a minimum of $5,000 for 10 weeks of lodging, meals, and transportation). The application is not complete before either one is provided. Foreign nationals must also provide their own travel/health insurance and have a driver's license that is valid in the US.
This is a text field that is not sensitive to format, so you can provide it however you wish. You can provide it in numeric format (4.0) or alphanumeric format (A+).
If we do not get sufficient applications in one specific area and many good applications in other areas, then we will consider a second choice.
Once you submit the online application, an automated email will be sent to each referee requesting a letter of recommendation. If your referees do not receive this email, please ask them to check their spam folders.
You can provide telephone numbers in any format, but please do not forget to include office extensions. We will correspond with your referees mostly by email, and only call them if there is any urgency.
Some project mentors prefer students who can arrive early or depart late, mainly due to project restrictions and sometimes due to their travel plans. To have higher chances of selection, please provide earliest time possible for arrival date and latest time for departure date for the summer.
This is optional, in case there is some information that you would like to include with the application. This could be mainly logistical information about the application process, academic transcripts, referees etc, which will help us process your application faster.
Unfortunately we do not have an edit feature. However, you can email us the correct information, and we will be happy to edit it for you.
Please email (reu-program@naic.edu) to inform us about the problem.
You should include all educational details, previous employment, research / lab experiences, technical and programming skills, publications and awards. This information is required to consider your application complete. You should include anything else that you think is relevant.
Resumes should be a maximum of two pages long. The file format should be PDF.
You should write about your educational background, career goals, scientific interests and experience, and why you want to work in the Arecibo Observatory REUT program. This is a very important component of the application.
Personal essays should be a maximum of two pages long. The file format should be PDF.
We require an unofficial copy of your transcript to be submitted with the digital application. If the unofficial copy is scanned, please scan with at least 200 dpi resolution and format as a PDF file. If your school provides you with online access to your transcript or degree audit, a PDF printout of this is also be acceptable. In either case, the electronic copy of your transcript must be directly traceable to your school registrar. A handwritten list of courses, or a copied transcript modified by hand/typewriter/computer, is not acceptable.
Yes, we prefer that the students upload the unofficial transcripts themselves. Please remember to also request your registrar to email us a copy of your official transcript.
If you can not submit a digital version of your unofficial transcripts with your application, please email us in advance. Official transcripts will still be required by mail (see above for address).
Unofficial Copy: Please combine all of your transcripts into a single PDF file (maximum 5MB file size).
Official Copy: Please mail all official copies of your transcripts to us on or before March 30, 2021 (see above for address).
If you have problem reducing your file size, you can also email us a copy of your transcripts. Please note that email attachments also have size restrictions (usually 10MB). In any case, email us and we will help you.
If you have some unique circumstances, please feel free to email us.
You should first of all ask your referee whether they would be willing to provide you with a letter of recommendation. You will have to provide us with their email address in online Application Form. We will contact them directly by email.
Suitable referees will often include professors that know you well and researchers that you have worked with on other research projects.iti Referees from high school are normally only a good choice if this is your first year since finishing high school.
Letter of recommendation should be a maximum of two pages long. The file format should be PDF. These instructions will be included in the email request sent to your referees.