Research Experiences for Undergraduates | STAT-DATASCI

An opportunity to make significant contributions to faculty research, discover an interest in graduate school, and shape a future career in research.

Attention: 
The STAT-DATASCI REU program will not run in Summer 2025.  See below for information about past summers, and check back for updates about Summer 2026.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) projects in the Department of Statistics are designed to involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs. During the REU at Rice University, STAT-DATASCI program, participants will work closely with faculty members, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral mentors on current research projects, make short progress presentations to their peers during program meetings, make a formal presentation of their research experience at the end of the program, and submit a written, final report describing the results of their research. Throughout the program, students also participate in professional development events and community-building events. Our goal is that the students participating in the REU program will make significant contributions to ongoing faculty research and, more importantly, gain an appreciation for and an interest in graduate school and a future research career in data science or statistics.

Our faculty have projects in a variety of key research areas. Learn more about our Research Focus Areas.

 

Program Details

REU opportunities at Rice STAT-DATASCI are available in seven general areas, most of which also include application domains: 

  • Bayesian Statistics
  • Biostatistics, Statistical Genetics and Bioinformatics
  • Computational Finance
  • Data Science, Visualization
  • General Statistics
  • Machine Learning
  • Probability or Applied Probability
  • Stochastic Processes

These REU projects will provide hands-on learning experiences, expose undergraduate students to research techniques and integrate them into the research community at Rice. As part of the REU program, students will:

  • Work under mentor guidance for 40 hours/week for 10 weeks
  • Be required to prepare a research plan, progress reports, and a final presentation describing the results of their research program
  • Participate in professional development workshops, technical workshops and community-building activities

The anticipated start date is May 28, 2024, and the anticipated end date is August 2, 2024.

Eligibility

To participate in the program, students should:

  • be a US citizen, US national, or US permanent resident
  • have completed at least their first year of college by the time the REU starts
  • plan to graduate no earlier than December 2024
  • be 18 years of age or older
  • have completed at least one course in statistics
  • have a background in differential and integral calculus
  • ideally, have a background in computer programming (e.g., experience with R, Python, or Matlab)
  • have an interest in and a desire to participate in ongoing research in at least one of the research areas listed within the application
  • be prepared to participate in person fully for the complete duration of the program period

Rice is committed to recruiting, supporting, and engaging a diverse group of undergraduate students from across the nation. Thus, we are looking for students at all levels, including first-year students majoring in STEM, and prior research experience is not required. Additionally, students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM, as well as students with diverse experiences and/or backgrounds, are strongly encouraged to apply to the REU program.

All participants are expected to abide by the program code of conduct.

How to Apply

The application to the REU program requires:

  1. A resume or CV (2 page max).
  2. A diversity, equity, and inclusion statement describing how you believe your experiences and/or perspectives would contribute to advancing a culture of diversity and inclusion at Rice Statistics (250 words max).
  3. A personal statement describing the applicant's statistical and data science research interests and technical skills (1,000 words max).
  4. Confirmed interest in up to 3 of the listed research areas.
  5. An (unofficial) college transcript.
  6. One letter of recommendation. This should be a letter from someone who knows you and the way you work. For example, a supervisor from a job you have had where you gained relevant experience, a teacher from a class where you had an engaging learning experience or had to overcome challenges, a professor with whom you have gained some laboratory or research experience.
  7. Application Deadline: Applications may be submitted until March 1, 2024. There is a priority deadline of Feb. 15, 2024.
  8. APPLY NOW

For further information, please contact the Director of the STAT REU Program, Dr. Elizabeth McGuffey.

Stipend

Each participant will receive a $7,000 stipend for the 10-week internship and on-campus housing accommodations. Participants are also eligible for reimbursement up to $1,000 towards moving/travel to/from Houston. On-campus housing will be provided and paid for by the STAT-DATASCI program. Off-campus housing is at the expense of the participant. STAT-DATASCI students also have no-cost access to the Rice gym.