The NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program at CTIO has hosted a total of eight undergraduate student research assistants over its two years of existence, 1995 and 1996. Both the students and the CTIO staff have found the program highly rewarding. The CTIO REU program offers students the unique opportunity to gain observational experience studying objects in the rich Southern hemisphere (the Magellanic Clouds, the Galactic center, etc.), while also providing a chance to work alongside Chilean astronomy and engineering students who come to CTIO for summer projects.
After losing our excellent REU site director, Eileen Friel, the CTIO REU program suffered a disappointing hiatus this year, but plans are underway to bring the program back to life for January 1998! Pending NSF approval of funding, we anticipate offering four Undergraduate Research Assistant positions for a 10 week program starting in January 1998 under the direction of a new site director, Chris Smith. The deadline for applications is 26 September. For more information, visit our REU web page at: http://www.ctio.noao.edu/reu.html.
Chris Smith (Michigan),
Malcolm Smith, Mark Phillips