November 2007

Dear Undergraduate Student:

The Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy expects to host a "Research Experiences for Undergraduates" program sponsored by the National Science Foundation in the summer of 2008. Each SARA summer intern will work closely with a faculty mentor at one of the 10 SARA universities. In addition to observing with the SARA 0.9-m telescope at Kitt Peak in Arizona, the summer activities will include a number of social events and excursions, as well as workshops on observational techniques data reduction, current events in astronomy, proposal writing, job opportunities in astronomy, and scientific ethics.

Participants will present research results at a final workshop near the end of summer and the proceedings will be published in JSARA: The Journal of the Souteastern Association for Research in Astronomy.

Stipend support for the program is $3600. Housing is provided and travel to and from the program is supported, as is an observing run at Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Please visit our website at

for more details and to complete an application. The deadline for receipt of all materials is February 1, 2008. Appointments will be announced beginning February 29, 2008.

The Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy (SARA) is a consortium of 10 universities primarily in the southeastern United States, and students selected for the program may end up working at any one of the 10 institutes: The Florida Institute of Technology, East Tennessee State University. , Florida International University, The University of Georgia, Valdosta State University, Clemson University, Ball State University, Agnes Scott College, University of Alabama, and Valparaiso University.

Students who have completed their freshman, sophomore, or junior year in college by Spring 2008 are invited to apply (graduating seniors and more advanced students are not eligible). Applicants are not requried to be majors in Astronomy or Physics, though a demonstrated interest is essential. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents in good academic standing and are expected to have adequate preparation in basic science and math courses. If you have questions prior to applying and after seeing the online documentation, please contact me.

Dr. Matt A. Wood, Professor Email: wood@fit.edu

SARA NSF-REU Program Director Tel: (321) 674-7207

Dept. of Physics and Space Sciences Fax: (321) 674-7482