IREAAMU Participant Resources
IREAAMU Participant Resources
Embedded Files
The IREAAMU NSF-REU site takes place at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), a public land-grant research university located in the heart of Knoxville, Tennessee. UTK is the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee system with very high research activities (R1).
The university's campus is close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, nature centers, botanical gardens, greenways, farms, museums, theaters, restaurants, and shopping centers.
Getting to Knoxville
Getting to Knoxville
All REU students must arrive at the UTK campus on the first day listed in the offer letter. This first day is reserved for students to settle in and explore Knoxville. The first event will be held the following day at the Dougherty Engineering Building (see the Google map on the left). All students are required to check out of the university-provided housing on the last day listed in the offer letter by 9 AM.
🛫 If you fly to Knoxville, the closest airport to the UTK campus is McGhee Tyson (TYS) Airport. The Nashville International (BNA) Airport is an option but requires a 2.5-hour drive to the UTK campus.
🚗 If you drive to Knoxville, you can buy the university's parking permit from the UTK Parking Office. Please let Ms. Ashley Shine know if you need a university's parking permit.
Buses and share rides (Uber/Lyft) are available for traveling around Knoxville.
University-Provided Housing and VolCard
University-Provided Housing and VolCard
First day (4 PM check-in time) to June 1 (11 AM check-out time): Cumberland House. All students will have their own bedrooms. While lodging is covered, parking, room service, dining, and other purchases/services are not covered.
June 1 (10 AM check-in time) to Last day (9 AM check-out time): Volunteer Hall. All students will have their own bedrooms with a shared common area.
Cumberland House, Dougherty Engineering Building, and Volunteer Hall are within walking distance (5-6 min per Google map).
Each REU student will be assigned a NetID and must activate their VolCard on their mobile phone. In addition to on-campus dining, VolCard are accepted at off-campus participating merchants, VolTech, VolShop, VolSnacks, Hodges Library (e.g., for poster printing), and UCopy (e.g., for poster printing). You can find a map of merchants accepting VolCard here.
Campus Map
Campus Map
Student Union: dining, VolShop, VolTech, VolSnacks, UCopy
John C. Hodges Library: computer labs, poster printing, and Summer Research Scholars Symposium
Dougherty Engineering Building (DO): IREAAMU activities
Engineering Quad (around Science and Engineering Research Facilities, Perkins Hall, and Ferris Hall): IREAAMU activities
Min H. Kao Engineering Building (MKB): IREAAMU activities
John D. Tickle Engineering Building (TIC): IREAAMU activities
Zeanah Engineering Complex (ZEC): NSF-REU Poster Symposium
What to Prepare and Expect
What to Prepare and Expect
APRIL
Book your trip to Knoxville and plan to arrive on the first day listed on the offer letter.
Review and fill out the consent and travel forms.
Request dietary restrictions and special accommodations if applicable.
Review the IREAAMU NSF-REU program details.
MAY
Contact your faculty advisors and ask about the necessary technical preparations (i.e., required readings and trainings).
Review the research lab website.
Request a Zoom meeting with your faculty advisors if desired. Make sure you understand the research expectations.
Schedule the first (in-person) meeting with your faculty advisors.
Connect with other fellow participants virtually.
Plan to bring your laptop (necessary for several IREAAMU activities).
FIRST DAY TO JUNE 1
Check into the Cumberland House on the first day.
Explore Knoxville and get to know fellow participants.
Activate your NetID and VolCard.
Complete the required trainings (Responsible Conduct of Research and TRUST) and the drone flying agreement form by May 30.
Attend and participate in the IREAAMU activities (see the program details).
Register for the UTK Summer Research Scholars Symposium.
Meet with your faculty advisors and graduate mentors. Set expectations and meeting schedules.
Check out of the Cumberland House on June 1 by 11 AM.
JUNE 1 TO LAST DAY
Check into the Volunteer Hall on June 1 after 10 AM.
Regularly meet with your faculty advisors and graduate mentors.
Attend and participate in the IREAAMU activities (see the program details).
Compile a thorough literature review for your research project.
Work on the research project for a minimum of 40 hours/week.
Provide mid-program feedback by June 27.
Present your work at the Summer Research Scholars Symposium and the NSF-REU Poster Symposium.
Return keys and other items provided by your research lab; these items are properties of the state of Tennessee.
Check out of the Volunteer Hall on the last day by 9 AM.
Dress Code
Dress Code
Dress comfortably and for the weather. While most IREAAMU NSF-REU events will be held indoor, some events will be held outdoor. Historically, the local weather varies from 65°F to 90°F and humid; several hot days may occur. REU students are advised to wear appropriate sun protection.
Bring comfortable pairs of shoes. Knoxville campus and its surroundings are very hilly. REU students may find hiking shoes useful if they are interested in visiting hiking trails and nature centers.
Bring lab or outdoor work attire. This includes closed-toe shoes and practical clothing for hands-on work.
Bring business casual attires. This is required for the Summer Research Scholars Symposium and the NSF-REU Poster Symposium. REU students may wear casual attires to professional development activities, social events, and networking events.
Local Attractions
Local Attractions
For more information: https://www.visitknoxville.com/
Contact Persons
Contact Persons
General REU questions and concerns:
Prof. Devina Sanjaya (Principal Investigator), dsanjaya [at] utk [dot] edu
Prof. Zhenbo Wang (Co-Principal Investigator), zwang124 [at] utk [dot] edu
Research questions: assigned faculty advisors listed on the offer letter and assigned graduate mentors
Finance, logistics, and administration questions:
Ms. Ashly Shine, ashine [at] utk [dot] edu
Ms. Abby Reagan, areaga14 [at] utk [dot] edu
IT questions: Mr. Ryan Wilhite, wilhite [at] utk [dot] edu
Program Details
Program Details
This REU site is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2244052. The collaborative REU site is approved by and at no cost to the National Science Foundation.
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