Research Experiences for Undergraduates
in High-Performance Computing
and Communications

OVERVIEW: Students in all majors are invited to apply to the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program in High-Performance Computing and Communications to be conducted during Summer 1997 at the Northeast Parallel Architectures Center (NPAC) at Syracuse University. Participants in the program receive:

• training in high-performance computing and communications
• training and experience in technical writing and speaking
• supervision of a research project
• a salary of $2,500 and a meal allowance of $1,000
• university housing

ELIGIBILITY: Applications are welcome from students in all disciplines, including computer science, engineering, physics, mathematics, communications, education, and economics. No previous experience in high-performance computing is required. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students, who expect to graduate no earlier than December 1997. Participation in the program is restricted to US citizens and permanent residents. Women and members of ethnic/racial groups that traditionally have been under-represented in engineering, mathematics and the sciences are strongly encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION GUIDELINES: Applications should include the following:

• application form, available from http://www.npac.syr.edu/REU/form.txt, which should be submitted by electronic mail to reu-info@npac.syr.edu
• resume
• copy of academic transcript
• letters of recommendation from two faculty members
• autobiographical essay, including a brief description of previous computing experience, areas of current academic interest, areas of possible research projects (if known) and tentative career plans.

    REU Program 
    NPAC, 3-217 CST
    111 College Place  
    Syracuse University  
    Syracuse, NY 13244  

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Northeast Parallel Architectures Center at Syracuse University was established in 1987 to study the application of a new generation of computing technology to problems in science and industry. Prof. Geoffrey C. Fox, a pioneer in the development and application of parallel architecture computers, joined NPAC as its Director in 1990. Prof. Fox has established an ambitious program that includes basic research, industrial applications, and educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students.

FACILITIES: Participants have access to world-class NPAC computing facilities, including a SGI Power Challenge, IBM SP-2, Sun Ultra2, PentiumPro PC, and DEC Alpha clusters, high speed ATM networks, and a digital multimedia lab, as well as numerous workstations.

REU PROGRAM OBJECTIVES: The NPAC Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program has two main goals:

1. to encourage promising students to pursue research careers in applications of high-performance computing and communications;
2. to provide a formative research experience modeled on the requirements of graduate study.

TYPICAL PROJECTS: Advisors are available to supervise student projects in a variety of areas, including parallel algorithms and languages, computational science, digital multimedia, applications of the World Wide Web and the National Information Infrastructure (NII), education, financial modeling, natural language processing, scientific visualization, computer graphics and virtual reality.

CONTINUATION OF PROJECTS: Participants are encouraged to continue their projects under the supervision of faculty at NPAC and their home institution during Academic Year 1997-98. Access to NPAC computers will be provided until May 1998. Participants are encouraged to present their research results at professional conferences and in journal papers. Supplementary funding is available to cover the costs of participation in conferences for selected participants.

FUNDING: Primary funding for this program is provided by a grant from the National Science Foundation, with additional funding from the GE Foundation, Syracuse University, the Northeast Parallel Architectures Center, and corporate members of InfoMall, the NPAC technology transfer program.