This summer, from June 18 through Aug. 24, Western will host 10 students from across the country to participate in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program.

Spiegel, who is involved in REU, said this program benefits Westerns community by making the department and university more visible to other institutions and expanding Western's already vibrant research culture. Students need to be exceptional academically, show interest in research in their personal statements and we look for students who wouldnt have this opportunity otherwise, he said.

The main purpose of the REU program is to give students the opportunity to experience authentic research not found anywhere else, according to Westerns chemistry department's website.

Many students involved in the REU are from community colleges and small liberal arts universities, which may not have the funding or facilities to provide this kind of experience, Spiegel said.

REU programs at other institutions around the country work in a broad range of scientific fields, but at Western the focus is on chemistry, according to the chemistry department's website. During the 10-week program, Western provides students with a $4,500 stipend, a $1,000 allowance for meals and a reimbursement on travel expenses.

Nathan Drake, a Western student and biochemistry major, is head of support for the REU program.

Students are able to ask him questions they dont feel as comfortable asking their assigned faculty members, such as the best place to get coffee, supplies for living situations and can utilize him as a tour guide to make the transition easier, Drake said.

Charlie Snyder, an REU participant from Skidmore College in New York, is working with John Gilbertson to find a metal complex that can turn carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, she said. Snyder said she thinks this the extensive lab experience will build her skills and improve her resume.

Visiting students work either with existing groups or individually, and always with a faculty member as a mentor. The research focuses on the field of synthetic chemistry, biochemistry and materials chemistry, Spiegel said. Being humbled by undergraduates' enthusiasm and raw intelligence are Spiegels favorite parts about working with the students, he said.

Washington benefits from this program because qualified students are better prepared for a high-tech, competitive workforce after graduation. Many program alumni get jobs in the Seattle area, Spiegel said.

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Grant brings student researchers to Western