How to Apply.  A completed application for the Research Experience for Undergraduates in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Konza Prairie Biological Station will consist of four items.  

• A completed copy of the 2-page Application Form.
• An unofficial copy of your academic transcript.  If accepted into the REU program, applicants will be required to provide an official copy before arriving in Kansas to start the summer program.
• Letters of recommendation from two persons.  Individuals that are able to comment on the applicant’s academic ability are preferred, and are usually faculty advisors at the student’s home institution, or mentors from previous research activities.  Please provide each of your respondents with the Report on the Applicant rating form that is available in the table below.  Letters of recommendation can be included with your application package, just ask your referees to put the report in an envelope and sign across the sealed flap.
• A two-page essay addressing the development of the student's interest in ecology, evolutionary or molecular biology, the specific areas of research interest in genomics or grassland ecology, and current professional career goals.  Career goals need not be in ecological research, and past participants have included students with interests in journalism, environmental education and social sciences.  Many of our past participants have entered careers in those fields.  We recommend a clear focus on the goals and features of this REU Site program, and recommend that you avoid describing formative events during childhood.  Essays should be single-spaced with a blank line between consecutive paragraphs, and should be in a legible font (11-12 point) with 1 inch margins.

Application Tips.  Here are a couple of tips to assist you in submitting your application.

• Send all of the materials in one package by regular mail.  If all of the materials are sent in a complete package, there is less chance that one or more items will go astray.  If we are lacking the transcript or letters of recommendation from one or more of your referees, it will delay processing of your application.
• Plan ahead and submit in advance of the deadline.  We try to review the applications and make offers shortly after the March 1 deadline.  It helps if the application files are complete so that we can move quickly on reviewing the applications.
• Again, try to submit in the advance of the deadline.  Usually 80% of all of the applications arrive the week before the deadline.
• In recent years, many of the REU applicants have indicated a preference for working in vertebrate biology, especially projects with reptiles, birds and mammals.  If vertebrates are your main research interest, you are welcome to apply for an internship in that area but be aware that the positions may be more competitive.  Students with interests in specific research topics in ecosystem science, plant genomics or invertebrate biology often have a better chance of being matched to an available mentor.
• We will try to be sure and acknowledge receipt of your application.  If you do not hear from us, you are welcome to get in touch to enquire about the status of your application.   

Deadlines.  Completed applications, including the application form, unofficial transcript, two page essay and letters of recommendation, should be received on or before Monday, March 1, 2010.  We expect to notify applicants who are accepted to the REU program by Monday, March 8, 2010.  Students not receiving initial offers will be wait-listed for opportunities.  Students invited to participate in the REU program must accept or reject the offer by Friday, March 12, 2010.  Electronic versions of the application forms can be downloaded below.  Materials may be submitted by regular mail (preferred), e-mail or by fax to Dr. Bruce A. Snyder, REU Program Coordinator, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-4901, e-mail: basnyder@ksu.edu, phone (785) 532-6615, fax (785) 532-6653.  Questions regarding the application and selections procedures can be directed to Dr. Snyder by e-mail.  

Available File Formats	Application Form	Report on the Applicant
Microsoft Word files (DOC)	applform.doc	rateform.doc
Wordperfect files (WPD)	applform.wpd	rateform.wpd
Adobe Acrobat files (PDF) that can be printed out and completed by hand or with a typewriter	applform.pdf	rateform.pdf
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The application files may not display correctly when clicking on the above links.  Right click on the filename, save it to your computer with the correct file extension and then open the file with your word processing software or with Acrobat.