Welcome NSF-REU Program Participants 2012-Department of Biological Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University

Welcome NSF-REU Program Participants 2012

Congratulations on being accepted to the NSF-REU program at Carnegie Mellon University. We hope you are excited to be a part of the large undergraduate cohort of participants, a component of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), who will be performing cutting-edge research at our great university.

Below are important dates to keep in mind:

All travel arrangements need to be finalized by

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Check-in at Stever House (residence hall on campus)

Monday, May 28, 2012, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Informal gathering

Monday, May 28, 2012, 4 p.m.

Starbucks Coffee

417 South Craig Street and Forbes

First day of SURP/REU program

Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 9 a.m.

SURP Poster Session

Tuesday, July 31, 2012, 3 p.m.

SURP Symposium

Thursday, August 2, 2012, 9 a.m.

Last day of SURP/REU program

Friday, August 3, 2012 at 5 p.m.

Check-out Stever House

Saturday, August 4, 2012 by noon

Step 1: Making Travel Arrangements

Your contact for travel, arrival and departure dates and times, and other general questions is Ms. Ena Miceli who may be reached at emiceli@andrew.cmu.edu or 412.268.3012. Because the program will reimburse you for transportation costs only, we ask that you be judicious with your expenses and save all of your receipts.



You are expected to arrive on Monday, May 28, between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Stever House (the residence hall on campus) and depart on Saturday, August 4 by noon. All participants are obligated to stay through the last day of the program. All travel arrangements need to be finalized by May 1.

  • If you are flying, our travel agency (People’s Travel) can make all necessary flight arrangements. When calling identify yourself as an REU participant to our travel agents either Patty or Lea. They may be reached at 412.621.0799 on Monday – Friday from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. or by email: pattyt79@yahoo.com or leacostanzo@gmail.com. Once your travel arrangements have been confirmed, you will receive an e-ticket from People's Travel. We have retained Corporate Sedan Service, LLC, for your transportation to and from the airport; the driver will be standing near the Hertz Rental Car counter with Carnegie Mellon University on a sign. For any flight delays, contact Jere at 888.666.4909.
  • If you are driving, please report directly to Stever House (see Housing section below). Please email Ms. Ena Miceli by May 1 with your May 28 arrival time. For unpacking purposes only, you may park on Monday in the Morewood Lot, but then you must move your car to the East Campus Parking Garage. If you plan to keep your car for the summer, the East Campus Parking Garage will be available to you for $277.50. You may pay the Parking & Transportation Office by check (made out to Carnegie Mellon University), credit card (Visa, Discover or MasterCard) or cash. In addition, you will need vehicle registration and proof of insurance. The parking office will be closed on Memorial Day when you arrive. They will be open on Tuesday, May 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and you need to ask for a parking voucher (up to 8 days) to continue to park in the East Campus Garage until your ID card is available. On your arrival day, the Resident Assistants (RAs) will be distributing your Stever House room keys.
  • Directions to the university and a campus map can be found at http://www.cmu.edu/about/visit/directions-parking.shtml. 

Step 2: What to do when you Arrive

Housing, Meals, ID Card, Access to Mellon Institute and Parking
Your contact for housing, meals, ID card and access to the Mellon Institute is Ms. Ena Miceli.



Your Carnegie Mellon residence hall for the summer is Stever House, which is located on campus between Morewood Gardens and Mudge House. The building's main floor includes large reading and study rooms, a recreation area, a kitchen and private dining room, vending, laundry, and a fitness room. For further information of the residence hall go to http://www.cmu.edu/housing/.

For all airport arrivals, Corporate Sedan Service will transport you from the airport to Stever House of campus. For all drivers, you may park on Sunday in the Morewood lot for unpacking purposes. You may contact the RA on duty in case of an emergency during your travels to Pittsburgh. If you have been significantly delayed or have directional questions please contact TBA.



As a participant of the NSF-REU you will receive a $500 meal allowance. A meal plan has not been provided; therefore, meals are your responsibility. The community kitchen at Stever House is equipped with a stove, refrigerator and utensils; dishes, cutlery and food are NOT provided. There are various grocery stores, markets, restaurants and fast food facilities within walking distance or bus ride.



Also, you are responsible for bringing your own linens to Stever House. This includes sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, washcloths, etc. Information regarding your roommate will be sent to you at a later date and where you can purchase a bus pass. You will also receive access to the Mellon Institute on your first day.



To process your ID card, you will need to send a digital photo of yourself in jpeg format to Ms. Miceli. The photo should be a headshot of the participant in the main area of the photo. There is no specific size requirement and the photo can be cropped once it is submitted. Participants should not have on hats, caps, or sunglasses in the submitted photo. 

Informal Gathering
 There will be an informal gathering of the ten participants on Monday at 4 p.m., at the Starbucks on the corner of South Craig Street and Forbes Avenue (a block away from Stever). You are responsible for your own beverages and encouraged to participate and meet the other participants.

Payroll
 Your contact for payroll is Ms. Carol Lee at CL3C@andrew.cmu.edu or 412.268.3392.

As a participant in the NSF-REU program your stipend will be $4500, minus taxes. You will be paid as a Carnegie Mellon employee; therefore, you must bring 2 forms of identification with you on May 29 (I9- Lists of Acceptable Documents). In accordance with the Federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, you must provide document(s) establishing your identity and employment eligibility within 3 working days your employment date. If you are unable to provide the required documents, you must show proof that you have applied for the appropriate documents and they must be produced within 21 days. Please review the list of documents and take steps to have them with you when you arrive on campus. If you do not provide the appropriate forms of identification, you will be asked to leave the program.

Your first paycheck will be issued on June 8 with payment every 2 weeks thereafter. Please complete the Personnel Information Form. This form must be returned to Ms. Lee as soon as possible to avoid delays in receiving university services. Her fax number is 412.268.7129. We suggest a $30 daily budget for expenses until you receive your first paycheck.

Computer Access
 Your contact to register your personal computer on the network and have Internet access is Al Scheuring at alberts@andrew.cmu.edu or 412.268.4535.

Mailing Address
Your mailing address for the summer will be:

Box 70
Department of Biological Sciences
Carnegie Mellon University
4400 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Laboratories
Dr. Brooke McCartney, Co-principal Investigator of the NSF-REU program, will finalize your faculty mentor and lab and she will be contacting you with the information. If you have questions regarding your lab, Dr. McCartney may be reached at brookem@andrew.cmu.edu.

Appropriate clothing for laboratory work includes long pants and closed-toed shoes (no sandals are permitted).

Miscellaneous
Please inform us if you have any significant health issues. If you become ill or injured, you should seek medical attention at one of our local hospital emergency rooms. Note that our student health office will NOT recognize you as a Carnegie Mellon student.

The summer calendar will be ready the first week of May. The summer calendar may be found at http://www.cmu.edu/bio/research/undergrad_research/summer/schedule/index.html.

Also, join the Department of Biological Sciences for a night at the ballpark on Wednesday, June 20, 2012. The Pittsburgh Pirates will be playing the Minnesota Twins at 7:05 p.m. Seats are located in the Pirates Cove for $20 each ticket; the ticket includes $10 for concession and merchandise.  Payment is due to Ms. Ena Miceli by May 14. Make checks payable to Carnegie Mellon University.

You should bring at least one business casual outfit for the final symposium.

Be prepared to meet with your mentor on the first day. It will be a productive meeting.