Abstract:

This report will be based on a collaborative, summer International Research Experience for Undergraduate (iREU) Students between two universities, one in Spain, the University of Cádiz (UCA) and the second in the USA, DePaul University, Chicago. The iREU was based on the Organic Chemistry department. Over a four year period, 29 undergraduate students participated out of an applicant pool of over 600.

During each summer, the program matched individual students with selected faculty representing labs in the Allelopathy group, Organic Synthesis and Marine Chemistry. Each project is individualized and promotes close collaboration between the student and the mentor.

As concluding remarks, the article will report on the current activities of those students attending the summer programs. The total number of students applicants for the IREU came from over 39 different states, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC . From the students participating, the majority [> 80%] came from PUIs (primarily undergraduate institutions); the program targeted underrepresented minorities and women in the sciences and had>39% Hispanic students, 46% first generation students and one (1) veteran among its participants. Eighteen out of twenty-nine students were women (62%). For those students who have completed their undergraduate education, > 65% have gone on to exceptional graduate programs (Rice, Carnegie Mellon, George Mason, Texas A&M, UT Houston, Wake Forest, University of Chicago, Univ.of Wisconsin-Madison, UC Irvine, CalTech, Baylor Medical College (PhD), Ohio State, SUNY-Stonybrook, UCSD-Scripps, MIT and Notre Dame); > 30% have gone to professional school (medical school, Pharmacy, etc.). This program has produced four successful research Fulbrights and one alternate. These students have deferred their entry into graduate school – in 2 cases, this research has been approved and coordinated with their PhD programs in the USA and will be used towards their final degree. Finally, the program has had four students successfully awarded NSF graduate fellowships with one as an honorable mention twice

Keywords:

International research, undergraduate education, chemistry.