Reference Letter Request for REU Program

Department of Physics & Astronomy • 202 Nicholson Hall • Baton Rouge, Louisiana • 70803

P (225) 578-2261 • F (225) 578-5855 • www.phys.lsu.edu

_________________________, who is applying to the Research Experience for Undergraduates

(REU) program in Physics & Astronomy at Louisiana State University, requests a letter of

reference from you. The application deadline is February 10, 2017; we ask that letters be

received by this date.

We ask that you submit a written letter of recommendation, preferably on your institution’s

letterhead. A substantial part of our evaluation will be based on your written letter. Please use the

letter to describe the student’s qualifications for participating in a Research Experience for

Undergraduates program. Items of particular interest include:

• scholastic aptitude;

• work ethic and maturity;

• motivation and aptitude for physics research and/or career;

• particular strengths or weaknesses;

• ability to flourish in group or semi-independent situations; and

• how well you know the applicant.

Additional comments, such as whether you would choose to work with this student as a research

mentor or relative ranking of applicant among his/her peers, are welcome.

As part of REU program participation, the student will present a poster at our annual Summer

Undergraduate Research Forum. We hope that students will have an opportunity to give an

additional poster presentation or department seminar at his/her home institution during the

academic year following the REU program.

Please send your reference letter directly to the REU Program. E-mail submission is preferred.

By mail: REU Program Director

Louisiana State University

Dept. of Physics & Astronomy

Baton Rouge, LA 70803-4001

CONFIDENTIALITY: Reference letters will be kept confidential to the extent allowed by the Family Educational

Rights & Privacy Act. Students are asked on their application if they waive the right to review reference letters, and

are instructed to notify you if they do not waive this right. Only the REU program director, department faculty

assisting with applicant evaluations, and the REU student’s faculty mentor will view the reference letters.

Thank you for your support of undergraduate research.

Kip Matthews & Dan Sheehy, REU Program Co-Directors

This instruction page need not be returned with your reference letter; it is informational only.