REU/PIA Program FAQ

1.  What is the REU/PIA Program?
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) runs two student programs each southern summer. The       Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is an NSF funded program, which selects 3 undergraduate physics students from the United States of America and lasts 10 weeks. For the 2012 program, the approximate program dates will be January 16 - March 30. Travel to and from the student's home institution is provided. The Prácticas de Investigación en Astronomía (PIA) is a similar program conducted simultaneously for two Chilean by CTIO.

2.  Will I get paid during the REU/PIA program?
The REU program pays a reasonable stipend for the the 10 week duration of the program. For 2012, this works out to $540 per week. The PIA program also pays a similar stipend commensurate with Chilean living standards.

 3. I just graduated with my physics/astronomy degree, can I still apply?
Unfortunately, the REU program only accepts undergraduates. However, in several instances, students have delayed graduation by a semester in order to participate in the program.

4. Where will I live while in Chile?
The CTIO REU/PIA program is hosted at the AURA recinto (compound) in La Serena, Chile. The program       provides subsidized housing at casa #13 on the recinto. Generally, this means a private room, although due to space considerations, some students are asked to share. The rent is between $300 - $350 dollars per month depending on the U.S. Dollar/Chilean Peso exchange rate.

5. Can I get college credit for the REU/PIA program?
In principle, yes, and credit has been awarded before. However, each university is different, so this question must be addressed on a case by case basis.

6. What about medical insurance for REUers?
Unfortunately, the CTIO REU program cannot afford to provide medical insurance for its students. However, we STRONGLY encourage all students to have international coverage for the duration of the program. If you currently do not have any insurance coverage, we recommend imglobal.com which offers low rates of $50 - $300 usd for decent coverage for the duration of the program, depending on the specific riders selected.

7. The CTIO REU program is from Jan. to Mar.? I can't miss classes then. Are there other student programs?
Not officially. However, if you have an interesting project in mind and there is funding available through a third party, we try to be accommodating.

8. I'm not sure if I should apply, I am only a sophomore...
While most of the students selected tend to be Juniors/Seniors, the selection committee is usually looking for a diverse mix of students, so we always advise anyone who is interested to apply. At worse, you won't be selected,  but in doing so you  introduce yourself to the committee, which is generally a positive thing for the next round of applications. Apply!

9. Yay! I got accepted. Can I stay in Chile for a few weeks after the end of the program?
Absolutely! In fact, we would be disappointed if you didn't. Of course, you will be asked to pay any additional costs incurred because of your lengthened stay.

10. Where can I find a link to the activities calendar? How about here?