Logistics

Program dates

UC Davis follows a quarter calendar. As a result, we cannot host summer researchers until approximately June 20th. We also recognize that most colleges and universities in the US follow a semester calendar, with the academic year beginning approximately August 15th. Therefore, to maximize the time available for research, we divide our program into academic year and summer components.

Academic year component

field work — Ecological research in the field. Photo credit: Cara Allen

We expect that scholars admitted to the 4EC REU will begin to interact with their mentors via monthly videoconferences beginning in March. They will use these meetings to become acquainted with each other, the research project, and scientific literature surrounding the project. These informal interactions will help to decrease start-up time in the summer.

Summer component

Exact program start and end dates will vary slightly each year, but you can expect that the 4EC REU will run from about mid June to mid August.

Coronavirus protocols

The 4EC REU will follow all UC Davis, city, county, and state policies for Coronavirus safety, including in laboratories, fieldwork, and residence halls and dining.

Housing and Meals

Residence hall room — Room in Yosemite Hall. Photo credit: Greg Urquiaga/UC Davis

Scholars in the 4EC REU will stay in residence halls at UC Davis. The scholars' building will be dedicated to summer undergraduate researchers and conference attendees.

Accommodations include a full meal plan, linens and laundry facilities, a small refrigerator and microwave combination in each room. Scholars also can purchase a pass for access to UC Davis' recreation facilities.

We also provide a supplementary meal card that allows swipes at other campus eateries, including the ASUCD CoffeeHouse, food trucks, and other venues, and a small stipend for meals eaten off campus.

Transportation

We will provide round trip transportation to Davis, with details to be arranged between admitted scholars and 4EC staff.

people standing next to bikes — June 2023: Scholars from five life science research programs, ready to roll for their first bike ride around campus

For local transportation: we will provide all 4EC REU scholars with a bike, bike light, U-lock, helmet, and instruction in safe cycling and getting around Davis (yes, every year, our cohorts include cycling newbies. It will be fine.)

We regret that we cannot pay for campus parking permits.

Stipend

We view 4EC as an immersive program that will preclude other summer employment during the program. All scholars will receive a stipend of $5,150 for the eight-week program.

Campus treasures

Sheep grazing outside a UC Davis building — Sheepmowers as sketched by Pete Scully. All rights reserved.

While perhaps not unique as individual items, this amalgamated collection certainly is...unusual.

We have bikes (duh).

The university hangs hammocks on the Quad.

Many colleges have campus cats. But only the UC Davis Physics Department has Cheeto, with devoted followers who maintain his presence on social media with daily updates.

Pete Scully, the manager of the Department of Statistics is recognizable and well known hereabouts for his prowess as an urban sketcher (although he's a whizbang administrator too). He spends his lunch hour out on campus and downtown, drawing scenes from Davis, including another campus treasure, the UC Davis Sheepmowers.