CS undergraduate Nico Deshler talking to EECS Chair James Demmel about his sensor array project at the 2018 SUPERB/URISE REU poster session

Summer Undergraduate Program in Engineering Research at Berkeley (SUPERB)

The goal of the SUPERB Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program in EECS is to prepare and motivate a group of diverse, competitive candidates for graduate study. Our research focus is collecting and using Big Data for the public good.

SUPERB participants spend nine weeks at UC Berkeley during the summer working on exciting ongoing research projects focused on Big Data with EECS faculty mentors and graduate students. Students who participate in this research apprenticeship explore options for graduate study, gain exposure to a large research-oriented department, and are motivated to pursue graduate study.

SUPERB participants receive a $4,500 stipend, room and board on campus in the International House, and up to $600 for travel expenses.

SUPERB is funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site Program.

Principle Investigator: Professor James Demmel, Chair, Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

At a Glance

  • Apply now!
  • Program dates: June 9 - August 10, 2019
  • Application deadline: January 31, 2019
  • Challenging 9-week research experience in engineering for juniors and seniors
  • Research guided by faculty mentors and graduate students
  • Weekly presentations by researchers
  • Lab tours, Industry field trip and graduate school advising
  • $4,500 stipend, housing, meals and $600 travel allowance provided

REU Theme

The UC Berkeley Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) CISE REU site focuses on SUPERB-Collecting and Using Big Data for the Public Good. 

The widespread and growing availability of vast amounts of real-time data presents both a tremendous opportunity to improve our understanding of the world and make better automated decisions, as well as a great technical challenge to collect, communicate and process this data efficiently and reliably. The Collecting and Using Big Data for the Public Good theme includes a range of research projects such as collecting data using better sensor networks; to more efficiently communicating it wirelessly; to using it for better robotic interactions; better image processing, and preventing nuclear war.  This research theme presents a basic opportunity for undergraduates to get involved in new research that combines intellectual merit and technical opportunities with very broad impact: the possibility of addressing a multitude of societal problems that can be examined by collecting and using big data while inspiring students to dedicate themselves to this work


Research Areas

Here is a subset of the EECS' research areas that align with the SUPERB 2017 theme Collecting and Using Big Data for the Public Good:

Apply

When sending application sections to the various email addresses provided, please include the name of the student followed by the file content in the file name (see examples below).  The cumulative size of the attachments for each message cannot exceed 80MB.

The SUPERB Application consists of the following (the example applicant is named Jane Doe):

  1. Fill out the online application
  2. A Resume or CV file named  firstname lastname.resume (e.g. jane doe.resume) email to: resumes.7bklgv7jdlacdtf0@u.box.com
  3. 2 Letters of Recommendation with recommendation forms (see below) named  firstname lastname.LOR (e.g. jane doe.LOR) sent to the following email address by January 31, 2019: recomme.ijubrlsvr0vjr8mn@u.box.com
  4. A Transcript named firstname lastname.transcript (e.g. jane doe.transcript) emailed to: transcr.62ionnawvrek5f6o@u.box.com (Unofficial transcripts are acceptable, however, if selected you will be asked to provide official copies of your transcripts)

Deadline is January 31, 2019. However, students may be accepted on a rolling basis so please apply early.

The program is open to U.S Citizens or permanent residents who are rising juniors or seniors and have completed some upper division course work in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS).  A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required with upward trends in grades being preferable. The program is open to students with or without prior research experience.

SUPERB, Audrey Sillers
University of California, Berkeley
203 Cory Hall #1770
Berkeley, CA 94720

Applicants will be notified of their status by the end of March 2019.

Recommendation Letters

You are required to to obtain two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a faculty member.  These letters of recommendation should be received by the department no later than January 31, 2019.

Instructions for Recommenders:  You must download and fill out the Recommendation Form (replace "applicantname" in the file name with the applicant's name) to send along with your letter of recommendation.  On letterhead, please write candidly about the applicant and include information such as the student's academic success, qualifications and potential for conducting research.  Please email your letter of recommendation along with the corresponding form to: recomme.ijubrlsvr0vjr8mn@u.box.com

Letters should be received by January 31, 2019

Contact

Audrey Sillers
University of California, Berkeley
203 Cory Hall #1770
Berkeley, CA 94720-1770
Tel: (510) 664-7181
araya@eecs.berkeley.edu