================================================================================
BigDataX: from theory to practice in Big Data computing at eXtreme scales
REU: Research Experience for Undergraduate students Program 
Summer 2020: May 26th 2020 -- July 31st 2020
at Illinois Institute of Technology & University of Chicago in Chicago Illinois
http://datasys.cs.iit.edu/grants/BigDataX/2020/index.html  
================================================================================

The BigDataX program is a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site in 
Chicago Illinois. The program has five mentors at two institutions, the Illinois 
Institute of Technology and University of Chicago, with a variety of 
complementing expertise from theory to programming languages distributed systems, 
and databases; more information on potential projects can be found 
http://datasys.cs.iit.edu/grants/BigDataX/2020/index.html#Projects. More 
information can be found at the general BigDataX site at 
http://datasys.cs.iit.edu/grants/BigDataX/index.html. For more details about the 
summer activities, see the BigDataX Overview at 
http://datasys.cs.iit.edu/grants/BigDataX/bigdatax.pdf. To apply to the program, 
see the online application (deadline March 9th, 2020) at 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdELIEYVo4oFiSKkGidyIo5dUmJDVALwtDO4swT2o__03nCXA/viewform 
For eligibility requirements, see 
http://datasys.cs.iit.edu/grants/BigDataX/2020/index.html#Eligibility.
For more information, send email to bigdatax-group@iit.edu.

REU Mentors:
* Ioan Raicu (IIT) 
* Kyle Hale (IIT)
* Aaron J. Elmore (UChicago) 
* Kyle Chard (UChicago) 

Project Areas:
* Big Data Systems
* Data Management and Analytics
* Operating Systems and Computer Architecture
* Databases

Eligibility Requirements:
* Undergraduate student in Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering, or 
  related discipline at a US institution
* US citizen or permanent resident on or before May 26th, 2020
* Minimum GPA 3.0
* 2 recommendation forms (must be received by March 9th, 2020; submit to
  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSco2AgkAGjjrIitGHuJG3KMl2PMDnFLFQDP0kowIVfnzhC-TA/viewform

Important Dates:
* Application deadline: March 9th, 2020
* Recommendation forms deadline: March 9th, 2020
* Notification of decision: March 23rd, 2020
* Program starts: May 26th, 2020
* Program ends: July 31st, 2020

Program Highlights:
* Spend 10 weeks immersed in research on Big Data at either Illinois Institute 
  of Technology or University of Chicago
* Work on large scale distributed systems (e.g. Amazon AWS Cloud, Chameleon 
  Cloud, XSEDE Grid, Theta Supercomputer, Mystic)
* Prepare for graduate school
* Publish papers and attend international conferences
* Spend the summer in one of the greatest cities in the world, Chicago Illinois
* Finances (per summer):
  * $6000 stipend (taxable as income)
  * $500 relocation allowance for travel to and from the BigDataX site (minimum 
    of 50 miles away)
  * $500 travel funds to attend conference (e.g. IEEE/ACM Supercomputing/SC 2018) 
  * Housing and meal plan included on the IIT campus paid directly to IIT housing 
    (a $2200 value)

Online Application:
To apply to the program, please submit your complete online application by the 
March 9th 2020 deadline at 
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdELIEYVo4oFiSKkGidyIo5dUmJDVALwtDO4swT2o__03nCXA/viewform 
and letters to
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSco2AgkAGjjrIitGHuJG3KMl2PMDnFLFQDP0kowIVfnzhC-TA/viewform 
For any questions, please send email to bigdatax-group@iit.edu.