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Rice University Quantum Institute - Michael Viray - Summer 2014
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Rice Quantum Institute Applied Physics REU Program (Summer 2014)

Name: Michael Viray

Location: Houston, Texas

Website: http://rqi.rice.edu/reu/ 

Stipend/compensation: $4200 stipend + $1175 Tetra points (meal plan dollars; similar to Plus Dollars) + up to $600 to cover travel costs

Number of students: 13 (9 guys, 4 girls)

Housing: We were lodged in Wiess College, one of the undergraduate residential colleges at Rice University. The dorm is about a ten minute walk from the physics building. Wiess has fourperson suites, with some suites having single rooms and some having double rooms. There are two communal kitchens (which we didn’t use very often). The South Servery (the dining hall we ate most of our meals at) is right next to Wiess.

Application Requirements: Application (general information), two recommendation letters, essay, unofficial transcript

Application Deadline: mid-February

Projects: The projects in this program covered a wide range of scientific fields, from AMO physics to materials science to biochemistry. My project was within AMO physics. My job was to analyze and create a manual for a saturated absorption spectroscopy cell, a device used in ultracold atom experiments. Other projects examined carbon nanotubes, terahertz radiation, and even cancer cells. Examples of projects can be seen here, in the past programs: http://rqi.rice.edu/colloquium/ 

Each student had one mentor and one assigned graduate student to work with, though I wound up working with all of the grad students in my group. My mentor was Tom Killian, the chair of the physics department at Rice.

Social Events: There were several REU-sponsored social activities. We visited the Johnson Space Center, went to a Houston Astros game, and went to laser tag, just to name a few of the sponsored activities. We also did several social activities that were not REU-sponsored. We visited The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and the Houston Museum of Natural Science, both of which are within walking distance of Rice and offer free admission to anyone with a valid Rice ID. We also went to free outdoor symphonies in Hermann Park, a large public park also within walking distance of Rice. A bunch of us went to Austin for Fourth of July weekend, which is about two and a half hours west of Houston.

General Impressions: Overall, this was a fantastic program. I became good friends with the other participants in the REU, especially my suitemates. Speaking of other participants, it was cool meeting people from all over the country. Ten different states were represented among the thirteen of us (Virginia, Tennessee, New Jersey, New York, Texas, California, Nevada, Arkansas, Illinois, and Missouri; I was the only Virginian). I was also very happy that the project I was assigned matched my interests, though this wasn’t necessarily the case for everybody. I particularly enjoyed working with Tom Killian and his graduate students, who provided plenty of expertise and support. Houston in a great city with lots of things to do, but it is not very pedestrian friendly. Looking back, I wish I had brought my car instead of flying out there. Also, the heat and humidity of Houston are rough the first week, but you get used to it.

Best Places to Eat near Rice

Lovett Hall, Rice University

Brockman Hall, Rice University

Me at the Rice Quantum Institute Symposium

Extra Credit: If you are 21+, be sure to check out Valhalla, one of the on-campus bars at Rice. Valhalla is run by grad students, is very close to the physics building, and has insanely low prices (95¢ drafts, $2 craft bottles). Just don’t go there wearing a necktie (you’ll find out why).