Welcome to the 2008 Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program in Computer Science and Engineering!

Multidisciplinary Research in Computing

Co-Directors: Professors Caroline M. Eastman and John B. Bowles

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Carolina is pleased to announce its Research Experiences for Undergraduates Fellowship Program for 2008. This program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Interns in the program will have the opportunity to conduct research in an academic setting using state-of-the-art computational facilities under the direction of faculty mentors. A number of special events including seminars, workshops, visits to local industries, and socials are planned throughout the summer. The experience will help participants learn to work in a multidisciplinary setting while developing professional research skills. It will also provide a comptetitive edge for graduate school applications and the job market.

Research Areas

Our program focuses on two primary research areas:

Computer Security and Information Assurance

Software Engineering

Summer 2008 Details

June 1 - July 26, 2008
8-week stipend of $3,600
Free on-campus housing (apartment style)
Travel expenses up to $500
Open to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents

Important Documents for Current Students

Project Ideas for 2008

• Develop a robotic simulator framework to support K-12 robotics competitions
  • Mentor: Dr. John B. Bowles
• Educational Software Packages for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) XO Laptop
  • Mentor: Dr. Duncan Buell
• Analyze REU Publication Venues and Practices
  • Mentor: Dr. Caroline M. Eastman
• Develop a computer-based Culturally Relevant Design Tool for sweetgrass basket weaving
  • Mentor: Dr. Caroline M. Eastman
• Develop tools to handle ambiguity in web searches
  • Mentor: Dr. Caroline M. Eastman
• Formal Methods for Security Analysis
  • Mentor: Dr. Csilla Farkas
• Building Robust Software out of Intelligent Agents
  • Mentor: Dr. Michael Huhns
• Robotics Project using iRobot Create Robots
  • Mentor: Dr. Jason O'Kane
• Educational Computer Game Design
  • Mentor: Dr. Jijun Tang
• Use of Bayesian Networks, small logical knowledge bases, and ontologies to support information analysis
  • Mentor: Dr. Marco Valtorta
• WiFi Network Testing in Extreme Conditions
  • Mentor: Dr. Wenyuan Xu

Campus Information

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of South Carolina occupies one third of the Swearingen Engineering Center, a state of the art facility located in downtown Columbia. Swearingen is one of over 175 buildings on the university's 290 acre campus. The Campus as A Work of Art puts USC's campus among the twenty-five most beautiful college campuses in the nation. Columbia is strategically located in the center of South Carolina, within a two-hour drive of the South Carolina Beaches (e.g., Historic Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head), and the North Carolina Mountains (e.g. Asheville, Smokey Mountain National Park). Columbia is home to Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens and the South Carolina Aquarium is located in the Charleston Harbour. Walking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking are all within minutes of the city center and Lake Murray is only 15 miles to the west.

Previous Summers

Summer 2004
Summer 2005
Summer 2006
Summer 2007

Photos from Previous Summers

2004	2005	2006
2007

REU Program Administrative Coordinator

Please contact Kimberly Yonce for general questions regarding the application process and administrative details of the REU Program: