Undergraduate Research

Scientific Cloud Computing
The Cooperative Computing Lab invites outstanding undergraduates to apply for summer research positions in scientific cloud computing at the University of Notre Dame. We create computer systems that allow many people to cooperate in the solution of problems that are too large for any single machine or person to attack. Using our testbed of 800 cores at Notre Dame, students will work with software and develop new techniques for managing computations that harness hundreds of machines at once. These tools are used to attack problems in disciplines such as high energy physics, organic chemistry, biometrics, and bioinformatics.

We strongly encourage applications from women and minorities that are not well represented in computer science. We also encourage applications from students at regional colleges and universities. A summer research position is a great way to develop your skills and prepare for graduate school. This program will accept two to four applicants that will live and work along side about twenty other REU students working on different research programs in our department.

Applicants must be enrolled in a computer science or closely related degree program. Some skill in one of the existing areas below is helpful, but not required.

Summer 2010 Focus Areas

  • Green Cloud Computing. Help to build the software and systems that drive the Notre Dame Green Cloud, a novel data center that reduces cost by using computers to heat the South Bend Greenhouse. We need students to work on building cloud services, deploying cloud applications, and measuring and managing energy.
    Relevant Skills: Linux admin, virtual machines, grid computing, cloud computing, Eucalyptus, Condor.

  • Web Portals for Scientific Computing. Science of all kinds -- physics, biology, sociology, you name it -- in increasingly done on computers. Help to advance scientific discovery by applying web technologies to that make it easy to harness clouds and grids at the touch of a button. Contribute to our various science portals, including Biocompute, BXGrid, and GRAND.
    Relevant Skills: HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, Perl, SQL

  • Languages and Environments for Distributed Computing. You know how to write a program that runs on one computer, but how do you write a program that harnesses thousands? Using conventional languages, it isn't easy at all. Help us to design new abstractions and languages for distributed computing that make it easy to go distributed without a heroic effort.
    Relevant Skills: C, Unix, sockets, scripting, compilers.

    • Summer at Notre Dame

    Summer research students will be paid a stipend of $6000 for ten weeks during the summer term, 1 June 2010 - 6 August 2010. Students must register for a zero-credit (no fee) course, which gives access to campus resources such as housing, computing, libraries, and athletic facilites. The stipend should be used to pay for housing, meals, and other costs. Students may choose any housing on or off campus, but are welcome to take advantage of on campus housing in order to meet other students involved in REU programs.

    The Notre Dame campus is a wonderful place to live during the summer. The campus is full of students in summer courses and programs. The city of South Bend offers museums and cultural activities, outdoor concerts and festivals, and a variety of parks and natural areas along the St. Joseph River. Beyond the city, the South Shore Railway provides transportation to Lake Michigan and Indiana Dunes Park, and downtown Chicago, with easy access to museums, parks, and shopping.

    Students may bring a car to campus, but a car is not required. If you arrive by plane, train, or bus, we can arrange a pick up and drop off.

    Important Dates

  • 15 March 2010: Applications received by this date will be given first consideration.
  • 1 June 2010: First day of summer research term.
  • 6 August 2010: End of summer research term.

    • How to Apply

    Send an email with the title "REU Application" to dthain at nd dot edu, with the following attachments in PDF or DOC format:
  • Cover letter describing your interests and qualifications.
  • Current resume listing education, experience, and skills.
  • Letter of recommendation from your faculty advisor or the professor of a class in which you have done excellent work.

    • For More Information...

  • Prof. Douglas Thain - dthain at nd dot edu
  • Cooperative Computing Lab - http://www.cse.nd.edu/~ccl
  • University of Notre Dame - http://www.nd.edu