Please Read ...
Please read all the way through this. There are often many logistical questions so we address them here. University of Rochester students should read this too!
Remember that the University is smoke free in and around all buildings. There are a couple of designated places to smoke.
The Physics REU orientation meeting is in Bausch & Lomb 266 at 9:30am.
Travel
Travel will be organized by the Kearns Center for non-UR students. It is OK if you travel to Rochester from one airport and return to a different airport. Sometimes one travels directly from school and then returns home.
Health Insurance
Proof of health insurance coverage and immunizations is required for ALL non-UR students. The Kearns Center will email about the process for non-UR students.
Stipends for non-UR students
The process for payment is 5 checks - end of May, middle and end of June and July. The Kearns Center will guide you about setup of direct deposit once your are in the human resources/payroll system. It is essential that you provide your SSN to the Kearns Center as part of your on-boarding as UR payroll requires direct deposit as the form of payment for each student's stipend checks. Be prepared to input your bank account routing number as well as the account number.
Food Preferences/Allergies
Gluten free? Food allergy? Vegan? Please send an email to reu@mail.pas.rochester.edu so we can arrange accommodations.
Responsible Conduct of Research
This is a requirement by the National Science Foundation to the University and must be completed by everyone (even if you have done this at another institution). You must send proof of completion to reu@mail.pas.rochester.edu for the files. The University must be in compliance. (The link to the details is on the Forms page.) This whole process takes less than 20 minutes.
There is also a document HANDY DETAILS on the Forms/Resources page that might answer some frequently asked questions.
Parking
A parking permit is required to park anywhere on campus between the hours of 7:30 am and 7:00 pm Monday-Friday. We will pay for your parking permit for the duration of the program if you are living on campus and keeping a car here for the summer. Parking is free on holidays (Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and July 4th). If you are commuter, we will also pay for your commuter permit. If you are driving to campus and not keeping a car here for the summer, you will need to pay for a daily parking permit at the information booth on Wilson Blvd.; we will reimburse you for this. Parking does patrol and ticket several times a day. The daily permits must be displayed on the dashboard of your car. Long term permits are registered through your license plate and requires no physical pass.
If you have a car on campus – even as a commuter, it would be appreciated if you offer to drive those in the dorm for errands and outings. Some UR shuttles that usually operate during the academic year do NOT run in the summer. There is a UR bus (the Green Line) that does continuous loop to the nearby Target, Walmart, and Wegmans grocery store on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (5:30 - 9:00 pm) and Saturday afternoons (2:00 - 9:00 pm).
If you are driving to campus and staying in the dorm, remember to bring as much stuff as possible because some of those staying in the dorm will travel by plane to Rochester so cannot bring many essentials such as cooking (in a microwave) and eating supplies, power-strip, bedding for XL twin bed, towels. We have several towels, blankets and coat hangers among other items that students have used in previous summers; they are clean and in storage. We will try to have some bins in one of the program dorm rooms in case something is helpful.
Dorm/Housing Info
The Kearns Center will contact those in the dorm in April.
For the summer 2026, the Physics REU housing location is Crosby Hall and Susan B. Anthony Hall.
Check-in hours and dates and location are handled by the Kearns Center.
If you arrive late try contacting a fellow participant and call UR Public Safety at 585-275-3333 and they can get you into the dorm and bedroom until you can get your keys the following day. We will email the contact information and room assignments for the Physics group to everyone before the program starts.
Laundry is free in the dorms.
If NOT a University of Rochester student:
Wireless access in dorm AND for research: There is free wifi on campus; you can connect to 'UR_Connected' by using your NetID username and password to log in. If you are affiliated with an institution that uses Eduroam then you can connect via that wireless network.
ATHLETICS Membership Once you have your UR student ID card 'in hand' you will be able to access the Goergen Athletic Center by swiping your UR ID card. If you are unable to access the facilities please email reu@mail.pas.rochester.edu.