Are you interested in undergraduate research or thinking about graduate study in engineering? The National Science Foundation provides opportunities for students to contribute to ongoing research projects through Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). REU participants generally receive a stipend, travel reinbursement, room and board, and worthwhile preparation for graduate school or industry.
REUs take place in universities and other research sites all over the world. The NSF lists all or these opportunities online here
Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER)
Participate in state-of-the-art research focused on the theme of Engineering Earthquake Resilient Communities. Recent earthquakes in the US and around the world have repeatedly shown that earthquake resilience is essential to building and sustaining urban communities. Earthquake resilience will play an increasingly important role in the professions associated with earthquake hazard mitigation, and the ten-week 2012 PEER Summer Internship Program will allow you to experience how many different engineering and social science disciplines interact to research the broad goal of earthquake resilient communities. During the summer of 2012, interns will be hosted at UC Berkeley, UC Davis and University of Washington to conduct research projects in the fields of structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and risk analysis. Each participant will receive a stipend of $7,000, intended to cover summer housing and travel expenses to the summer project location. PEER will provide additional compensation for travel to an Orientation Workshop at UC Berkeley and to the 2012 PEER Annual Meeting. For more information, visit: http://peer.berkeley.edu/education/internships.html
Application Deadline: February 21, 2012 at 8:00 am Pacific Time. Application review will begin on February 21 and continue on a rolling basis until all internships are awarded. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply before the February 21st deadline.
The SMART LIGHTING ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER (ERC) is an integrated research, education, and technology transfer center funded by the National Science Foundation and NYSTAR. The Center is developing technologies to revolutionize lighting that provides unparalleled benefits in energy conservation, human health and safety, and high speed information and access. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY is the lead institution for the Smart Lighting ERC, partnering with Boston University and the University of New Mexico. Each summer the ERC supports a 10-week research program for visiting undergraduate researchers who are valued members of one of multiple research groups within the Smart Lighting ERC. Participants have full use of Institute, departmental, and group facilities, including libraries, computer facilities, technical shops, recreational and sports facilities, and more.
Please visit http://smartlighting.rpi.edu/education/REU%20Details.shtml.for more information about the program and to apply. If you have questions, contact the program director, Elizabeth Herkenham at Herkee2@rpi.edu.
Application Deadline: February 29, 2012
Cornell University
The Cornell University 2012 LSAMP Summer Undergraduate Research Program is accepting applications! The program runs from June 3 to Aug. 8, 2012. CU LSAMP-R is a paid summer research opportunity that provides undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented minority groups in STEM with the opportunity to work with distinguished faculty and staff as well as network with others in their field of interest through weekly luncheons. Undergraduate students who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding in an engineering-related field will have the opportunity to conduct and present research over a ten-week duration under the auspices of a Cornell Engineering faculty research mentor.
Please visit http://www.engineering.cornell.edu/diversity/summer/lsamp.cfm for more information about the program and to apply.
Application deadline: March 1, 2012
University of Maryland - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Summer 2012 MERIT (Maryland Engineering Research Internships Teams) Program offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Our current REU Site Program is entitled BIEN, "Biosystems Internships for Engineers," which will provide summer research opportunities for 10 undergraduate students per year in the applications of electrical engineering (EE) to biosystems. BIEN students will spend ten weeks in the summer on campus, begining on May 29th, 2012, involved in research in small teams consisting of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty advisors. The BIEN program builds upon a solid track record of research innovation at the interface between electrical engineering and biology.
Please visit http://www.ece.umd.edu/MERIT for more information about the program and to apply. If you have questions, please contact eceadvise@umd.edu.
Application Deadline: March 1, 2012
Network for Earthquake Engineering Labs
The George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering (NEES) is pleased to offer unique opportunities this summer for outstanding undergraduate students to participate in state-of-the-art research at eight of the NEES laboratory sites (UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Oregon State, U. Nevada Reno, Illinois, Lehigh and Buffalo). Participants will work with faculty and graduate students on exciting NEES projects on topics ranging from tsunami driven debris to soil-foundation-structure-interaction to structural performance. The ten-week 2012 NEES REU Program will immerse undergraduate students in engineering analysis and laboratory experimentation, as well as introduce students to the benefits of continuing on to graduate studies. Students will also attend the 2012 NEES Annual Meeting in Boston in July and a Young Researchers Symposium at Stanford University in August.
Please visit http://nees.org/education/for-students/reu-program for more information about the program and to apply.
Application Deadline: March 5, 2012
University of Maine - Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology
During the Summer of 2012 the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the Laboratory for Surface Science and Technology (LASST) at the University of Maine will offer the opportunity for a limited number of highly qualified undergraduate students to participate in research under the guidance of various faculty in the area of sensor science and engineering. This program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, and awards the participating student a stipend of $800/week for a period of ten weeks. Students who live on campus will also be eligible for a subsistence award which will help defray expenses for lodging and meals. Six undergraduate credits will be awarded to the student for his/her undergraduate research participation. Women, minorities and/or handicapped are strongly urged to apply to the program. The website for the REU Sensor Science and Technology program is at:http://www.ece.umaine.edu/research/URP/
Interested students can apply online by following the application link; 10 Week Program: June 4 - August 10, 2012. Online Application: http://arch.eece.maine.edu/sensors/app/application.php
Application Deadline: March 12, 2012
University of South Florida - Sustainable Energy Alternatives and the Advanced Materials (SEAM)
The University of South Florida in Tampa, FL, announces summer research opportunities for qualified junior and senior undergraduate students and is now accepting applications. The program is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Students selected to participate in the program will work with faculty, share their experiences with fellow participants, attend seminars, acquire oral and written presentation skills, and learn how to conduct independent research.
The program provides exciting research opportunities. In order to achieve the stringent goals set forth by the Department of Energy, we will involve students in state-of-the-art interdisciplinary research projects in the fields of solar cell characterization, developing nanofibrous and nanospherical conducting polymeric materials for hydrogen storage to be used in mobile applications, renewable production of hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuel production, organic solar cell arrays for on-chip application, material development for super-capacitors and transparent conductive electrodes, and solar energy conversion. Students present final results at the USF NSF REU Research Day with other campus REU programs.
Students will spend 10-weeks in research groups performing research advised by faculty mentors and graduate students. REU participants will attend weekly research/professional development seminars, brown-bag student discussion sessions, social and community activities, and field trips. Students will be awarded a stipend of approximately $4500 inclusive of support for housing, meals and travel.
Eligibility: REU participants must be undergraduate students and must be citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States or its possessions.
Students will use University Housing, furnished with kitchen and living room and within walking distance of research laboratories. Students will receive a University ID for library privileges, university shuttle bus, recreational facilities and computer access. Housing costs are covered by the program. Students are advised to have their own private health insurance. The USF Health Center is also available for a $75 fee, not covered by the program.
Application Deadline: March 23, 2012
Virginia Tech - Bioprocess Engineering for Sustainability
Research areas include synthetic biology and metabilic/genetic engineerinf or biofuel and biochemical production, protein engineering for biopharmaceuticals, and sustainable biomaterials. Stipend is $4000 plus room and board. Application forms and program information can be found at: www.bse.vt.edu/reu
Application Deadline: March 23, 2012
University of Houston - Cullen School of Engineering
Nanotechnology; www.ugr.uh.edu/reu
Six weeks this summer performing nanotechnology research; $5000 stipend.
Application Deadline: March 26, 2012
University of Maine - Forest Bioproducts Research Institute
University of Maine's Forest Bioproducts Research Institute is involved in research works related to converting forest biomass into fuels, chemicals, and advanced materials in a sustainable manner. During the Summer of 2012 (6/4 to 8/10), the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute offers an opportunity for 10 highly qualified undergraduate students to participate in research for a 10 week period.
Please visit http://forestbioproducts.umaine.edu/students/reu/ for more information about the program and to apply. If you have questions, please contact Sheila Pendse, Program Development Associate, at sheila.pendse@umit.maine.edu.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2012
