NSF REU Program

Student Profile Emily Hamburg Materials Engineering '08 "Over the summer of 2004 and continuing into the following autumn, I worked for Dr. Boerio in the Chemical & Materials Engineering Department. During my
freshman year, the departmental introductory classes had given us several opportunities to see different labs and observe and conduct a few simple experiments. It was quite an experience to work in one of these labs the summer directly after my freshman year."

NSF funds a large number of research opportunities for undergraduate students through its Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. The REU program seeks to expand student participation in all kinds of research - whether disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or educational in focus - encompassing efforts by individual investigators, groups, centers, national facilities, and others. The program seeks to attract a diversified pool of talented students into careers in science and engineering and to help ensure that they receive the best education possible.

The REU program features two program areas, the REU Sites program and the REU Supplement program.

The NSF funds students interested in undergraduate research are through its REU Sites program. An REU Site consists of a group of ten or so undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution. Each student is associated with a specific research project, where he/she works closely with the faculty and other researchers. Students are granted stipends and, in many cases, assistance with housing and travel. Undergraduate students supported with NSF funds must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its possessions. An REU Site may be at either a US or foreign location.

Faculty interested in participating in the NSF REU program may request an REU Supplement which may be included within a proposal for a new or renewal NSF grant or cooperative agreement or as a supplement to an ongoing NSF-funded project. An REU Supplement request is handled by the NSF program officer for the underlying research grant.

To learn more about the NSF REU program, please click here. To learn more about current REU opportunities in the UC Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, please click on the corresponding navigation link.