REU Site Program on Applications of Microscopy and Microanalysis
This REU site program is complete as of Summer 2023. The impact, goals and past participants of this site can be viewed on this page.
This REU Site program focused on the applications of microscopy and microanalysis in multidisciplinary research and provided opportunities for undergraduate students to participate in cutting-edge research projects. The participant recruitment was emphasized on underrepresented minorities, women, veterans of the US armed forces, students with disabilities, and nontraditional students.
This summer program allowed students to engage in research work in a multidisciplinary environment while training them in microscopy and microanalysis techniques for materials characterization. The goal of the program was to provide research opportunities to students who do not have access to advanced research facilities at their home institutions and teach them research skills and enhance their confidence to pursue advanced degrees and research careers in science and engineering fields.
For the REU summer program, participants received a $4,000 stipend and engaged in eight weeks of full-time research, which included a week-long training course at the beginning of the program and practical seminars throughout the program. There were weekly group meetings for participants to connect with one another and share their research, as well as a field trip to visit several local high-tech companies such as Thermo Fisher Company, Intel, and Nike In-house Manufacturing. Participants gave a formal research project presentation at the end of the summer program during the REU Symposium and wrote a research paper for possible publication.