Advanced Materials Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

The University of California San Diego MRSEC Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program provides full-time summer undergraduate research opportunities at the forefront of materials science and engineering.  Participants in our highly collaborative and interdisciplinary program, which focuses on predictive assemblies and engineered living materials, will be fully immersed in the research laboratories of the MRSEC faculty from 4 departments across campus (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Chemical & Nano Engineering, Physics), as they engage in projects with a focus in either or both experiment and theory.

NSF-REU MRSEC students can expect to be: 1) exposed to the grand challenges in the field of materials science; 2) trained in computational, nanotechnological, and biological methods aimed at making new materials; and 3) provided mentoring and academic/professional development opportunities, including the potential to produce publishable research and participate in professional conferences.

Program Details: REU participants will be integrated into the concurring Research Immersion in Materials Science and Engineering (RIMSE) Summer Schools. Focused on materials science research in topics of interest to the UC San Diego MRSEC, each of the three RIMSE Summer Schools are run by MRSEC faculty who serve as senior mentors and/or instructors. Each RIMSE begins with an intensive training in theory, techniques and laboratory methods, and includes  a capstone “Discovery Project”—an independent research project implemented by the trainee in a small team and under the mentorship of a current UC San Diego MRSEC researcher. Though each Summer School runs its own topical curriculum, they share common activities including:

• Training on several of the key analytical instruments used in materials science (in the MRSEC Materials Characterization Facility).
• “Pathways” luncheon seminars given by academic, industry, and government laboratory scientists that give insights into STEM career paths.
• Professional development workshops (research safety, research ethics, science communication, information literacy, graduate school/career preparation).
• Team building activities including nature hikes, beach days, and a kayak tour of the La Jolla cove.
• A final projects day oral presentation at the UC San Diego Summer Research Conference (SRC).

Each school emphasizes different research aspects related to the MRSEC, including soft materials and biomaterials, self-assembled materials, and computational design, and they share a set of core training elements focused on: research-critical instrumentation (electron microscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, x-ray and electron diffraction methods); integration of computational methods; critical laboratory safety and the safe handling of chemical, biological, and nanotechnological hazards; and research ethics.

Duration: June 22- Aug. 14, 2026 (8 weeks). Trainees will have the option to extend their paid laboratory research participation by up to 2 weeks (10 weeks maximum).

Programming: Extensive training and mentoring (by faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students) in cutting-edge materials science research is accompanied by weekly research seminars, industrial field trips, biweekly professional development workshops (safety and research ethics, science communication, information literacy, graduate school preparation), and social networking/recreation.

Expectations: Full-time commitment to extensive lab work and engagement in program activities, including presentation at UC San Diego’s Summer Undergraduate Research Conference in mid-August.

Support: $600/week stipend (stipend includes allowance for meals). The program additionally provides on-campus housing and reimbursement of travel expenses up to $500.

2026  Application open on October 25, 2025