RIMSE Summer Schools: Training Opportunities for Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Post-Graduate Trainees, High School Students, K-12 Educators, Visiting Scholars, and Researchers from Industry, Government, and National Laboratories.

Summer 2027 information and updates coming soon!

What is RIMSE? RIMSE stands for Research Immersion in Materials Science and Engineering. Sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation as part of the UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), the RIMSE Summer Schools are immersive, hands-on courses meant to prepare trainees to work in Materials Science and Materials Engineering research laboratories.  They generally run for 8 to 10-weeks each summer on the UC San Diego campus. The UC San Diego MRSEC currently runs three RIMSE schools: Summer School for Silicon Nanotechnology (SSSiN), Summer School for Quantum Metamaterials (SSQMM) and Summer School for Chemical Superlattices (SSCS)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who can participate in RIMSE? The RIMSE schools are unique in that they blend researchers from a wide range of backgrounds and educational levels - your team may include local high school students, undergraduate students (including incoming UC San Diego transfer students and REU students), graduate students (including incoming UC San Diego PhD and MS program students), post-doctoral trainees, k-12 teachers (through the RET program), and visiting international scholars, industry researchers, or government laboratory researchers (through the Researcher in Residence program). The UC San Diego MRSEC does not consider race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories as part of the application and selection process of any programs or initiatives.

What are the Program Elements of RIMSE? Focused on materials science research in topics of interest to the UC San Diego MRSEC, each of the 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, a San Diego Padres baseball game, and a kayak tour of the La Jolla cove.
  • A final projects day (oral presentation at the UC San Diego Summer Research Conference or a poster presentation).

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.

Dates: In Summer 2026, the RIMSE summer schools will run from Monday, June 22 through Friday, August 14, 2026 (8 weeks). Trainees have the option to extend their laboratory research participation for longer periods either before or after the formal training program, depending on the particular Summer School and participant category.

Expectations of Participants: Full-time commitment to immersive lab work and engagement in program activities (Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm), including presentation at the UC San Diego Summer Research Conference (SRC) in mid-August.

Application: The different participant categories have different application processes (see below). The deadlines vary by participant category. In addition to completing a registration form, you will be asked to select a RIMSE school (and potential MRSEC faculty mentor) that best fits your interests, and to submit the following application materials:

  • Personal Statement
  • CV/Resume
  • Current Transcript (if applicable)
  • 2 Letters of Reference - It is recommended that you seek out academic recommenders (university/college faculty members, rather than your RA or your high school coach) who in their letters can address your accomplishments, skills, knowledge, scholarly dedication and suitability for undergraduate research. Be sure to contact recommenders at least 3-4 weeks in advance of the application deadline. Send thank you notes once recommendation letters have been submitted and follow up to let your recommenders know the outcome of your application. 

Participant Categories and Application Links:

Summer Funding:

The UC San Diego MRSEC has state- and federally-sponsored programs, as well as partnerships with various institutions, that help support select participants. Funded participants receive a stipend, summer housing, and travel reimbursement. These funding details will be clearly detailed in a participant’s RIMSE Program Acceptance Letter. Please be sure to review these terms carefully prior to accepting an offer.

Since not all participant categories have guaranteed funding, we encourage applicants to reach out to their respective institutions and degree-granting departments to seek funding opportunities for summer research. See below under “Alternative Funding” for more information.

2026-27 AY Application Deadlines and Funding Opportunities by Student Status
The application window opens Monday, October 26, 2026.

Student Status Funding Available? Application Deadline Decisions by
Undergraduate student currently enrolled at North Carolina A&T and CSU-Long Beach Yes Fri, Dec 4, 2026 End of December
Undergraduate student currently enrolled at UC San Diego  Yes, but variable Fri, Jan 15, 2027 End of February
Undergraduate transfer student admitted to UC San Diego for Fall 2027 Yes, but variable Fri, Apr 30, 2027 Mid-May
Undergraduate student currently enrolled at all other institutions (NSF-REU) Yes, but variable Fri, Jan 15, 2027 End of February
MS or PhD students Yes, but variable International: Fri, Jan 29, 2027
All others: Fri, Apr 30, 2027		 End of May
High School students No Fri, Feb 26, 2027 End of March

Student Status Eligibility Requirements:

  • Undergraduate Students must be currently enrolled full-time at a 2-year or 4-year undergraduate institution at the time of application and for at least one term after Summer 2027 (i.e., will receive a Bachelor’s degree [or equivalent] no earlier than Fall 2027).
    • Undergraduate student currently enrolled at North Carolina A&T and CSU Long Beach: Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled at North Carolina A&T or CSU Long Beach.
    • Undergraduate student currently enrolled at UC San Diego: Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled at UC San Diego.
    • Undergraduate transfer student admitted to UC San Diego for Fall 2027: Must be an undergraduate transfer student admitted to UC San Diego for Fall 2027.
    • Undergraduate student currently enrolled at all other institutions (NSF-REU): Must be an undergraduate student currently enrolled at all other institutions (excludes North Carolina A&T, CSU Long Beach, and UC San Diego students). Must also be a US citizen, US national, or US permanent resident. Students on temporary visas (such as F-1 or J-1 student visas) are not eligible.
  • Graduate students must be either enrolled in a MS or PhD program (or equivalent) at the time of application or be an incoming MS or PhD student admitted to UC San Diego for Fall 2027.
  • High school students must be enrolled at a local high school at the time of application and be at least 14 years of age by the start of the program in June 2027. Students who are not local to San Diego are required to identify a legal guardian who will house them in San Diego for the duration of the program, as our program does not provide housing options for high school students.

If you do not fit into one of these funding categories or have any general questions, feel free to reach out to us at mrsec@ucsd.edu.

Alternate Funding: There is no charge for participation in the RIMSE program. However, participants must have their own support for travel, living expenses, health insurance, and foreign participants must cover any applicable visa fees. For participants needing support for travel, housing, and other living expenses who do not fit into any of the funding categories listed above, the UC San Diego MRSEC coordinates with a number of programs that might provide full or partial support for your participation in RIMSE:

  • The Student Success Center: Summer Program for Undergraduate Research in Science (SPURS), previously the Undergraduate Summer Research Award, program supports summer research activities for UC San Diego Undergraduate Students that can be used to support your participation in RIMSE. This competitive program (from June 22nd to August 31st) allows undergraduate students to submit a proposal, in collaboration with a faculty member, for a $7,500 stipend to support their summer research experience. This program is open to all undergraduate students majoring in the Physical Sciences (Astronomy and Astrophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics). Students applying are required to work with a faculty member within the Physical Sciences to develop a research proposal and get that faculty member’s endorsement of the proposal. Please reach out to a MRSEC IRG Project or Seed Project Faculty to work up a suitable project and application. MRSEC RIMSE leadership can provide a letter of support, if needed (2026 APPLICATION LINK).
  • NETPORE organization: NETPORE is a European Union-funded COST (Cooperation in Science and Technology) action that supports research and education in porous semiconductors and oxides. NETPORE partners with the UC San Diego MRSEC for research exchange activities involving the various faculty involved in NETPORE and their students.
  • MSCA Staff Exchanges via the EU's 2023 HORIZON-MSCA-2023-SE-01 "Program-Material" project: This is a European Union-funded Horizon Europe project, under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions grant No. 101182883 that supports research and education in DNA nanotechnology, materials chemistry, tumor biology, bio-nano interactions, biomedical imaging, and computational modeling. PROGRAM-MATERIAL partners with the UC San Diego MRSEC for research exchange activities involving the various faculty involved and their students.
  • RIMSE Summer Graduate Fellowships: Students entering the MS or PhD programs in departments allied with the UC San Diego MRSEC (Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Nanoengineering, or Physics), and who have interests in joining a MRSEC-funded research lab for their graduate studies, are granted Research Assistantship stipends and assistance with on-campus housing for the summer prior to the commencement of their graduate studies. Anyone accepted into the PhD or MS programs of the the above listed departments is eligible, though the number of these summer fellowships is limited and the prospective RIMSE participant must be nominated by one of the MRSEC faculty. If you are interested, please engage with a MRSEC faculty member whose research interests are most aligned with your interests, and request that they submit a letter of nomination to the MRSEC RIMSE program leadership. Your graduate school application serves as your application to the RIMSE program, so you need not submit an additional application. However, you must submit a letter of intent to participate, and your MRSEC faculty member must submit a letter of nomination on your behalf.  The number of RIMSE Summer Graduate Fellowships is limited; early application is encouraged.
  • UC San Diego Undergraduate Research Hub: The UC San Diego Undergraduate Research Hub maintains links to numerous programs that support summer research activities and that can be used to support your participation in RIMSE. Most of the programs described at the above links require an application that proposes the research project on which you will be working. You are encouraged to engage with one of the MRSEC IRG Project or Seed Project Faculty to work up a suitable project and application. MRSEC RIMSE leadership can provide a letter of support, if needed.

RIMSE Summer Schools are coordinated with UC San Diego MS and PhD programs:
Chemistry | Chemical & Nanoengineering | Physics | Electrical & Computer Engineering | Materials Science & Engineering

If you have questions, please contact mrsec@ucsd.edu

UC San Diego MRSEC RIMSE Summer Schools flyer

2027 RIMSE Summer Schools:

Summer School for Silicon Nanotechnology

Nanoscale silicon materials
The intellectual focus of this RIMSE Summer School is on preparing, characterizing, and exploiting the properties of photonic crystals, thin films, nanoparticles, and quantum dots prepared from mesoporous silicon. Technological touchstones for these materials include nanomedicine, drug delivery systems, chemical sensors, biosensors, in vivo imaging, taggants, batteries, photovoltaics, and thermoelectric devices. Led by Professor Michael Sailor, the course provides training on synthesis and characterization of these materials. If you have questions about the RIMSE Summer School on Silicon Nanotechnology, please contact Professor Michael Sailor

Summer School for Quantum Metamaterials

description coming soon!

Summer School for Chemical Superlattices

description coming soon!

RIMSE not a good fit for you?

Check out some of UC San Diego's other summer programs that pursue research in materials science: