Undergraduate Research Opportunities

The goal of these summer research programs at Rice University is to provide students first-hand experience with cutting-edge research in a range of areas: Biology, Chemistry, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Geology, Physics, Statistics, and more.
These summer research experiences for undergraduates (REUs) are generally ten-week research-immersion internship programs at Rice University during summer 2022 that provide research interns full-time financial support and housing on campus for those who require it. Students need not have prior research experience to be considered for these summer research opportunities. Our mission is to recruit students who are looking for a first-time research experience. 

• Nanotechnology REU with a Focus on Community Colleges. This experience will introduce students to research, applications, and education and career opportunities in nanotechnology in an inclusive culture. Students will interact with Rice mentors who will guide them through program activities that include research methodology, presentations, and STEM industrial opportunities.
• Research and Leadership Enabling Discoveries (RLEAD) in Chemical Nanoscience. This is a summer internship program for underrepresented undergraduate minorities interested in chemical research. Formerly known as CRISP, it is hosted by the Rice Chemistry Department at Rice University. The program consists of 9 weeks of research and mentoring with a chemistry faculty member. Students will be placed in a research group that aligns with the student's chemical interest.
• Evolutionary Behavioral Genetics. The goal of this program is to provide students with first-hand experience in cutting-edge research in the evolutionary genetics of animal behavior. Students will participate by conducting experiments on fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), forming hypotheses about the evolution of behavior, reading papers from the scientific literature, and interacting with graduate students and faculty.
• Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT). By participating in NEWT, students will gain access to a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research team, learn about research in nanotechnology applied to water treatment, and build their professional network of peers, letter writers, and mentors. They will experience the world of scientific research in our labs and join our community of scientists and engineers.
• Planetary Habitability REU. This program will introduce students to complex, interconnected planet-scale systems by studying how the Earth becomes habitable. Research projects will explore the relationships between dynamic planetary processes and life by answering questions of how the Earth influences life and how life, in turn, modulates Earth’s own evolution. This program includes a week-long trip to the Western US. Majors from physics, chemistry, geology, environmental science, biology, computer science, or related fields are welcome to apply. 
• BioNetworks REU. Hosted by the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB), students in this REU will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge research needed to predict and analyze biological functions to understand complex biological phenomena, reprogram cells to perform new tasks, and prevent diseases. This program seeks to recruit students pursuing diverse majors in natural sciences and engineering.
• BioXFEL REU. Hosted by the IBB, students in this program will engage in hands-on research studying the structure, function and dynamics of protein molecules that make use of the new and powerful free electron X-ray laser facilities around the world. A trip to Stanford will be planned in the fall to present the students’ work at the annual users’ meeting. Majors from biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
• Summer Cardiovascular Research Internship Program (SCRIP). Hosted by the IBB, this program seeks to recruit students pursuing diverse majors with an interest in cardiovascular health to solve significant problems of relevance to heart disease and stroke patients. Students pursuing degrees in natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences are welcome to apply. International students and DACA students are also encouraged to apply. 
• Data Science. Program participants will be assigned to a Rice faculty mentor and will work closely with a Rice PhD student to perform cutting-edge research in Data Science. This could include designing and implementing new machine learning algorithms, applying machine learning algorithms to solve specific problems, or developing methods to manage huge data sets. This is an interdisciplinary program, and students in a wide number of areas are eligible to apply.
• Statistics and Data Science. During the Rice STAT-DATASCI program, participants will work closely with faculty members, graduate students, and/or undergraduate mentors on current research projects. They will make progress presentations to their peers during program meetings, make a formal poster presentation of their research experience at the end of the program, and submit a written, final report describing the results of their research.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering. Students can expect to be exposed to multiple facets of Electrical and Computer Engineering when joining an ECE REU project. The department’s core research areas include computer engineering, data science, neuroengineering, optics and photonics, and health. While some projects may sit in one research area, most are interrelated, crossing many ECE functions.
• ENGMED REU. This program seeks to expose students to the excitement of engineering-based medical research conducted by teams of engineers, clinicians, and medical researchers to advance medicine. Students will work within labs that study cellular and molecular engineering, biomaterials and tissue engineering, robotics and therapeutic devices, and machine learning and bioinformatics. Applicants from minority-serving institutions are strongly encouraged to apply.

Program Dates: 10 weeks program in June - August
Work Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m as arranged.
Location: Rice University Campus
Application deadline: Jan - March (check the website for exact date)

For an application, requirements of the program and research area, application deadline, go to: 
reu.rice.edu
https://reu.rice.edu/research-experiences 

For more information, please contact: 

Carrie Obenland Owens, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Outreach & Research
Rice Office of STEM Engagement
Rice University
6100 Main St., MS 7836, Houston, TX 77005-1827
713-348-5648
OR
If you have any questions about the summer program or application process, please contact Dr. Joff Silberg (joff@rice.edu) at Rice University.

 

U.S. Department of Energy Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship Program (MLEF)

The Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program provides students with an opportunity to gain and develop research skills with the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy for 10 weeks over the summer.
For 20 years, this program has increased awareness of DOE research opportunities to students pursuing STEM degrees (science, technology, engineering and math).
The goal of the program is to improve opportunities for women and minority students in these fields, however, all eligible candidates are encouraged to apply. 
Stipends start at $600 per week and eligible Fellows will receive additional travel and housing allowance. 
For more information, visit http://orise.orau.gov/mlef/

Eligibility

• Be at least 18 years of age at time of application;
• Be a U.S. Citizen;
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0;
• Be currently enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university (sophomore year or higher) or had a Ph.D. conferred on or after January 2, 2014 in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) degree

Applications in the past have closed in December for the following summer

 

Summer Industrial Internships in Chemistry & Chemical Engineering

The Society for Chemical Industry is pleased to offer the SCI Scholars Program, which is designed to introduce upper level (sophomore/junior), exceptional chemistry and chemical engineering students to carriers in chemical industry.
Selected students will become SCI Scholars and participate in one of many 10-week industrial internships during the summer.
SCI Scholars will be selected based on the strength of their application, statement of interest, and letters of recommendation.

For more information, click here.

Requirements:

• Current sophomore or junior
• Chemistry or chemical engineering major
• Minimum GPA of 3.5
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Benefits:

• Industrial experience
• Generous award - the stipend is in $6,000-10,000 range for a 10-week internship
• Certificate and $1000 travel award to participate in a scientific meeting
• SCI Scholars will nominate a high school chemistry teacher for recognition and $1000 award

 

Applications in the past have closed in December for the following summer

 

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) Program encourages undergraduate students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers by providing research experiences, under the guidance of laboratory/faculty staff scientists or engineers, on projects supporting Department of Energy (DOE) mission.

Selected students receive stipends, and may qualify for travel and housing assistance.
The Summer Term placements are for 10 weeks duration between May and August timeframe.

For more information and application, click here.

Applications in the past have closed in January for the following summer

 

The Community College Internship (CCI) Program encourages community college students to enter technical careers relevant to the Department of Energy (DOE) mission by providing technical training experiences at the DOE Labs. Students work on technologies or instrumentation projects or major research facilities related to ongoing R&D programs.

Selected students receive stipends, and may qualify for travel and housing assistance.
The 2015 Summer Term placements are for 10 weeks duration between May and August timeframe.

For more information and application, click here.

Applications in the past have closed in January for the following summer

 

The Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) seeks to increase the research competitiveness of faculty members and their students at institutions historically underrepresented in the research community in order to expand the workforce vital to Department of Energy (DOE) mission areas. In this program, selected university/college faculty members collaborate with DOE laboratory research staff on a research project of mutual interest. Faculty member participants may invite up to two students (one of which may be a graduate student) to participate in the research project. Applicants establish their collaborations with laboratory research staff in advance of applying and must submit a co-developed research proposal as part of the application. Students apply separately at the invitation of the faculty member.

Selected faculty and students receive stipends, and may qualify for travel and housing assistance.
The Summer Term placements are for 10 weeks duration between May and August timeframe.

For more information and application, click here.

Applications in the past have closed in January for the following summer

 

Eight community college students will be selected to participate in this National Science Foundation-sponsored 10-week REU program from June - August.  Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Participants will:

• Collaborate on a research project with faculty mentors, graduate students and other REU students
• Develop in-demand communication skills by giving research presentations and writing scientific papers
• Receive a $5,000 stipend, free housing on campus and travel support to and from Commerce, Texas
• Participate in field trips to Texas businesses, research institutions and the McDonald Observatory in west Texas
• Remotely access state-of-the-art telescopes, including the SARA (Southeastern Association for Research in Astronomy) 0.9-m telescope located at Kitt Peak National Observatory outside Tucson, Arizona, the SARA 0.6-m telescope located in Chile and several smaller telescopes at the Texas A&M University-Commerce observatory

Research Opportunities

• Observational Astronomy and Computational Astrophysics
• Nuclear Astrophysics and Nuclear Theory
• Advanced Electronics and Optics
• Materials Science and Surface Physics
• Physics Education Research
• Computer Simulations of Nuclear Reactions
• Mathematical Physics

 

To Apply

1. the application form here:  STEM 2015 REU Program Application
2. transcripts from your community college
3. two letters of recommendation
4. an essay of 3-5 pages describing yourself, your research interest and career goals

 

An opportunity for students to do oceanography out on the ocean! No cost!

”STEMSEAS”

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Student Experiences Aboard Ships!

STEMSEAS aims to provide ship-based, 6-10 day exploratory experiences for undergraduates from diverse backgrounds aboard NSF-funded research vessels. Students will sail with experienced faculty mentors and engage in geoscience and oceanography activities (while also having fun)!

All expenses will be paid by the program- there is no cost to participants.

Schedule for 2021 are currently not available, but go to the following link to get current information

Application Process:

Go to the following link to get more details STEMSEAS application. To be eligible, you must be 18 or over and enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university. The application includes:

• A completed application form
• A copy of your latest official or unofficial transcript
• A completed recommendation form from a professor, adviser or employer (current or former)

 

For questions, please contact:

Sharon Cooper: scooper@ldeo.columbia.edu
Jon Lewis:jclewis@iup.edu

 

Sustainable Research Pathways Program: Building Connections Across Diverse Communities with Berkeley Lab Computing Sciences

Research Opportunities For Faculty and Students from Diverse Backgrounds
Imagine yourself visiting Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory for a fast-paced workshop where you showcase your research, meet distinguished computing science staff at Berkeley Lab, and explore summer research opportunities for you and/or your students!

Networking and Exploratory Workshop
To facilitate the possible matching of faculty and/or their students with lab research opportunities, selected faculty will be invited to a Dec. 4-5, 2017, workshop at Berkeley Lab. Computing Sciences staff will discuss their research projects and interests and invited faculty will present their work during a poster blitz and poster session. Ample time will be provided for further discussions to explore potential research collaborations and sponsored programs.

This workshop, developed under a partnership between Sustainable Horizons Institute and Berkeley Lab, is designed for faculty from a variety of institutions, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) and women’s and community colleges, which support students from underrepresented or under-privileged backgrounds. Faculty learn about opportunities to engage in collaborative, leading-edge research with Berkeley Lab computing scientists. Matched faculty will be invited to apply for summer research opportunities at Berkeley lab. There are opportunities for faculty to participate in faculty/student teams, or to send student interns.

Faculty Benefits
• Travel funding to attend Dec. 4-5, 2017 matching workshop
• Opportunity to meet with Berkeley Lab staff and discuss possible research collaborations.
• Potential to participate in summer research with Computing Sciences staff
• Faculty/student teams
• Students on their own Preference is given to faculty/student teams.

Application requirements and other details can be found at http://shinstitute.org/srp/ and http://cs.lbl.gov/careers/summer-student-program/
Application deadline: TBA

Eligibility: Must be a full-time faculty member at an accredited U.S. degree-granting, postsecondary, institution of higher education.
Expectations: Selected faculty will attend the workshop on Dec. 4-5, 2017. • Faculty will participate in these workshop activities: • Lab research presentations • Poster Blitz and Poster session • Speed matching meeting session
Research Areas: Review Computing Sciences research areas from the links below and specify your areas of interest in your online application. • Computational Research Division • Scientific Networking Division • National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center

Workshop Details: 

• Preparation: To facilitate matching, faculty will be expected to prepare various materials (including an abstract and poster) to showcase their research.
• Travel: Faculty selected to attend the networking workshop will be notified in October and travel arrangements for the workshop must be completed by November 3, 2017.
• Selection: Lab scientists review applications and select faculty participants based on their potential for a research collaboration match.

 

More information about the program and research opportunities at Berkeley Lab can be found at 

http://shinstitute.org/srp/ and http://cs.lbl.gov/careers/summer-student-program/

 

Texas A&M University-Kingsville - Research, Education and Financial Literacy Excellence for Minority Engagement (REFLEX-ME) SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIP (SRI)

Application Deadline: Sometime between Jan and April

Highlights of the REFLEX-ME SRI program:

• Three-week summer undergraduate research internship program
• $1,665 stipend, Professional Development and Financial Literacy training will be provided
• 100% virtual summer research program
• Webinars provided by invited speakers from industries.

To be qualified, you must:

1) be a US citizen or permanent resident,

2) have 2.5 or above GPA,  

3) be enrolled in a degree program at a community college or four-year university through August 2021, and

4) submit the following materials before the application deadline:

a) your completed application form (this form),

b) a current official or unofficial transcript,

c) your resume, and

d) an one page essay about how this program can help you attain your academic goals 

Contact: 

Mr. Ricardo Garcia - Ricardo.Garcia@tamuk.edu 

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 700 University Blvd., MSC 191, Kingsville, TX  78363.

More information can be found at:

www.tamuk.edu/engineering/institutes-research/reflex-me/Index.html  or https://bit.ly/2Qp6Xfx        

 

Argonne National Laboratory is seeking highly motivated and energetic undergraduate students for an immersive summer experience!

Argonne's research pushes the boundaries of fundamental science, applied science, and engineering to solve complex challenges and develop useful technologies that can transform the marketplace and change the world. Through Argonne's research portfolio, students will get a one-of-a-kind experience in scientific areas such as; accelerator science, computational science, high energy physics, materials science, nuclear science, chemistry and advanced manufacturing.

By taking part in one of Argonne's many opportunities, undergraduate students will receive a career development experience and insights into some of the nation's leading scientific fields, facilities, and professionals, creating new STEM pathways and futures for them and the world.

Contact: 
Lindsay Buettner, University Student Program Lead, Argonne National Laboratory
students@anl.gov

Programs:
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI): 10-week internship program that provides undergraduate students with a STEM research experience funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Community College Internship (CCI) Program: 10-week internship program that provides community college students with a technical training experience funded by DOE
Seasonal Internship Program (SIP): 10-week internship program that provides undergraduate students with a STEM research experience funded by Argonne
Professional Career Internship (PCI) Program: 10-week internship program that provides an opportunity for nontechnical students to work on projects that support Argonne's mission
Research Aide (RA) Program: Temporary employment program that provides an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to work on STEM research funded by Argonne
Visiting Faculty Program (VFP): Summer research opportunity for small research teams from academic institutions that are small, historically underrepresented, or not well-resourced, enabling them to collaborate with Argonne staff scientists and engineers, funded by DOE