Research Experiences for Undergraduates – Center for Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration

Our REU Program

The UAB National Science Foundation – Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) “Regional Initiative to Promote Undergraduate Participation in Experimental and Computational Materials Research”

The NSF REU program is a 10-week program that involves a hands-on research experience for undergraduate students, whereby participants work in the labs of some of UAB’s renown scientists. The Summer 2025 program (tentative) dates: May 18, 2025- July 25, 2025. For Summer 2025, we will begin accepting applications December 1, 2024. The application form, unofficial transcript, career statement, and letters of recommendation should be received by April 10, 2025, however, applications will be considered on a rolling basis (meaning they will be reviewed upon receipt and some offers may be made before the April 10). That being said, applicant’s are encouraged to apply early. Final decisions will be made no later than April 15, 2025.

Strict guidelines set by the UA System, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Department of Physics as well as the Center for Nanoscale Materials and Biointegration must be adhered to by all persons on campus.

The program will pay $6,000 over the entire work period and will involve 400 hours of remote/on ground research with a UAB faculty mentor. The research represents actual projects that will contribute, in some way, to the work already being conducted in the labs.

2024 REU Participants include: India White, Joshua Gates, Maren Kagin, Kierra Dalrymple, Reyna Hobson, Cassiday Granger, Thomas Freeman, Lydia Kennemer, Hannah Burch, Mitchel Huott, Cheick Dore, Jackson Marlett, Eric Stewart (Amaya Caudel – not pictured)

Approach to Undergraduate Training

CNMB basic philosophy is to have Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) students work on research projects, which are simple to comprehend and have some short-term achievable milestones, but simultaneously contribute to longer-term scientific goals and technological applications. These projects should not only be challenging but engaging to our REU participants so that they are motivated to learn more about the research area as well to seriously consider graduate studies. Our teaming arrangement with faculty and graduate students, giving poster and oral presentations, writing a research-style paper, and attending training seminars in scientific communications and ethics have helped past REU students see the “big picture” of what it takes to develop into a “research scientist” with the critical skills needed for analyzing, interpreting and presenting scientific data. Lastly, most of the research projects have been a strong interdisciplinary flavor, lying at the interfaces of physics, chemistry, materials science, and biomedical engineering

Faculty Mentors

One of the most often asked questions that we get is “how are mentors selected?” We are proud to say that our REU participants play an active role in selecting their own project/mentor. On the second day of the program, faculty mentors will make Power Point presentations about their available research projects. We ask participants to select 3 projects for which they are most interested. Participants then meet with the top 3 faculty of choice and from there, a mutual decision will be made as to which project you will be assigned.

Eligibility

The program is open only to United States Citizens or permanent (green card) residents of the United States that are
Currently enrolled in a U.S. institute of higher education and who will be returning to an undergraduate program after participating in the program).
Must be available for the entire 10 week period
Due to the 40 hour a week schedule and planned events, participants are not permitted to take classes during the day between the hours of 8am and 5pm.

The REU program will pay a $6,000 stipend for the ten-week period, plus additional support for travel, housing, and other expenses. Housing is provided for eligible participants (certain restrictions apply).

Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and veteran’s status. As required by Title IX, UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UAB’s Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at uab.edu/titleix.

Application Available: December 1, 2024
Deadline: April 10, 2025
2025 TENTATIVE PROGRAM DATES: May 18, 2025 – July 25 2025

This REU-Site is supported by a grant from the Division of Materials Research, National Science Foundation (NSF) and NASA-Alabama Space Grant Consortium.

For program information, please direct your questions to Charita Cadenhead

Charita H. Cadenhead
Program Coordinator II
(205) 975-8076
(205) 975-8009 (Fax)
charita@uab.edu

Dr. Yogesh K. Vohra
Director, REU Program
(205) 934-6662
ykvohra@uab.edu

Department of Physics
University of Alabama at Birmingham