undergraduate research engineering

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What is undergraduate research?

The Council for Undergraduate Research defines undergraduate research as “…the inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate in collaboration with a faculty mentor that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.” It is recognized as one of Texas A&M University's high-impact practices that prepares students for the workplace and society. Students connect with faculty and graduate students who, in addition to research, are able to offer advice about career paths and about applying for graduate school and fellowships.

How to get started

Department programs.

Independent research courses : Each department offers a variety of courses (291, 485, 491, etc.) that provide undergraduates with opportunities to work closely with faculty on a research topic.  

Employment : With more than 350 engineering faculty and more than $282 million in research expenditures, there are opportunities for students to work on funded research projects within the college of engineering or within a student’s department. 

University programs

Undergraduate Research Scholars Program : This program is for outstanding students who have completed their sophomore year and are interested in pursuing graduate studies. Students contribute to ongoing faculty research to develop or expand their appreciations for research. 

Programs - summer

Undergraduate Summer Research Grant : This opportunity is open to undergraduate engineering students from Texas A&M and around the nation who are interested in working alongside Texas A&M engineering faculty and graduate students on research. 

Programs - fall/spring

Engineering Honors Program :  Students accepted into Engineering Honors are required to complete between four and six hours of research by the time of graduation, depending on requirements of the particular major. Conducting research allows students to further develop essential critical thinking skills and enhance professional skills crucial for future careers in industry, government labs or academia.

AggiE-Challenge : The multi-semester program gives engineering undergraduates course credit and an opportunity to engage in multidisciplinary team projects addressing elements of some of the most important engineering challenges facing our society. 

ROE Scholar : The two-semester research program prepares undergraduate engineering students for careers in academic research and helps them gain research experience in preparation for graduate school. 

Research programs

Multifunctional materials.

Majors: Those interested in materials science and engineering-related research Contact: Dr. Ibrahim Karaman  [email protected]

Online REU (O-REU) program

Majors: Those interested in materials science and engineering-related research Contact:  Dr. Michael Demkowicz [email protected]  or Ms. Isabel Cantu [email protected]  

CyberHealthGIS

Majors:  Technology, geography and health Contact:  Dr. Tracy Hammond   [email protected]

Texas Center for Undergraduate Research in Energy and Combustion 

Majors:  Aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering Contact:  Dr. Eric Petersen   [email protected]

Interdisciplinary Research Experiences in Mechatronics, Robotics and Automated System Design

Majors:  Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, manufacturing engineering, engineering technology Contact:  Dr. Sheng-Jen "Tony" Hsieh  [email protected]

Undergraduate Summer Research - REU Program

Majors:   All engineering majors (including computer science), related math/sciences (e.g. physics, biology) Contact:  Erin Williams   [email protected]

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) - Advancing Transportation Leadership and Safety Center (ATLAS) Summer Internship Program

Majors:  All majors are welcome Contact:  Laura Higgins  [email protected]

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) - University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS)

Majors:  Engineering majors Contact:  Amy White [email protected] ,   [email protected]

Applied Computational Robotics

Majors:  Computer Science or Computer Engineering Contacts:  Jason O'Kane [email protected]  

Reuse Water Quality Fellowships

Majors: Engineering and science majors, particularly with interests in reuse water quality Contacts:  Dr. Terry Gentry  [email protected] , Dr. Ali Fares  [email protected] , Dr. Anish Jantrania  [email protected]

NSF Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) - Center for Remote Health Technologies and Systems

Majors:  Biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, industrial, mechanical engineering and material science engineering Contact:  Dr. Gerard Cote  [email protected]

ATP-Bio Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program in Biopreservation Technologies  

Majors: All science and engineering majors, including, but not limited to: chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, mechanical engineering, physics  Contact:  Johaynah Al-Rifi [email protected]  

The following resources allow you to search for summer research programs across the U.S. by discipline or by state/location.

• National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduate (NSF-REU)
• Pathways to Science: Institute for Broadening Participation

Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research in engineering is defined as mentored investigations conducted by undergraduate students that seek to expand the boundaries of knowledge and contribute to the engineering community.

Why get involved in undergraduate research?

Research can enhance the undergraduate experience by allowing students to take the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom and apply them to real situations.

It affords students the opportunity to interact closely with faculty and, in many instances, to develop valuable industry connections. When involved in research, students will also find themselves working with peers who share their passion for learning. 

Learning more about undergraduate research at Cornell:

Please review the following pages for advice tailored for undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Engineering. To learn more about ongoing research topics in the College of Engineering, explore department and faculty web sites .

• Cornell Undergraduate Research Board
• Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Excellence
• Council on Undergraduate Research
• Career Development Toolkit: Research Module

Getting Started in Undergraduate Research

Finding Research Opportunities at Cornell

Funding Your Research

Summer Research Opportunities

I am a Cornell student researcher

I love to explore engineering approaches to the study of the natural world, understand the impact of research, and improve human health.

My advice to other engineering students interested in research: commit to becoming an expert in what research interests you.

- Rocky An '23, biological engineering, undergraduate researcher in Clark Lab

The one thing I love about research is the collaboration aspect. Throughout my summer research experience, I had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with a diverse array of individuals.

My advice to other engineering students interested in research: Don't be afraid to reach out to professors whose work you are interested in and to other peers who might have done research. Look at research that might not be directly related to your major, I had a couple friends who really enjoyed applying their engineering skills to different projects.

- Azeezah Ladoja '25, civil engineering, undergraduate researcher in Nair's Research Group

Additional Resources

In addition to the resources provided here, we encourage you to check out an overview of undergraduate research at Cornell and guidance on getting started through the University's central Office of Undergraduate Research .

If you are an enrolled student, be sure to visit the Research Module within the Career Development Toolkit as well. To access the Toolkit, you can  self-enroll . If you are already enrolled and want to dive in, jump to the course . In canvas you can also go to Courses > All Courses > Browse More Courses to search for the Toolkit.

Office of Future Engineers

Undergraduate Research

Whether you're passionate about improving the environment, discovering cancer treatments, or figuring out how to colonize Mars, you can have the opportunity to work with Purdue faculty to shape the future. Engineering students are extremely active in research in the College of Engineering as well in other disciplines across the University. The Engineering Undergraduate Research Office (EURO) is a great resource to learn about research opportunities. Research can shape your career aspirations, allow deeper development of expertise in a particular discipline, and provide practical application of theory. Many faculty members are able to provide funding or offer credit for undergraduate support. Go get to know your faculty! While most of our students get involved in research by simply reaching out to professors, there are also a variety of formal ways to participate in engineering research. Here are four of the most popular research programs: 

Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP)

The Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to earn academic credit while engaging in authentic and extended research and design projects related to active research areas of Purdue faculty members and national, international, and industry-sponsored design challenges. Students can participate on interdisciplinary and vertically-integrated teams (first-year through seniors) with faculty and graduate student mentors for multiple semesters to address these real-world research and design challenges.

SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (SURF)

SURF provides students across all engineering, science, and the Purdue Polytechnic Institute disciplines with an intensive research experience over the summer. Students work closely with graduate students and professors in their respective schools and will have opportunities for networking, poster presentations, and more!

DISCOVERY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS (DURI)

DURI is designed to involved Purdue undergraduates in the interdisciplinary research environment of the Discovery Park District, an innovation hub located at the corner of Purdue's campus. The program provides opportunities for students to work with faculty on cutting edge, multidisciplinary research projects, with programs available in fall, spring, and summer terms.

SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH IN GLOBAL ENGINEERING (SURGE)

SURGE is designed to provide international work experience at a research lab at a top university overseas during the summer.

Undergraduate Research

Conduct meaningful research with faculty.

The experiential learning that begins in your first semester and continues through hands-on design challenges culminates in authentic research experiences with faculty in their laboratories. You’ll learn more about science and design than you ever thought possible—even if what you learn is that laboratory life isn’t for you.

By the Numbers

Undergraduate students, have intensive research experiences with faculty, publish or present a research paper off-campus, work on independent study projects.

Being a Grand Challenge Scholar opened my eyes to broader systemic injustices, especially racial and socioeconomic injustices—not just in the United States but worldwide. I want to work to address those inequities.

Find a Research Experience with Muser

Duke’s online student research network is the place to start. Our faculty research labs list opportunities for undergraduates within the Muser system. Typically, there are three rounds of recruiting every calendar year. Research experiences usually last one semester.

Independent Study for Credit

This is your opportunity to work under faculty supervision on a research topic that you choose while earning course credit. Typically, first- and second-year students enroll in an independent study course as a free elective. Third- and fourth-year students enroll in an advanced elective in their major.

The first step is to request an independent study. The deadline is two days before Drop/Add Ends .

A special note to our Trinity College peers: You can participate in these experiences, too!

Pratt Research Fellowships

The Pratt Research Fellows Program provides opportunities for immersive research over three semesters. Third-year and advanced second-year students are encouraged to apply. Typically, Pratt Fellows graduate with distinction and with many other honors.

Katsouleas NAE Grand Challenges Scholars

The Thomas C. Katsouleas National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges Scholars Program seeks leaders with the drive to take on some of the biggest challenges facing humanity—and want to start while they are still undergraduates.

Conference Grants

Experiential learning doesn’t end in the lab. It continues to authentic professional activity, including presenting your discoveries at academic and scientific conferences. As part of our holistic approach to student support, the Pratt School of Engineering provides grants of up to $500 to help students attend national or regional research conferences.

Undergraduate Research Contacts

Carmen Rawls, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean for Advising & Outreach

David E. Schaad

Professor of the Practice of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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Undergraduate Student Research

Research at Illinois affects the world. The LED. Electronic tattoos. A supercomputer. And as an undergraduate, you can be a part of this kind of discovery. You can start researching as early as your first year. Your work, with faculty who are leaders in their fields, will help answer society’s toughest questions. Build valuable skills, work alongside engineering leaders, and change the world even before you graduate. That’s what we do at Illinois.

Explore Research Opportunities

How to get involved.

From contacting professors to preparing for the Engineering Research Fair, we're here to help you find the right opportunity to pursue your interest in research projects as an undergraduate student.

Get Started

College Programs

College programs provide unparalleled, hands-on opportunities to work with thought leaders on finding solutions to the world's pressing problems. These programs offer support and resources for you to be successful in your research endeavors.

Explore College Programs

Research Internships

There is a large network of research internship opportunities, both on- and off-campus. Learn from professionals in academics or industry about the specific research you're interested in.

Find an Internship

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Participate in research and work with faculty and researchers on ongoing research projects from different universities, institutions, and agencies nationwide.

More About REUs

Earn Credit for Your Work

Conducting research as an undergraduate can count toward your requirements for graduation. Of course, that's in addition to the extremely valuable experience of working in a lab alongside the very best in the world.

Earn Course Credit

Making it Affordable

Even as an undergraduate student, there is money available for you to participate in research. In many cases, there are even opportunities for you to travel to other parts of the world to do your work.

Funding Opportunities

“When I started off my college career, I knew I wanted to try research but wasn’t sure what I could do with my mechanical engineering degree. By taking a chance and applying to on-campus programs, trying out research under different labs, and staying dedicated to my interests, I found a path I’m excited to continue with in the future.”

Anna Alvarez, Mechanical Science & Engineering

Learn more about Anna's research experience

of our undergraduates participate in groundbreaking research

interdisciplinary research projects ongoing every semester

laboratories, research centers, and institutes across campus

Undergraduate Research Contact

Natasha Mamaril, PhD Associate Director for Undergraduate Research

3278 Digital Computer Lab 1304 W Springfield Ave. Urbana, IL 61801

Email:  [email protected]  

Undergraduate Research

Why should undergraduates get involved in research? At UVA Engineering, we believe students become engineering leaders through hands-on learning and research opportunities, because they gain not just technical knowledge, but also higher-level skills in communication, collaboration, analysis, problem-solving and ethical decision-making.

Undergraduate researchers frequently get opportunities to travel to conferences and publish and present their work. All of these experiences make students' time at UVA special and are highly attractive to future employers. We strongly encourage undergraduate students to work with faculty and graduate students in our world-class laboratories.

Exploring Undergraduate Research at UVA Engineering

Malcolm O'Malley explains how supportive faculty and graduate students helped him grow as an undergraduate researcher.

"Undergraduate research is vital to your experience as a student, especially if you have no idea what you want to do in the future or if you are interested in graduate school. My research experiences have helped me leave my mark on the engineering community and connect the dots between the classes I took while at UVA. "

Five Ways for UVA Engineering Undergraduates to Get Involved in Research

Check out available uva engineering projects.

UVA Engineering faculty, post-doctoral researchers and graduate students frequently have projects available for undergraduates. Linked here is a list of open opportunities, and the list is updated at the beginning of each semester and before summer. The list includes instructions on how to apply for positions through Handshake, which is UVA's online system for connecting students to jobs, internships and prospective employeers, scheduling career advising appintments, and sharing career events and resources. The team at the Center for Engineering Career Development also is happy to assist students with using Handshake and writing strong resumes. Contact them at [email protected] .

The list of undergraduate research opportunities can be sorted by department or by research area.

Pursue Your Own Interests

If you have your own idea or area of interest you would like to explore, visit UVA Engineering's research pages to learn more about the faculty and graduate students working in that area, and then contact a faculty member or lab group to ask whether they are accepting undergraduate student researchers. If you don't hear back right away, wait a week or two and try again. Be polite but persistent, and remember that sometimes there are multiple faculty members working in a given research area. Consider contacting more than one to learn more about what they are doing in their labs.

Consider a Specialized Research Program

The University of Virginia and the School of Engineering have multiple programs that offer rich, high-level undergraduate research opportunities.

Undergraduate Student Opportunities in Academic Research

Undergraduate Student Opportunities in Academic Research (USOAR) - USOAR targets rising first-year, second-year and transfer undergraduate students who qualify for Federal Work Study and do not have previous significant experience in research, providing an opportunity for a paid research position.

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) - UVA's two summer REU sites are:

• Advanced Materials Synthesis - The Department of Materials Science and Engineering will recruit 10 undergraduates to participate in a new, 10-week REU in summer 2022. The program will immerse rising sophomores through seniors in authentic materials research projects.
• Multi-Scale Systems Bioengineering and Biomedical Data Sciences - Each summer, faculty in the Department of Biomedical Engineering train 10 undergraduate students in the skills, confidence and mentorship necessary for careers in the exciting field of multi-scale systems bioengineering and biomedical data sciences.

The University of Virginia Kidney Technology Development Research Education Program

The University of Virginia Kidney Technology Development Research Education Program - This is an immersive clinical and laboratory experience focused on the study of kidneys in health and disease.

Biomedical Engineering Clinical Scholars

Biomedical Engineering Clinical Scholars - The BME Clinical Scholars program immerses undergraduates in clinical settings, identify unmet clinical needs, and generate clinically relevant problems and case studies for biomedical engineering classrooms.

Virginia Microelectronics Consortium Summer Scholars Program

Virginia Microelectronics Consortium Summer Scholars Program - This program offers juniors and seniors attending a university in Virginia the opportunity for hands-on research using state-of-the-art technology in either an academic or industrial environment. UVA students go to another participating university, while students from other universities come to UVA.

Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies

Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) - ASSIST offers a summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates program as well as a Research Fellows Program during the academic year for students from partner institutions.

Take a Class on Research

The Starting an Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program is a new class and workshop series geared toward new students who are interested in getting involved in research at UVA, but aren’t sure where to start.

Once I Land a Research Opportunity, How Does It Work?

You will work with your new research mentor (a faculty member, grad student or post-doctoral researcher) to establish their expectations of you in the lab. Every lab is different. Each has its own culture of expectations. It is the mutual responsibility of the lab's faculty leader and the students and other researchers working in the lab to be clear on the expectations. How many hours will you work? What project will you be doing? What training will you need? Don't hesitate to talk with your research mentor and others in the lab about any and all of these things.

Your mentor will also decide with you whether the work will be done for credit, for pay, as a work-study opportunity , or on a voluntary basis. Don't be afraid to ask your mentor for one of those four types.

What Future Engineering Leaders Do: Undergraduate Research

Want to know the best way to get involved in research? Watch this video to learn the simple steps.

UVA Engineering Undergraduate Research News

Engineering grad receives rader prize for network science research.

Henry Carscadden, who graduated from the University of Virginia in May, received a Louis T. Rader Undergraduate Research Award, given by the School of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science.

Fact or Fiction: Two Computer Engineering Undergrads Tackle Deepfakes

Coding for the common good: civil engineering student leads project to map wheelchair-accessible sidewalks.

Undergraduate research programs and funding

Students are strongly encouraged to pursue undergraduate research opportunities before completing their degrees.

Undergraduate research opportunities fall into two categories: part-time during the academic year and full-time summer programs. Students often earn credit for research during the academic year while summer programs are more often funded and usually include an academic component focused on pursuing graduate school.

Interested in research opportunities?

It is strongly recommended that students getting started exploring research opportunities sign up for an advising appointment for one on one support with the Office of Undergraduate Research team. 

Office of Undergraduate Research

The Office of Undergraduate Research  is an excellent resource for learning about undergraduate research opportunities. They offer:

• Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
• Workshops and courses
• Information on summer programs
• Individual advising

Departmental research links

Each engineering department provides guidance to students about getting involved in research. Contact the department undergraduate advisers for advice on finding a research project.

Learn more about research in each department:

• Aeronautics & Astronautics
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Human Centered Design & Engineering
• Industrial & Systems Engineering
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Other engineering research programs

• Amgen Scholars Program
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Summer Internships
• Genetically Engineered Materials Science and Engineering Center REU
• Clean Energy Bridge to Research REU Program
• Inverse Problems REU
• NASA Space Grant
• Research in Biostatistics and Statistical Genetics

Related topics

Research Labs & Centers

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Undergraduate Research

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Today’s global complexities demand new approaches to training tomorrow’s engineers. At the Samueli School, hands-on experience and participation in research play a key role in educating undergraduate students.

Our Freshman Experiential Learning Program , initiated in 2012, provides design/build/test experience to undergraduates from the very beginning of their time on campus. Working in multidisciplinary teams, they experience real-world product development through planning, research, design, manufacturing and evaluation. The program, the first in the UC system, offers UCI students a distinct competitive advantage.

Similarly, our Engineering in Industry Design Program offers teams of senior-level undergraduates the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and corporate partners to solve real-world engineering problems. By providing direct support to local industry, the experience offers future engineers an educational component not available in textbooks.

Undergraduates at all levels are encouraged to participate in the Division of Undergraduate Education’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program . UROP guides students through all phases of the research process, providing them with the necessary skills to succeed in their future careers.

To date, two-thirds of our undergraduate students have participated in faculty-led research projects by the time they graduate, and our goal is to boost that number to 100 percent.

Quick Links

• ENGR 7: Introduction to Engineering
• Freshman Experiential Learning Program
• Engineering in Industry Design Program
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

• Visit the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Apply to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Give to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln

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Undergraduate research.

You can be a part of this cutting edge research starting as soon as your first year in engineering. Participate at any point in your undergraduate career and year round (fall, spring, and summer semester). There are many opportunities to engage in undergraduate research in the college and at UNL or nationally, either at another institution or at a national lab.

College Opportunities

University opportunities, national opportunities.

The Summer Nebraska Engineering Research Program (SNERP) is a paid, part-time, 10 week summer research opportunity within the College. Students apply to the program and those selected are matched to one of their top choice research projects. Throughout the summer, students conduct research, meet with their research group, and participate in professional development. At the end of the summer, students develop a research poster and present their work at the Summer Research Symposium. Applications for summer 2021 will open January 25, 2021 and are due March 1, 2021 . If selected, students will be notified by April 1, 2021 and will start on May 31, 2021 .

Two such opportunities include hourly, paid student researcher positions and the Summer Nebraska Engineering Research Program (SNERP).

Tips for connecting with a research lab:

Identify interest areas.

• What general topics within your major are the most exciting to you?
• Which topics in your course have you liked the most?
• What courses do you plan to take within the next year?
• What problems would you like to solve?
• What are your long-term career goals?
• What have other students researched?
• Talk with your graduate TAs about their research
• Review faculty College profiles and department research websites

Identify Professors whose research aligns with your interests

• Visit your current or past Professor’s office hours and discuss research interests and possible opportunities with them or a colleague
• Visit faculty College profiles, research lab websites, and department research websites

Contact Professors about joining their research lab

• Send a brief, professional email expressing interest in their research and attach your resume.
• Send a follow-up email or visit office hours if you have not received a reply in an expected amount of time.
• Visit your current or past Professors’ office hours and discuss research interests and possible opportunities.
• Review position postings

In conjunction with other universities offices, additional opportunities to engage with undergraduate research in Engineering include UCARE , McNair Scholars Program , FYRE and Honors Program (research credit or honors thesis). These opportunities come with a scholarship or stipend, regional and national networking opportunities, and guided professional development.

You can gain additional research experience as a summer researcher at another university or a national laboratory. These paid opportunities have many benefits including exposure to different research projects, broadening your network of faculty mentors and peer researchers, and preparation for graduate school.

There are many benefits to participating in undergraduate research. Including:

• Hands-on research experience
• Gain both graduate student and faculty mentors
• Use state of the art research tools
• Apply the scientific method and lessons learned in the classroom
• Ask and find answers to your own research questions
• Expose yourself to a graduate school experience
• Present findings at regional or national conferences

Undergraduate Research Contacts

Kayla Person

AT RICE ENGINEERING, OWLS DO RESEARCH

Undergraduate Research

With broad options for research alongside some of the world’s most outstanding faculty, 60% of Rice Engineering undergrads have research experience before they graduate.

The George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University offers broad-reaching and world-changing opportunities for undergraduate research experience. Get involved early and explore beyond your focus! Faculty-led research experiences allow Rice Engineering students to apply their technical knowledge, build broader perspectives and expand their professional networks. We are home to 22 centers and institutes, and 9 departments with faculty ranked among the most distinguished researchers in the world . This diversity fosters opportunities to be involved in meaningful and impactful projects throughout your time with Rice.

Helpful Links

Getting started, opportunities by department, awards & funding, the research experience, engineering design | robotic cup helps wheelchair users stay hydrated, reu | operations research student wins best presentation at google-backed poster session, entrepreneurship | rice undergrads' company aids nonprofits using data science, computer science | rice sophomore completes ui/ux design fellowship with coding it forward, robotics | fluidic circuits add analog options for controlling soft robots, share your experience.

Are you a Rice Engineering undergraduate working in a lab, out in the field or on an exciting project? Or are you a faculty member mentoring a researcher? Follow @RiceEngineering and share your research experience with photos and videos on social media using the #OwlsDoResearch hashtag.

The Ohio State University

• BuckeyeLink
• Search Ohio State

Undergraduate Research

At Ohio State, engineers conduct research with doctors, physicists, designers, artists and experts in many other fields. Engineering undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in the wide array of opportunities generated by our faculty. Each spring students enjoy multiple outlets to share their work, including Ohio State’s annual Denman Undergraduate Research Forum and the college’s undergraduate research forum .

Benefits of undergraduate research

• Help solve the world’s greatest challenges
• Access world-class facilities, equipment and mentors
• Work alongside faculty and graduate students
• Gain early exposure to engineering (students can start research in their first year!)
• Prepare for graduate school or a career in research and development

Getting started

Ready to follow your investigational instincts through undergraduate research? Here are a few ways to find a project:

• Reach out to an instructor with whom you’ve had a course.
• Search departmental and faculty websites for information on current projects.
• Visit the  Undergraduate Research Office  to learn more about research, attend an information session and discover opportunities.
• Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your interest in research and what steps you can take next.
• Apply directly by using the Undergraduate Student Research Placement Tool .

Research Distinction

Research that culminates in the production of an undergraduate research thesis allows students to receive the designation of “With Research Distinction” or “With Honors Research Distinction” on their diploma. Visit  Distinction Guidelines for more information.

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College of Engineering

• Undergraduate research

The EnSURE (Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Experience) program at Michigan State University offers summer research opportunities for high achieving undergraduates who are studying at institutions in the United States, including Puerto Rico. Applications for the program open in October. Application review begins in December, and the program takes place the following May through July. Students who apply to the program should expect to be working in-person on the MSU East Lansing campus. EnSURE participants are MSU employees and must agree to comply with all employment requirements.

EnSURE is an "internship in graduate school" and provides participants with an early opportunity to become involved in research by working with faculty mentors in one of eight college departments:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
• Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Curious about what the undergraduate research experience is all about?  Check out Student Spotlights and other resources on MSU Undergraduate Research .

During summer 2024, the EnSURE program will take place from May 20 through July 26, 2024 .

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

• Current undergraduate student, studying at an institution in the United States (including Puerto Rico), from any institution or major
• Eligible for employment in the USA (you must have a social security card before the EnSURE program starts)
• Returning for one or more semesters of undergraduate study after Summer 2024 (i.e., not graduating before December, 2024)
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20 (on a 4.0 scale)
• Able to commit to full-time employment during the 10-week summer program (May 20 to July 26, 2024)
• Not taking classes during Summer 2024 (exceptions may be made for up to 4 credits of online Coursework, with permission from the faculty mentor)
• At least 18 years old by May 1, 2024

Students participating in the summer research experience are paid a minimum of $16.00 per hour and typically work 40 hours per week for 10 weeks (up to $6,400 in total compensation). Participants are considered student employees of MSU and are responsible for applicable taxes.  Students are responsible for their own meals, housing, transportation and personal expenses; a variety of housing options are available both on-campus ( liveon.msu.edu ) and in the surrounding area ( elmanac.msu.edu ).

Applications for EnSURE are reviewed starting in December and selections are made on a rolling basis until the program is filled. Students will be notified if they are selected by a faculty mentor, and will have approximately 2 weeks to accept or reject the offer to participate in EnSURE. Based on previous years, we expect that the majority of the EnSURE selections will be made by March 15. Please note that priority is given to students who have not previously completed EnSURE.

The EnSURE program application requires basic contact and demographic information, a resume (.pdf format) and an unofficial transcript (a .pdf printout of your University's grade reporting system is sufficient). Applicants must also submit brief statements (about 500 words each) explaining why you want to participate in EnSURE (What do you hope to learn? Do you have any specific skills or prior research experience to contribute?) and why you think it is valuable to foster inclusion and diversity in engineering. You should use these statements as an opportunity to expand briefly on the skills and experiences you have to contribute and/or what you hope to learn from participating in this summer program.

The 2024 EnSURE program has filled and applications are no longer being actively reviewed. Selected students will be notified by email.

Submit applications

Other research opportunities 

We typically receive far more applications from outstanding students than we are able to accommodate in the program; in previous years, we were only able to offer summer positions to 20-30% of applicants.  In addition to applying to our summer research program, you may be interested in on-campus opportunities found through  https://urca.msu.edu/ , in nationwide  undergraduate research programs  sponsored by the National Science Foundation, and in the SROP ( Summer Research Opportunities Program ) sponsored by the CIC. Students with experience in composites and materials may also wish to consider the IACMI Internship Program. MSU students can also identify a variety of on- and off-campus positions on  MySpartanCareer.com .

Frequently asked questions

No, we do not have a list. Faculty propose projects for EnSURE on a rolling basis, at the same time students submit applications.

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Undergraduate Research

The Ohio State University is one of the largest and most extensive research universities in the world. Researchers at Ohio State are leaders in a variety of fields that touch our daily lives and shape our future. Undergraduates are a part of OSU's exciting community of discovery, creativity and innovation.

Why research?

As an undergraduate, research exposes you to a very different side of engineering, one where you work to solve open-ended problems that no one knows the answers to yet, and in some cases where understanding and defining the problem is the primary goal of the research. Research also gives you the opportunity to work closely with faculty and more advanced students to get more exposure to the next step in your career in engineering.

What would I be doing?

The research opportunities for undergraduate ECE students are diverse and challenging. Under the direction of a faculty member, students work on a research problem that may involve laboratory work, computer programming, data analysis, and literature searching. Research projects prepare students for future graduate studies and/or the corporate world in ways regular curriculum alone cannot achieve. View some example ECE undergraduate research projects .

How do I find a research project?

Ask the professor teaching your favorite class if there are any research opportunities on the class’s topic. You can also browse the faculty webpages for topics that are interesting to you and contact those faculty to set up appointments to discuss possible research projects. If you have multiple topics/classes that interest you, but don’t know which faculty to contact, you can make an appointment with the ECE department’s undergraduate honors and research coordinator, Prof. Bradley Clymer ( [email protected] ). Prof. Clymer can help you identify faculty who regularly advise undergraduate research on the various topics that interest you.

Opportunities for honors students

Students with a university honors designation (cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher) can develop their research project into an Honors Thesis during their senior year under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Students who complete the requirements for the thesis project will graduate with Distinction in Electrical & Computer Engineering . Visit the Honors section to learn more.

What are the benefits?

Participation in undergraduate research benefits students educationally, professionally, and personally. Benefits include:

• Working closely with a faculty mentor
• Sharpening problem-solving skills and applying concepts learned in coursework to real life problems
• Exploring and preparing for future careers
• Developing marketable skills
• Enhancing professional communication skills

Get Involved

ECE students who are interested in being involved in an undergraduate research project can do so in a few easy steps.

• Students should be in good academic standing.
• Students should explore the various research areas ECE faculty members are involved in, chose an area of interest, and identify a particular professor as a potential research advisor.
• Think about how much time per week that you have to complete research.
• Contact the professor(s) directly and inquire about the available research opportunities, including the possibilities of joining an on-going research project, or perhaps even starting a new one. Indicate an area of research that you would like to work on. This will give the faculty member a better idea of what projects you may be available for.

Prof. Bradley Clymer gives an annual seminar in early September on ECE Undergraduate Research that addresses when to begin research, how to find a research advisor, and some different scenarios that ECE students can use for undergraduate research. This seminar is recorded and the video and slides are posted on a special Carmen site for ECE Undergraduate Research. To get access to this Carmen site, email Prof. Clymer at [email protected] .

View some example abstracts of current senior honors thesis projects .

If you have additional questions about undergraduate research projects, please contact Professor Clymer.

Additional Resources:

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Our faculty-to-student ratio provides great opportunities for undergraduate students to work in state-of-the-art research laboratories during the academic year and in the summer. Below you can find programs coordinated through Penn Engineering, along with helpful information to guide undergraduates toward finding research positions in the School.

Finding a Research Mentor and Research Experiences

Students are encouraged to explore the Penn Engineering faculty directory , where users can identify which faculty are conducting research in a specific area and contact faculty members whose research interests them.

The Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board (EDAB) has put together a guide for their fellow students that gives step-by-step instructions and tips on how to secure research positions as an undergraduate. Everything from where to look for research to the best ways to communicate with faculty is covered in this comprehensive guide.

For Bioengineering majors, the Penn student chapter of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) has assembled its own student guide on starting a research experience .

Penn Engineering Programs

Cg@penn summer research.

One of the reasons students attend Penn is for access to faculty and research opportunities, yet few undergraduates take advantage of this opportunity. While classroom experience is essential, so is the opportunity to create new knowledge while examining the unknown. The Digital Media Design program is closely related to the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation and the ViDi Center for Digital Visualization. Research projects are undertaken by heterogeneous teams of graduate and undergraduate students and visitors. Undergraduates who contribute in a substantial way become co-authors in publications. In the past few years, summer researchers in HMS and ViDi have had papers published in notable computer graphics academic conferences and journals. Program Website

CIS Undergraduate Summer Research Program

The goal of the Undergraduate Summer Research program is to encourage students, particularly CIS undergraduates, to get involved in research with faculty mentors early in their careers.  Students work with a faculty member and a graduate student mentor throughout the summer with the goal of producing an identifiable research result.  Participating students can receive either course credit or a stipend.  The program is open to University of Pennsylvania undergraduates majoring in CIS and related fields. Program Website

LRSM NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

The LRSM has hosted NSF-REU programs since 1989 in which students spend 10 weeks working on individual research projects with our associated faculty. We currently have funding for 20 undergraduates both through our MRSEC grant and a NSF-REU Site grant. The program runs from early June to August every year and takes applications from well qualified undergraduate who are mainly juniors but sophomores and freshmen can also apply. Students are required to make an oral presentation of their research during the final week of the program and to submit a paper describing their research before leaving the program. We encourage applications from under-represented groups in science and engineering, especially from women, minorities, and disabled students. The program is restricted to US citizens and permanent residents. Program Website

NSF/Greater Philadelphia Region /Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Undergraduate Research Program

This successful program helps students establish their scientific identity and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Penn Engineering’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion. LSAMP is a national coalition striving to increase undergraduate enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of underrepresented racial minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate programs who pursue STEM graduate degrees and professional careers. Program Website

Summer UNdergraduate Fellowship in Sensor Technologies (SUNFEST)

Summer UNdergraduate Fellowship Sensor Technologies (SUNFEST) is a unique program that provides talented undergraduate students with hands-on research during the summer in the area of sensor technologies.  The program is open to students in engineering and the physical sciences. Areas of Research include Micro and Nano Electromechanical Structures and Sensors, Nanotechnology and materials for Sensors, Robotics and Control oriented projects, Wireless Sensor.  As a research assistant, you will be exposed to  real, in-depth research in the area of sensor technology under the mentorship of a faculty member. Program Website

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Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate research is a great way to explore new interests, translate what you are learning in the classroom into real-world situations, work closely with a faculty mentor in their research group and gain important skills for the future. 

What are the benefits of participating in research as an undergraduate?

Undergraduate research experience will:

• Enhance your problem-definition, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Provide active, hands-on learning through which you can experience the application of the abstract concepts covered in your engineering courses
• Prepare you for a rewarding career in academia or industry
• Help you develop the skills critical to effective teamwork
• Provide access to mentoring relationships and supportive professional networks

How do I get started?

First, you need to think about your interests. Is there a specific topic or area you would like to research or are you open to suggestions? Once you have an idea of what you’d like to do, you will need to find a faculty member to serve as your mentor for your research experience.

How do I find a faculty mentor?

The best way to find a faculty mentor is to become familiar with faculty members in your department and their research interests. At the bottom of this page is a list of faculty that are currently accepting undergraduates into their labs. If you click on their name, it will take you to the faculty website that includes information about their research. Also, you can talk to other students who have participated in research to learn about their experience with this person.  Once you have an idea about who you might work with, contact him/her to find out about openings in his/her lab. If they do, set up an appointment to discuss available projects and his/her expectations.

How will I know if a mentor is a good fit?

Do your homework.  Find out as much as possible about a faculty mentor before accepting a position. During your initial meeting, the faculty is interviewing you, but you are also interviewing the faculty mentor.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Talk to current lab members about their experience because you will be working with them as well as the faculty mentor. Seek feedback from past lab members, too. Most will be honest with you about their experience.

What will my research mentor expect of me?

• Your mentor expects that you will be as committed to your research experience as you are any of your classes. You should expect to commit 10 hours per week to your research experience during the academic year and more if you continue during the summer.
• You are now a member of your faculty mentor’s research group. You will work with senior researchers, including post-doctoral scholars, research scientists and graduate students, but you may also work with other undergraduates. You are a contributing member of this team.
• You are an important member of the research group.  Communication is key to the success of this team. Attend meetings with your mentor and the research group. Share your activities and results. Most of all, if you have questions, ask! If you encounter a problem, let someone know immediately.
• You are expected to follow all established laboratory procedures involving safety and research integrity.

Can I receive academic credit for my research?

Yes, it is possible to receive academic credit for undergraduate research. Speak with your faculty mentor regarding expectations (number of hours spent on research each week, the preferred method of communication, meeting schedule, reporting activities and results, assessment and grading, etc.) to receive academic credit and how to register for the course. In most cases, your academic advisor can assist you with registration.

Will I receive a paycheck for my work?

Possibly. Your faculty mentor may or may not have grant funding to pay you a stipend for your work. Some faculty mentors may want you to volunteer first or receive course credit before getting paid. If you do a great job, they may be willing to have you continue your research with pay.

Can I present my research results?

Yes! There are a number of opportunities available for presenting your research, both on and off-campus. Check with your research mentor on the best forum for your particular work. Most professional societies host undergraduate research sessions at their annual meetings. In addition, other opportunities include the following:

Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars

https://our.uky.edu/students/presentation-opportunities/showcase

This event gives undergraduate students from across the University of Kentucky a forum to present their research to the university community and the general public. The date for the 2018 showcase is Wednesday, April 25. For more information, visit the Showcase website.

Posters at the Capitol

https://our.uky.edu/posters-at-the-capitol

This annual event is held at the state capitol in Frankfort. Undergraduate students from the eight state-supported universities present their research to state legislators with the aim of increasing an understanding of the important role of undergraduate research in the Commonwealth. The date for the 2018 event is Thursday, March 8. Detailed information may be found at the Posters website.

National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)

https://our.uky.edu/students/presentation-opportunities/ncur

This is the annual conference dedicated specifically to promote and celebrate undergraduate research. It is held at a different university each year. For additional information including deadline dates and poster submission information, visit the NCUR website.

Are there summer programs for undergraduate researchers?

Yes. These programs have different names depending on the funding agency. At the National Science Foundation (NSF), these programs are called Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). NSF funds a large number of REU programs at universities across the United States. These 10-week programs usually consist of 10-15 undergraduate students at each site with each student assigned to a specific research project, faculty mentor and laboratory. Students also participate in professional development and social activities. Participating students receive a stipend and usually receive lodging and help with travel expenses. REUs are in any number of areas with many in science and engineering from nanobiotechnology to renewable energy to aerospace engineering. Each site has a specific application deadline usually in January or February of each year. Applications include letters of recommendation. More information regarding NSF REU’s can be found at  https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp

Faculty and Staff Researchers Mentoring Undergraduates in their Research Programs

Here is a list of current faculty and research staff currently mentoring undergraduates in their research programs. This list is by no means exhaustive. If you have any questions, contact John Balk .

Robert Adams – Electrical and Computer Engineering Akinbode Adedeji – Biosystems Engineering Ramkumar Annamalai – Biomedical Engineering Sean Bailey – Mechanical Engineering John Balk – Materials Engineering Matt Beck - Materials Engineering Bradley Berron – Chemical Engineering Dibaker Bhattacharyya – Chemical Engineering Sebastian Bryson – Civil Engineering Mei Chen – Civil Engineering Zhi David Chen – Electrical and Computer Engineering Aaron Cramer  – Electrical and Computer Engineering Henry Dietz – Electrical and Computer Engineering Kevin Donohue – Electrical and Computer Engineering Thomas Dziubla – Chemical Engineering Gregory Erhardt – Civil Engineering Isabel Escobar – Chemical Engineering James Fox – Civil Engineering Martha E. Grady – Mechanical Engineering James Griffoen – Computer Science Jeffrey Todd Hastings – Electrical and Computer Engineering David Herrin  – Mechanical Engineering Zach Hilt – Chemical Engineering Jesse Hoagg – Mechanical Engineering Dan Ionel – Electrical and Computer Engineering Hana Khamfroush – Computer Science Barbara Knutson – Chemical Engineering Alexandre Martin – Mechanical Engineering Brian Noehren – Health Science Lindell Ormsbee – Civil Engineering  –  www.uky.edu/WaterResources  –  www.uky.edu/superfund/ Kelly Pennell – Civil Engineering Jonathan Pham – Chemical and Materials Engineering David Pienkowski – Biomedical Engineering Steve Rankin – Chemical Engineering Mike Renfro – Mechanical Engineering Michael Sama - Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Simone Silvestri – Computer Science Suzanne Smith – Mechanical Engineering Joshua Werner – Mining Engineering Guoqiang Yu – Biomedical Engineering

Other Research Opportunities

The Kentucky-West Virginia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation

The Kentucky-West Virginia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (KY-WV LSAMP) is a consortium of colleges and universities working together to create, enhance, and expand programs designed to broaden participation and increase the quality and quantity of students from underrepresented populations who receive degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Program goals and activities focus on undergraduate research experiences.

Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates

The REU program at the University of Kentucky provides a 10-week multidisciplinary summer research and education experience for rising junior and senior undergraduates in the area of Engineered Bioactive Interfaces and Devices.

Please consider the following REU programs:

Texas A&M Cybermanufacturing Research Experience

Vanderbilt University Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

Cleveland State University Rehabilitation Engineering

Montana State University Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Louisville Advanced Micro/Nano/Additive Manufacturing Engineering

University of Cincinnati Hardware and Embedded Systems Security and Trust (RHEST)

University of Kentucky Heritage Science

University of Michigan Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities in Semiconductor Technology

NC State Materials Engineering with Data Science (MAT-DAT)

University of Notre Dame Advanced Wireless Research Experiences

Oakland University Automotive and Energy Research and Industrial Mentorship

University of Georgia Modern Tools and Technologies for Food & Agriculture Production

Other summer research opportunities for undergraduates can be found here .

Rowan Glenn Takes Flight with Undergraduate Research

• by Molly Medin
• April 19, 2024

For Rowan Glenn, applying for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, or AIAA, Jefferson Goblet Student Paper Award, wasn't top of mind while researching aviation with Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Christina Harvey , who leads the Biologically Informed Research and Design, or BIRD , lab at the University of California, Davis.

So, it was a bit of a surprise when Glenn, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major, found out they had won the prestigious award for aerospace design and structures, typically presented to a Ph.D. student.

"It was a hectic month leading up to our research paper. I got so focused on the presentation about our research that I forgot that I had submitted for the award at all," they said. "I got through the presentation, and then a day later, Christina told me I won an award. I was like, 'I forgot I was doing that.'"

Between preparing to graduate and conducting award-winning research, plus their other obligations as a lead in UC Davis' liquid rocketry club and a machine shop tech at the Diane Bryant Engineering Student Design Center , or ESDC, Glenn is one busy undergraduate, going all in on everything they can.

For their research, Glenn collaborated with Lucas Dahlke, a fellow mechanical engineering major, and Andy Engilis, the curator at the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, to collect data on the wingspan of birds to learn about aviation.

Glenn's team used an infrared and visual light scanner to create 3D models of 18 prepared bird wings, provided by Engilis, across several species. Glenn then adapted these models with a slicing algorithm for 3D printing, which slices a model into layers that the 3D printer prints, to measure the morphology of birdwings by extracting information about the shape of the wings' airfoils, or parts of the wing that create lift.

From there, Glenn compared the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoils from gliding birds to the airfoils of flapping birds to determine if there were any differences between them. The research showed a statistically insignificant difference in the aerodynamic efficiency of the different airfoils, concluding that further research is needed. 

Glenn will continue this research in collaboration with the University of North Carolina using their larger database of wing scans.

Glenn wasn't initially interested in bird flight research, but kept an open mind when they joined Harvey's lab. That willingness to try anything, coupled with their engineering skills and drive to excel, led to their research being recognized. 

When speaking about undergraduate research and not letting fear limit their opportunities, Glenn said, "You're not going to feel qualified because you're an undergrad. But that doesn't mean you can't do it. It just means you just got to start."

Rocket Science, Literally

Glenn continues to apply that same openness and drive in all aspects of their student life. As the engine lead in the Aggie Propulsion and Rocketry Lab , or APRL, the first liquid rocketry team at UC Davis, Glenn is currently designing their first rocket engine with the club. They will travel to the Mojave Desert to perform a hot fire test on their engine, a huge milestone in the engine's development.  

Another environment Glenn excels in is manufacturing at the ESDC. Glenn works part-time as a machine shop tech, getting more hands-on engineering experience and developing manufacturing knowledge. They maintain and service machines in the shop, train students to use shop equipment and manufacturing techniques and implement new organizational systems for the shop to improve the workflow and functionality of the shop.

Glenn is continually pushing to learn something new and apply maximum effort in all of their roles. They have learned that fear shouldn't stop them from trying out something new, which Glenn believes is a key part of the college experience and finding success.

"The thing I try to remind myself of is, it's not that I'm not finding it hard because I'm not competent enough," said Glenn. "I'm finding this difficult or confusing because the work is difficult and confusing. It's complicated engineering stuff. This work is hard. This is literally rocket science. That's why I'm finding it difficult, not because I'm not good enough to do this."

In their lead role at APRL, they make it a point to teach younger students about their lessons learned in intimidating research labs about fighting imposter syndrome and confidence.

Glenn plans to continue research as an undergraduate student, keep trying new things, and apply to grad school in a few years after graduating and starting work. In winning the Jefferson Goblet Student Paper Award, Glenn found a bit of outside validation that their plan, or lack thereof, is working. 

"I like to joke with my friends that I'm an award-winning aerospace engineer now. I think it has solidified for me that just starting something and seeing what happens is a valid way to get work done." 

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Department of energy and mineral engineering.

EME Summer Research Internship Program

We’re looking for undergraduate students who are interested in spending eight to ten weeks of their summer with us working with EME faculty mentors, current graduate students, and alumni and industry partners on an active research project. Learn what is involved in laboratory research and/or data collection and analysis and take part in team-building and professional development activities with the other members of your summer research cohort.

The summer research program is designed to help undergraduate students gain a deeper understanding of research being conducted in the energy and mineral engineering fields while building a foundation in fundamental research and data analysis skills. Students identify areas of interest so they are aligned with the most applicable research project and mentor.

Who should apply?

All interested undergraduates are invited to apply, but special priority will be given to students who are:

• Penn State sophomores who are considering or planning to enroll in a major in the department, especially those at Commonwealth campuses.
• Penn State juniors (or higher) currently enrolled in the department who are considering applying to our graduate program.
• Juniors (or higher) at other universities and colleges who would like to sample research topics in the department and would consider applying to our graduate program.

Summer 2023 Application Deadline : March 15, 2023

Submit an Application

View Research Program Guidelines

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Nearly $7M in federal grants awarded to develop tech to monitor, treat chronic eye diseases

Research teams led by Chi Hwan Lee, the Leslie A. Geddes Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering in Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, will use two grants from the National Eye Institute to further develop specialized smart soft contact lenses that continuously monitor or treat chronic ocular diseases like glaucoma.

Scramjet prototype tests Purdue hypersonics additive-manufacturing capabilities

A team at the Purdue Applied Research Institute, the university’s research and development center, is using state-of-the-art additive-manufacturing equipment to print a full-scale, fully operational prototype of a supersonic combustion ramjet.

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Robotics and Human-Robot Interaction

Robotics research at the Tufts CS Department investigates fundamental problems at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence and the psychology of human-robot interaction. How can robots learn about the world by interacting with humans? How can robots “think” ethically when faced with complicated decisions? What design factors contribute to effective human-robot collaboration and trust?

Recent focus areas include:

• Cognitive architectures for complex robots
• Robot ethics
• Cognitive and developmental robotics
• Service robotics
• Language grounding and learning
• Augmented reality for human-robot interaction
• Human-Robot Teaming
• Interactive Task Learning
• One-Shot Learning
• Assistive Human-Robot Interaction
• Human-in-the-Loop Robot Learning
• Public space robotics
• Multi-party human-robot interaction

Research Laboratories:

• The Human-Robot Interaction Laboratory
• The Assistive Agent Behavior and Learning Laboratory
• The Multimodal Learning, Interaction, and Perception Laboratory
• Assistant Professor Jivko Sinapov
• Professor Matthias Scheutz
• Assistant Professor Elaine Short

Relevant Robotics Courses at Tufts:

• COMP 50: Autonomous Intelligent Robotics
• CS 133: Human-Robot Interaction
• CS 138: Reinforcement Learning
• CS 139: Ethics for AI, Robotics, and Human Robot Interaction
• CS 141: Probabilistic Robotics 
• CS 150-02: Developmental Robotics

Two Graduate Students Selected for U.S. Department of Energy Research Program

• by Jessica Heath
• April 23, 2024

Abigail Hering and Hudson Shih, Ph.D. students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of California, Davis, have been selected for this year's Office of Science Graduate Student Research, or SCGSR, program from the U.S. Department of Energy, or DOE. 

The SCGSR program provides opportunities for students to conduct part of their graduate thesis research at a DOE laboratory or facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist. Hering and Shih are two of the 86 awardees from 57 different universities who will conduct their research at national laboratories. 

Abigail Hering

Hering, a third-year Ph.D. student, will be stationed at LBNL's Molecular Foundry, where she will work with Carolin Sutter-Fella, an LBNL staff scientist and expert in inorganic nanostructures, in her Materials for Energy Conversion lab to fabricate halide perovskite thin films using a fully automated robotic fabrication system called the SpinBot. 

In her research in the Leite Lab , led by Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Marina Leite , Hering has focused on characterizing the optical properties of halide perovskites, which are promising materials for a renewable, reliable and low-cost alternative for solar cells . However, halide perovskites can degrade faster than silicon solar cells when exposed to environmental stressors like humidity, temperature, oxygen and light. 

Using the SpinBot system, Hering will be able to fabricate more perovskite thin film samples with a higher degree of control and precision than she can at UC Davis. She will also be able to test the sample qualities immediately after creating them, creating large datasets that can then be analyzed using machine-learning models to predict and classify the degradations that occur. 

"I am very excited about the opportunity to work in Dr. Sutter-Fella's lab and to be part of the collaborative and innovative environment of a national lab," said Hering. "The unique SpinBot system will allow me to advance my research significantly to understand the long-term stability of these materials, which is essential to their implementation as commercial solar cells." 

Hudson Shih

Shih will conduct his residency at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, or LBNL, National Center for Electron Microscopy, or NCEM, where he will use high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, or TEM, to observe phase transitions in strontium cobaltite. 

Using advanced TEM techniques such as in-situ TEM and 4D-STEM, Shih aims to deepen the understanding of how oxygen diffusion facilitates the transition between transition phases, which could lead to informing the design of strontium cobaltite oxide-based memristors, themselves promising candidates for dense memory systems in neuromorphic computing.  

Shih, who is in his fourth year pursuing his Ph.D. under the advisement of materials science and engineering professors Yayoi Takamura and Seung Sae Hong , looks forward to working with the researchers at NCEM, who have the knowledge and expertise with these specialized techniques. 

"I am excited to work with experts like Rohan Dhall and Colin Ophus at NCEM who are among the best microscopists in the world," Shih said. "NCEM is known for its pioneering role in electron microscopy, particularly in deploying cutting-edge techniques like 4D-STEM."

Read the DOE announcement

Primary Category

30 Best universities for Mechanical Engineering in Moscow, Russia

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Moscow ranked based on their research performance in Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 269K citations received by 45.8K academic papers made by 30 universities in Moscow was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Moscow State University

For Mechanical Engineering

2. Bauman Moscow State Technical University

3. National Research University Higher School of Economics

4. Moscow Aviation Institute

5. N.R.U. Moscow Power Engineering Institute

6. National Research Nuclear University MEPI

7. National University of Science and Technology "MISIS"

8. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology

9. Moscow State Technological University "Stankin"

10. RUDN University

11. Moscow Polytech

12. Moscow State University of Railway Engineering

13. Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation

14. Moscow Medical Academy

15. Russian State University of Oil and Gas

16. mendeleev university of chemical technology of russia.

17. Russian National Research Medical University

18. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics

19. National Research University of Electronic Technology

20. Moscow State Pedagogical University

21. Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration

22. State University of Management

23. Moscow State Institute of International Relations

24. Russian State Geological Prospecting University

25. russian state agricultural university.

26. New Economic School

27. Moscow State Technical University of Civil Aviation

28. Russian State University for the Humanities

29. Russian State Social University

30. Moscow State Linguistic University

Universities for Mechanical Engineering near Moscow

Engineering subfields in moscow.

• Academic Programs
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Call for Applications: Undergraduate Research Assistant Position in Space Robotics

• 22 April 2024

Bio2Robotics Laboratory (MAE Department)

Undergraduate research assistant position in space robotics, (sophomore or early junior) deadline to apply: may 10th, 2024.

The Bioinspired and Biomimetic Robotics Laboratory (Bio2Robotics Lab: https://sites.google.com/view/bio2robotics-lab) in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department invites applications for an undergraduate research assistant position starting May, 15th 2024, to work on a NASA-funded snake-like robot project for the lunar extreme access exploration. The project is for two years, and the position will be continued based on the student's performance and the availability of funds. The undergraduate research assistant will work with a graduate student in the research lab and get the required training while helping with conducting research and contributing to the project. The undergraduate student will be responsible for:

• CAD modeling, designing, and prototyping artificial muscle-driven snake-like robot, mechanical parts, and test setup
• Fabricate and test a variety of pneumatic artificial muscles
• Help to develop electronics and pneumatic boards for control of the robot
• Help to develop MATLAB/Simulink hardware-in-the-loop setup
• Testing, data collection, and analysis
• Writing reports and manuscripts and presenting research results.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Sophomore or early Junior undergraduate student in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (this is a must)
• Two-year commitment is required to the project during the fall, spring, and summer semesters (no exception)
• Proficiency in CAD modeling
• Ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative and multidisciplinary team environment
• Minimum GPA of 3.5
• Prior experience in robotics is a plus

Please send your CV and transcripts to Dr. Haghshenas-Jaryani at [email protected].

Tthe selected candidates will be contacted accordingly. The position will remain open until it is filled.

Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

• Jett Hall, Room 104 1040 S. Horseshoe Street Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001
• Tel: (575) 646-3502 Fax: (575) 646-6111

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• MyU : For Students, Faculty, and Staff

Onrí Jay Benally receives 2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Doctoral student Onrí Jay Benally is a 2024 recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Benally is currently pursuing his doctoral research under the guidance of Distinguished McKnight Professor and Robert F. Hartmann chair Jian-Ping Wang exploring the world of quantum computing and spintronic devices. 

A Navaho (Diné) tribesman and carpenter, Benally comes to us from the mountains of Red Valley and Oak Springs, Arizona. After graduating from tribal high school, he found himself building off-road electric vehicles at a Utah State University lab led by Professors Curtiz Frazier and Jared Barrett. Two years later, in 2017, he transferred to the University of Minnesota and accepted a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) through the NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) at the University. During this time, he worked with Professor Vlad Pribiag (School of Physics and Astronomy) building nanoelectronic devices in the cleanroom for Majorana fermion research. The REU was Benally’s first brush with quantum technology exploration. He returned to the MRSEC REU in summer 2018 and this time he worked with Wang on micro and nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions for classical computer memory and logic applications. He earned his bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from the University in 2021. 

While Benally was working on his undergraduate degree, he earned an IBM certificate in quantum computation using Qiskit, and began hypothesizing how metallic-based spintronics and new architectures could be used to support the expansion of quantum supercomputing worldwide. The initial hypothesis motivated him to enter ECE’s doctoral program in fall 2022. 

Reflecting on his interest in quantum technology and his skills as a carpenter, Benally says, "Carpentry was my livelihood on the tribe before completing my undergraduate degree. It is a big part of who I am and has indirectly led to my success as a nanofabricator of spintronics and quantum chips." Benally shares that one of his first toys as a kid was a toy hammer. 

Benally’s research interests revolve around the engineering of quantum computing hardware and spintronic devices. An interdisciplinary area, his research involves the nanofabrication of ultrafast nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions, cryogenic magnetic random-access memory (cryo-MRAM), and hybrid spintronic quantum processing units (QPUs), systems that can form scalable, sustainable quantum hardware architectures. Under the guidance of Wang, Benally designs and fabricates these systems at the Minnesota Nano Center at the University. Benally addressed these new developments in his keynote speech at the Arizona State University-led Quantum Collaborative Summit this past fall in San Antonio, Texas. Over the upcoming summer, Benally will be a graduate intern with IBM Research in Yorktown Heights, New York. As a quantum hardware engineer, he will be working on cutting edge cryogenic electronics for large-scale superconducting quantum computers.

Benally has accepted the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and feels honored to start delivering on his proposed ideas on supporting quantum supercomputing through spintronics and new architectures. 

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program helps “ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States.” Learn about the program and eligibility requirements.

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