Interdisciplinary Nanoscale Physics and Materials Summer Research Program: This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), offers paid summer fellowships in many Penn State departments to undergraduate students from all across the country who are majoring in physics, chemistry, material science, all branches of engineering, etc. This particular REU program at Penn State engages students in labs which do frontier interdisciplinary materials research and utilize many state-of-the-art facilities and instruments. Students are matched with Center faculty members who share their research interests and conduct projects that are related to topics within the current MRSEC portfolio. Personal mentors include the faculty adviser, together with graduate students and postdoctoral scholars in the research group.

In addition to the research activities and seminars offered within the program, professional development opportunities include an inside look at the world of informal science education at The Franklin Institute and a science outreach experience during the Central PA Festival of the Arts. Further, participants become part of a diverse, welcoming, campus-wide summer research community.  Multiple Penn State REU programs, each of which focus upon a distinctly different research theme, come together for several community building events and general-topic seminars such as "science communication" and "career pathways for graduate students beyond academia". A Welcome Orientation and Picnic at the start of the summer celebrates the diversity of scientific expertise and the importance of individual differences and unique backgrounds in order to successfully pursue current scientific challenges.  A Research Symposium, with the feel of a professional conference, concludes the summer with the opportunity for all participants to share the results of their work via a short presentation and poster session. 

Domestic students from a diverse range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Note:  This NSF REU program is jointly hosted by both the Physics Department’s NSF REU site grant and the Center for Nanoscale Science (MRSEC).

Apply to the Penn State Nanoscale Physics & Materials REU Program.

Additional information about this program and other Penn State MRSEC affiliated research and education programs can be found here.