The future of materials research demands a workforce whose interdisciplinary academic and research training extends from materials design, to manufacturing, and to characterization. To achieve this, we must move beyond the rigid, traditional approaches of materials science and engineering educational programs into truly creative spaces where innovation is allowed to occur. Our REU Site focuses on the most fundamental and foundational elements of creativity: creative thinking and creative expression.
This REU Site is designed to address the urgent need for innovation in materials research in the U.S. by interweaving a proven creativity training program into the framework of the traditional research and professional development activities. This REU Site fills a critical gap in workforce development in materials design and manufacture, and address a national need for researchers who can solve complex, interconnected problems by training researchers to think creatively from an early stage. This is particularly critical for advanced functional materials, which are often micro- or nanostructured, and built through either self-assembly or complex fabrication processes, due to their unique and complex structure-function relationships, and their potential use in applications critical to human health and security.
The projects of this REU Site focus on understanding and predicting these relationships for micro- and nano-structured materials across a wide spectrum of applications, including sensors, batteries, reactors, and implantable devices. Students in this program learn cutting-edge materials research approaches that include atomistic simulation, coarse-grain modeling, and a suite of materials design / fabrication / characterization techniques. This research will not only advance the science in each unique area, but will provide students with unique, measurable skills in computational modeling, materials science design, processing, characterization, and creative thinking.
Students should expect to work 40 hours per week in their lab, attend mandatory weekly meetings, and join in various professional development activities.
Students will receive:
- Stipend of $5,000 (minus taxes)
- On-campus housing – valued at $1,500, (air conditioned dorm room, 2 students per room)
- Meal Plan – valued at $1,100
- Travel to/from Columbia, Missouri (If driving, maximum amount reimbursed is $500 and this is for gas/mileage, no hotel expenses are reimbursed. Please contact us if you have any questions.)
Applicants are expected to have completed at least one year of full-time college enrollment prior to June and be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. Students from non-Ph.D.-granting institutions and institutions that support under-represented minority students, as well as under-represented students, are highly encouraged to apply.
This program is for visiting students only, students from the University of Missouri are not eligible.
Students will list up to eight (8) faculty with whom they are interested in working on their application.
- Reginald Rogers, Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering
- Mahmoud Almasri, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
- Sheila Grant, Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering
- Liqun (Andrew) Gu, Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering
- Karl Hammond, Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering
- Jian (Javen) Lin, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
- Matt Maschmann, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
- Brett Ulery, Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering
- Zheng Yan, Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering
- Matthias Young, Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Please visit the departmental websites for comprehensive lists of faculty members & their research before completing your application.
The deadline to apply is February 16, 2025. Students must complete the application form and provide an unofficial transcript (including Fall 2024 grades); letters of recommendation (two preferred); a resumé; and a personal statement indicating career plans, prior research experience, and research interests. If completed online, documents will be submitted with the online application. For application packets sent via e-mail, the application form and other documents may be sent to ugr@missouri.edu. Letters of recommendation may be sent directly to the Office of Undergraduate Research via e-mail. Questions can be directed to the MU Office of Undergraduate Research preferably via e-mail ugr@missouri.edu; or by phone 573-882-5979.
Additional questions may be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Research, ugr@missouri.edu or (573) 882-5979.
To preview the application, click the PDF below.
