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Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU)

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2025 MatSci REU Program

Applications for our 2025 REU Program will be available in early January 2025. Check out our website on Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research to learn more about our programs.


Engineering Materials for Advances in Energy, Biology, and Nanotechnology

The Materials Science and Engineering Department welcomes undergraduates to participate in our summer REU Program. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience and work directly with MatSci faculty and their research groups. Research in our department focuses on several of the grand challenges in engineering, including projects on energy conversion and storage, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, and nanomaterials synthesis and characterization. Whether you are well into your major or still testing the waters, all engineering students are strongly encouraged to apply to our REU program. The MatSci REU Program is jointly supported by the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE) and the Office of Student Affairs in the School of Engineering.

Quotes from our past REU Cohort:

Program Details:

The 2025 MatSci REU Program will run from June 23 to August 29, 2025. REU students will conduct an in-depth research project under the supervision of a faculty advisor and graduate student mentor. Admitted REU students will receive a $8000 stipend (with a need-based supplement of up to $1500 for eligible students) for the 10-week program. Additionally, REU students will have the opportunity to:

  • Gain exposure to multidisciplinary research topics in materials science through a seminar series with guest lectures from faculty, graduate students, and other guests.
  • Develop research and communication skills through weekly workshops with the REU cohort.
  • Learn about graduate school and career opportunities.
  • Socialize with fellow REU students and meet the MatSci community!

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants must be Stanford undergraduate students and have not received their bachelor’s degree before the start of the REU program. Current students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply! Applicants do not need to have declared a major or have prior research experience; however, preference is given to first-time participants and students interested in majoring in MatSci. Students participating in the 2025 MatSci REU Program cannot be on a Leave of Absence. Co-terminal students are eligible to apply, but must have not received the B.S. degree prior to the start of the REU program. Please do not hesitate to contact the MatSci REU Faculty Coordinators if you have questions at any time! 

Student Expectations:

REU students are expected to participate at a full-time effort (40 hours per week) for the duration of the 10-week program. Any absences must be coordinated in advance with the REU Faculty Coordinator and the student’s Faculty Advisor. Attendance on the first and last day of the program are mandatory.

REU students will meet regularly with their graduate student mentor and attend any regularly scheduled group meetings with their Faculty Advisor over the summer. On the last day of the program, REU students will present their research at the MatSci REU Symposium and share their accomplishments with the MatSci community.

How to Apply:

Applications for our 2025 REU Program will be available in early January 2025. Check out our website on Getting Involved in Undergraduate Research to learn more about our programs. 

The MatSci REU application will ask students to describe their academic and research interests and rank their project preferences. REU students will be matched to a research project and Faculty Advisor based on these selections. Applicants can see a list of our 2024 MatSci REU Projects here. Students are strongly encouraged to review faculty group sites to get a better sense of a Faculty member’s current research. Links to research group sites can be found on the MatSci Faculty webpage.

Applicants are not required to find a Faculty Advisor before applying, but students are welcome to contact MatSci Faculty directly to discuss research opportunities.

For more information or questions about the REU Program, please contact our REU Program Staff:

REU Faculty CoordinatorREU Program Administrator

Dr. Enze Chen & Dr. Haoxue Yan

mse-ug-advising@stanford.edu

Lecturers

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Gisselle Rodriguez

grodrig@stanford.edu

Administrative Associate

Department of Materials Science and Engineering