Education Programs

Faculty-Student Team Research Fellowships are awarded to undergraduates and an accompanying faculty member from the same institution. This ten-week program, offered during the summer months, is designed to provide unique research experiences for faculty and students from four-year, tribal, and community colleges, as well as junior faculty at research universities thereby enhancing their undergraduate-based research efforts and gaining fresh exposure to specific areas of materials research. Faculty have the option of being in residence for 2-10 weeks. This program strengthens the bond between the college instructor and undergraduate, prepares students for informed career decisions, creates permanent faculty contacts at participating colleges, and provides a vehicle for introducing MS&E into college curricula. Each team performs research in a UMN MRSEC research group from the Microstructured Polymers, Crystalline Organic Semiconductors and Magnetic Heterostructures IRGs, the Nanoparticle-Based Materials Proto-IRG, or one of the various MRSEC Seed groups. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. Criteria for the awards include the quality of the proposed work, the appropriateness of the proposed work to the activities and capabilities of the MRSEC, and the endorsement of the team by a MRSEC faculty.

Native American Undergraduate Fellowships are provided to American Indian students from tribal colleges particularly those in the Upper Midwest. These awards are intended for students unaccompanied by a faculty member from their home institution. Students participate in a ten-week summer research program designed to provide unique research experiences, professional development, and increased awareness of materials science and engineering. Each student performs research in a UMN MRSEC research group from the Microstructured Polymers, Crystalline Organic Semiconductors and Magnetic Heterostructures IRGs, the Nanoparticle-Based Materials Proto-IRG, or one of the various Seed groups. Fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis. Criteria for the awards include the quality of the student’s undergraduate record, a letter of recommendation from a faculty member of the student’s institution, a demonstrated interest in science and/or engineering, and the endorsement by a MRSEC faculty advisor.

The UMN MRSEC Research Experience for Teachers (RET) is a six-week program. RET participants will be active members of our faculty’s research groups, conducting research in one of four Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs): microstructured polymers, crystalline organic semiconductors, magnetic heterostructures, nanoparticle based materials, or in a Seed project. Each RET participant will work in a team under the direction of a specific principal investigator (PI), with post doctoral/graduate students from the PI’s group and, where appropriate, with a REU student. The program objectives are: (1) to gain an overview of the research practices in materials science and engineering, and (2) the development of a standards based curriculum element as a consequence of the RET participant’s interest and summer experience. Fellowships will be awarded on a competitive basis. Criteria for the awards include the quality of the proposed work, the appropriateness of the proposed work to the activities and capabilities of the MRSEC, and endorsement of the concept by a MRSEC faculty collaborator. Stipends will be provided for all fellowship recipients.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) fellowships are awarded to undergraduates from four-year colleges and universities for participation in a ten-week summer program designed to provide unique research experiences, professional development, and increased awareness of materials science and engineering. Each student performs research in a UMN MRSEC research group from the Microstructured Polymers, Crystalline Organic Semiconductors and Magnetic Heterostructures IRGs, the Nanoparticle-Based Materials Proto-IRG, or one of the various Seed groups. Criteria for the awards include the quality of the student’s undergraduate record, a letter of recommendation from a faculty member of the student’s institution, a demonstrated interest in science and/or engineering, and the endorsement of a MRSEC faculty advisor. Students are matched with MRSEC research groups and faculty mentors prior to their arrival on campus and are provided with a choice of research topics and project goals. Reports and publications relevant to the MRSEC research topic are sent to the student prior to arrival.