Summer Research Opportunities

The ADaPT Summer Scholars Program provides prospective physical therapy students from racial minority groups an opportunity to explore rehabilitation research with world-renowned physical therapy scientists at the University of Delaware Department of Physical Therapy (UDPT). Selected scholars experience the research setting of physical therapy by serving as assistants in the labs of UDPT faculty for 10 weeks over the summer. They are invited to attend journal clubs, social gatherings and have the option of presenting their research knowledge at a symposium at the end of the program. More information about ADaPT can be found on our website.

Please contact Jeanne Warrington with questions.

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Work closely with CANR researchers on projects that provide real-world experiences in scientific careers.

The University of Delaware’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UD CANR) is offering summer research and education experiences to undergraduates (both UD and non-UD students) who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in the agricultural, natural resources or life sciences.

Please contact Mark Parcells with any questions

Note from the Coordinator:

Participation in the Summer Institute is awarded through a competitive application process. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are encouraged to apply. The Summer Institute seeks diversity among its participants and thus particularly encourages student applicants who are from groups that are underrepresented in the nation’s scientific or agricultural workforce.

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Brain Camp gives students intensive introduction to neuroscience

This workshop for undergraduates is a two-week intensive learning experience in cognitive and brain sciences. Topics covered include optogenetics, multiple methods in brain imaging (with labs), neuropsychology, language, spatial perception, social cognition, replicability and more. Furthermore, a few students can apply to do research over the entire summer at the University of Delaware. This workshop is free thanks to generous support from the National Science Foundation.

Please contact Yolanda Williams-Bey with any questions

Note from the Coordinator:

Generally, participants are provided with an intensive experience in cognitive neuroscientific research via lectures, hands-on labs and discussion, led by faculty at the University of Delaware.

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Gain an in-depth understanding of Delaware policy issues

Classroom concepts and hands-on practical experience come together for students selected to participate in the Summer Undergraduate Public Policy Fellows Program.

Through this scholarship program, students conduct research with faculty and staff in one of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration’s affiliated research centers—the Institute for Public Administration or the Center for Community Research and Service—on public policy issues such as aging, civic engagement, education, the environment, healthcare, healthy communities, homelessness, housing discrimination, land-use planning, poverty, transportation, welfare and water resources planning.

Fellows learn about policy issues from leaders in the field, network with practitioners, and witness classroom concepts come to life through research and public service.

The Summer Undergraduate Public Policy Fellows Program runs for 10 weeks for a total of 300 hours. Fellows take a required UNIV course that includes two field visits outside of work hours and receive a $3,000 scholarship.

Please contact Lisa Moreland Allred with any questions

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An opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art biomechanics research lab on an independent project

The Center for Biomechanical Engineering Research (CBER) at the University of Delaware offers a comprehensive Research Experience for Undergraduates who “Dare to BE FIRST” which will establish Biomechanical Engineering Foundations in Impactful Research, Science and Technology (BE FIRST). We will take advantage of faculty expertise in osteoarthritis research to train qualified minority undergraduate students in essential research skills for biomedical engineering.

Note from the Coordinator:

After admission, students will submit a description (250 words) of the proposed research project related to the REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) theme, written by the student, typically in collaboration with the matched faculty research advisor.

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Become part of a multidisciplinary team

The Center for Composite Materials (CCM) offers students at all levels (high school to graduate students) internship opportunities at the University’s Composites Manufacturing Science Laboratory. Students will work under the guidance of CCM staff and/or affiliated faculty as members of multidisciplinary teams, addressing problems on a variety of research topics. Research areas span all aspect of composite materials, from basic materials research, design, manufacturing, characterization and evaluation, and additive manufacturing. Internship opportunities are available throughout the year and students are expected to conduct and present their research at our Research Symposiums.

Please contact Kristen Scully with any questions.

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The CIAMTIS REU site was established to train a highly specialized cadre of engineers capable of addressing the grand challenges faced by critical infrastructure. Participants will engage in research on development and deployment of new materials and technologies to improve durability, facilitate safe and rapid construction and repair, extend service life, and reduce life-cycle costs of transportation infrastructure. Furthermore, students will participate in professional development workshops and networking activities. This project is supported by the Center for Integrated Asset Management for Multi-modal Transportation Infrastructure Systems (CIAMTIS).

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The Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI) is hosting a 10 week summer research opportunity in polymers, catalysis, enzyme engineering, and data science at the Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI). Experience in chemical conversion strategies and enabling cross-cutting tools to address the global problem of plastics waste. 

• Research projects with graduate student and faculty mentorship
• Research seminars and professional development workshops
• Industry and government lab site visits
• Interdisciplinary research symposium

Students can submit interest by emailing cpi-info@udel.edu – An application will then be generated.  Applications for the summer 2023 undergraduate research experience are due Feb. 15, 2023.    

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Improving Delaware’s environment and economy through research and education

Delaware EPSCoR has funded more than 350 undergraduate research internships at the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wesley College and Delaware Technical Community College since 2004.

The Summer Scholars program takes place over a 10-week period beginning in June and culminating in August with the presentation of research results at an undergraduate research symposium. In addition to completing an independent research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor, interns participate in skill-building seminars on such topics as choosing a graduate school, research ethics and making research presentations and posters. Summer Scholars typically receive a stipend of $4,000.

Prospective interns are generally expected to identify a research project and mentor, although help is available at each institution for students who need assistance in making connections with faculty.

Please contact Yolanda Williams-Bey with any questions.

The Delaware INBRE Summer Scholars Program is an undergraduate summer research program sponsored through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) through funding to the Delaware INBRE program. In a partnership with six state institutions, including ChristianaCare, Delaware Technical Community College, Delaware State University, Nemours Hospital for Children, the University of Delaware and the Wilmington VA Medical Center, selected undergraduate students are able to carry out independent research projects while studying full-time under a mentor to gain knowledge of research techniques and making unique scholarly or original impacts to the biomedical sciences.

Please contact Linda Polasko with any questions.

Note from the Coordinator:

Scholars will be required to sign an agreement adhering to all terms and conditions of the program. Underrepresented minority groups and veterans are especially encouraged to apply. Regional summer opportunities also are available in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Contact the Delaware INBRE education office at inbre-education@udel.edu, for more information.

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Spend your summer exploring energy research

The Delaware Energy Institute (DEI) along with the Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI) offers summer internships to a select group of motivated undergraduates and first-year graduate students (officially accepted to UD) to work on independent research projects under the guidance of a faculty mentor and graduate student or staff scientist.

Please contact dei-info@udel.edu with any questions.

Note from the Coordinator:

The summer session program concludes with a poster presentation at the University of Delaware’s Undergraduate Research and Service Scholar Celebratory Symposium in August. In addition, students participate in career-development activities such as research ethics, communication skills, laboratory safety training and field trips to industry. Students will be expected to work 40 hours per week for the duration of the program.

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Participate in paid summer research at the University of Delaware

UD Envision is an undergraduate research experience funded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) focused on generating the next generation of agricultural scientists. As minorities are underrepresented in these disciplines and research target areas, this project has been developed to address this disparity. Intensive, hands-on research education and experiential learning projects help to bridge the perceptual change required for students to Envision themselves as scientists. The faculty areas of research span the disciplines of 'One Health,' food security and environmental sustainability.  

Please contact Mark Parcells with any questions.

Note from the Coordinator:

The summer includes training in video equipment, editing, and storytelling, ethics, laboratory, and safety trainings, and participation in camraderie-building activities.

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Research the many facets of marine science

Interns work with faculty and research staff in a research-intensive atmosphere on a research topic in chemical, physical or biological oceanography, marine biology, marine geology, or marine biogeochemistry. Students develop their project under the guidance of their faculty mentor and present written and oral reports at the end of the summer. Interns also attend weekly research seminars, professional development presentations and field trips to nearby coastal marine systems.

Please contact Dr. Joanna York with any questions.

Note from the Coordinator

Supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences, this REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) program awards 10 science, engineering and mathematics undergraduates summer internships to conduct guided research in marine science.

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We’re providing immersive research, educational, and mentorship experience for undergraduates at Delaware State (DESU) and Claflin (CU) universities through a “Pathways to Graduate School” program. Our MRSEC Fellows program enhances exposure of HBCU undergraduates to materials science, expands their academic networks, and facilitates their transition to an R1 environment. This new pilot program is intended to become a fully functioning ‘pathway/bridge’ program in science and engineering that provides:

• Fellowships to support HBCU student research and coursework at UD
• Co-mentorship by UD and DESU/CU faculty members
• Fellow Seed grant opportunities to fund DESU/CU mentors to conduct research at UD (UD providing facility access with mentee)
• A joint seminar series between UD, Delaware State, and Claflin faculty and students
• REU summer programming participation for increased networking
• Planned certificate program development between UD-DESU-CU

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A well-rounded, healthcare-focused experience in biomedical research for undergraduates interested in pursuing advanced studies in the biological sciences and/or health professions.

The Nemours Summer Undergraduate Research Program (NSURP) is accepting applications for funded Summer Research Scholar positions in our Summer 2022 program.  NSURP is a 10-week, full-time program that offers opportunities consisting of laboratory-based, translational, and clinical biomedical research projects. The available positions are located at three Nemours sites:

• Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware in Wilmington, DE
  From the DE site, there are occasionally projects based at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.
• Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville in Jacksonville, FL
• Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida in Orlando, FL

Please contact Nemours with any questions.

Note from the Coordinator

We encourage diversity in our student cohort: we welcome applicants from all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations and abilities/disabilities to apply.

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Climate change is one of the major challenges that the U.S. faces in the 21st century. Carbon emissions, as a major catalyst, are in great part a result of construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation systems. With support from the NSF Division of Engineering Education and Centers, the REU Site in Sustainable Resilient Transportation Systems at the University of Delaware will contribute to the state-of-the-art technologies and design methodologies with a potential to reduce carbon emissions and, consequently, help address climate change. The site will host a diverse cohort of undergraduate researchers who will engage in interdisciplinary research programs in electric and autonomous vehicles; green construction materials and structures; and resilient infrastructure.

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This REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program is open to all undergraduate students with disabilities (mobility, sensory, learning, psychological, medical or other) who are majors in chemistry, biochemistry or chemistry-related fields. Research experience is not required. Preference will be given to students who are:

• Juniors (i.e. one to two years away from graduation)
• Interested in chemistry and biochemistry research projects (related disciplines will be considered)
• Considering graduate or professional school following graduation
• Highly motivated to excel

Please contact research-experience@udel.edu with any questions

Note from the Coordinator

Research projects are assigned based on the students’ scientific interest. Once students are admitted to the program, we have a phone conversation with them to learn more about their preferred research field. We then match them with an appropriate academic mentor from the Chemistry, Biology or Engineering Department. We arrange for the student to discuss the potential project with a prospective mentor and we find that these discussions are very helpful to finalize the research project.

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Building a more diverse science community and create new opportunities for talent generation.

UD CHARM offers a comprehensive Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, leveraging CHARM’s expertise and spirit of cross-cutting materials innovation. We specifically aim to improve the capabilities of undergraduate students who have interests in materials science-related research, especially among underrepresented groups. Our REU students are paired with a faculty member and their lab group within CHARM and assigned a graduate student mentor. The activities designed to meet this objective include:

• Creating a cohort of sophomore and junior undergraduate students from Delaware State University, Claflin University, UD, and other universities with diverse representation involved in 10 weeks of summer research
• Hands-on experience in a related laboratory (chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, or physics)
• Workshops dedicated to fundamental laboratory skills, effective mentor relationships, safety, human subjects training, innovation & entrepreneurship, applying to graduate school, available university resources, and other professional development topics
• Research lab and industry site visits to broaden the scope of learning
• Social events to promote communication among interdisciplinary students and mentors
• Research symposium where students synthesize their summer research for a diverse audience
• Systematically administered surveys and professional evaluations of program outcomes giving students a key role in program updates and improvements

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The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Delaware is proud to introduce our new Undergraduate Research in Electrical and Computer Engineering (UR-ECE) summer program. Our goal is to inspire and engage undergraduate students in science and engineering to use the unique skillset in electrical and computer engineering to solve major issues facing today’s society. Annually the program will offer a set of research projects with intellectual exploration that spans the broad range of ECE subdisciplines, while directly aligning with one of the following National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges: 

• Make Solar Energy Economical
• Reverse-Engineer the Brain
• Advance Health Informatics
• Secure Cyberspace
• Engineer the Tools of Scientific Discovery

Students will spend 10 summer weeks in an ECE research lab at UD. They will engage in research alongside faculty and graduate students, and participate in research and professional development activities including  scientific literature searches, the scientific process, and communicating research effectively. Students will also have access to our state-of-the-art student collaborative innovation suite (iSuite) that includes a Collaboration Hub, Cyber Range, and a Makerspace. Participants will engage in established research activities that include access to advanced research facilities including the Maker Gym, University of Delaware Nanofabrication Facility and the Delaware Advanced Research Workforce and Innovation Network

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