Undergraduate Student Research Opportunities

»MERIT-BIEN Summer Research Program
»TREND Summer Research Program
»Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research
»Gemstone Program
»More Research Opportunities

The Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) department's research budget of over $37 million is one of the largest in the country. The Department helps provide many undergraduate students with research opportunities working in faculty members' laboratories as undergraduate research assistants.

The ECE department is currently engaged in cutting edge research in areas as diverse as computer face recognition, bio-engineered pathogen detection systems, multimedia security, cryptology, micro-engines, wireless network design, digital assets preservation, supercomputing archetypes, and more.

The ECE department offers unique undergraduate research opportunities, including outstanding summer research internship programs. The Maryland Engineering Research Internship (MERIT) Biosystems Internships for Engineers (BIEN) program offers research opportunities for top undergraduates across the country. Each project uses electrical engineering skills and tools to address important biosystems applications. The Training and Research Experiences in Nonlinear Dynamics (TREND) program offers research opportunities for students interested in nonlinear dynamics. Students participate in cutting edge, team-based research, technical and educational seminars, and field trips to local industry.  

The Gemstone Program at the University of Maryland is a unique multidisciplinary four-year research program for selected undergraduate honors students of all majors. Under guidance of faculty mentors and Gemstone staff, teams of students design, direct, and conduct significant research exploring the interdependence of science and technology with society. Gemstone students are members of a living-learning community comprised of fellow students, faculty and staff who work together to enrich the undergraduate experience.

More Research Opportunities

In addition to the MERIT-BIEN program offered by the ECE Department, there are numerous opportunities to participate in a summer research experience on campus, in and around the DC metropolitan area, and throughout the country:

The Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research, an initiative from the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Studies, serves as a resource for both students and faculty members. Students can use MCUR to find on- and off-campus opportunities that best match their skills. The Center also partners with other offices on campus to supplement services for students engaged in research, such as writing workshops, preparation for graduate school, and other topics.
 
The Institute for Systems Research is an interdisciplinary research unit within the Clark School. Their 10-week summer program introduces the systems engineering paradigm to young researchers and future leaders. Visit http://www.isr.umd.edu. The application deadline is February 1.
 
Training and Research Experiences in Nonlinear Dynamics (TREND) is administered by IREAP (UM's Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics)
Deadline: February 27 (This program is managed by Professor Wesley Lawson, ECE Undergraduate Associate Chair.)
 
National Institute of Standards and Technology  (NIST)  http://www.surf.nist.gov/surf2.htm.
The Engineering Co-op & Career Services office must complete certain portions of the application (SF 424 &CD 511)
Deadline:  February 17, 2009

Cyber Scholars REU Program: http://www.wie.umd.edu/undergrad/reucomps.html
Deadline: March 15
 
Naval Research Enterprise  Intern program  http://www.asee.org/nreip
Deadline: January 12
 
Nanotechnology Summer Internships (National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network)
http://www.reu.nnin.org/
Deadline:  February 11
 
Also,  if you visit the National Science Foundation website at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm, you will find links to dozens of programs in Engineering and Computer and Information Science and Engineering offered by schools nationwide.   

Also see:
Maryland Engineering Research Internship Teams (MERIT) Biosystems Internships for Engineers (BIEN)
ASPIRE Program
Training and Research Experiences in Nonlinear Physics (TREND) Research Program
Gemstone Program
Internship Opportunities
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