Outreach
Our outreach features NSF-supported summer research opportunities for undergraduate students (REU) and STEM educators (RET).
Undergraduate summer research internships · Director & PI: Professor Xin Zhang
Introduction
| This NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site brings undergraduate students from colleges and universities across the United States to Boston University for a ten-week, immersive, and collaborative summer research experience. The program spans biomedical, mechanical, electrical, computer, and materials engineering, as well as physics, chemistry, biology, photonics, and optics. Students are matched with research groups based on their interests and background, and no prior research experience is required. During the summer, participants conduct mentored research alongside faculty and graduate researchers while developing core laboratory, analytical, and professional skills. The program also includes professional development, networking, and community-building activities that together support a rich and well-rounded research experience. |
About the Integrated Nanomanufacturing REU Site
| The Integrated Nanomanufacturing (INM) REU Site focuses on the design, fabrication, and study of nanoscale structures, devices, and systems that enable advances in biotechnology and healthcare, robotics, electronics, computing, artificial intelligence, and energy. Students carry out hands-on, mentored research involving nanoscale characterization, device fabrication, and materials engineering, supported by access to advanced facilities for photolithography, 3D printing, and electron microscopy. For participants interested in technology translation, selected projects are co-mentored by innovative nanotechnology companies located in Boston University’s Business Innovation Center. Since 2015, the BU Photonics Center has administered this REU Site and has hosted more than 100 INM students over ten summers. |
Professional Development
| In addition to research, the REU Site provides structured professional development designed to prepare students for graduate study, technical careers, and leadership in STEM. Weekly seminars cover topics such as graduate school pathways, career exploration, science communication, research ethics, and entrepreneurship and innovation. Participants also receive hands-on group training in the Photonics Center’s shared laboratories, where they learn core techniques including photolithography, cleanroom protocols, and electron microscopy. |
Eligibility and Research Opportunities
| Participation in this NSF-funded REU Site is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and applicants must be current undergraduates enrolled at institutions outside Boston University. Students must not have completed their degree prior to the start of the program. Boston University is committed to full inclusion and works confidentially with participants and Disability & Access Services to ensure appropriate research accommodations when needed. Research projects are embedded within active laboratories and span the broad range of topics represented by the INM Site. Students are matched with research groups based on their interests, preparation, and goals, and in some cases finalists may be invited to rank preferred mentors and projects. |
How to Apply
| Applications to the INM REU Site are submitted through this website, and there is no application fee. Applicants should use their own voice to explain their interests and how the Site aligns with their academic and career goals. An unofficial transcript and one letter of recommendation from a professor, research advisor, or academic mentor are required. Applications are reviewed by Site faculty and staff to assess alignment between applicants and available research opportunities. While some offers may be made on a rolling basis, all applicants are notified after final selections are completed; individual feedback cannot be provided due to the volume of applications. |
Program Structure and Expectations
| The REU Site is a full-time, in-person summer research experience with a fixed start date, and participants are expected to arrange their academic schedules accordingly. Students are provided with furnished, on-campus apartment-style housing located within walking distance of research laboratories, typically in shared units, while meals are covered through the program stipend rather than a dining plan. Because Boston is highly walkable and well served by public transportation, participants are strongly discouraged from bringing a car. Enrollment in summer courses and extended absences are not permitted, although short trips may be discussed with mentors, and BU observes standard summer holidays. |
Life at Boston University
| REU students experience life in the heart of Boston, one of the nation’s most historic, cultural, and walkable cities. Boston University’s main campus runs along the Charles River, placing students within easy reach of museums, music venues, neighborhoods, and outdoor spaces that can be enjoyed throughout the summer. REU housing is located near research labs and major transit lines, making it easy to explore the city by foot, bicycle, or public transportation, including the MBTA and BU’s campus shuttle system. Summer weather typically brings warm days and coastal breezes, though conditions can vary, so students should be prepared for everything from bright sunshine to cooler or rainy days. |
Summer research experience for STEM educators · Director & PI: Professor Xin Zhang
Introduction
| This NSF Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Site in Integrated Nanomanufacturing invites public high school STEM teachers and community college faculty to join the BU research community for an intensive six-week summer research experience. Participants work alongside BU faculty and graduate students on engineering and science projects involving nanoscale materials, devices, and systems, as well as selected NSF-funded biomedical projects including cardiac tissue engineering. The goal of the Site is to immerse educators in authentic research that strengthens their teaching, deepens their understanding of STEM careers, and brings cutting-edge engineering into their classrooms. |
Research and Teaching Experience
| RET participants are matched with active BU research groups and engage in mentored laboratory work, contributing to projects already underway across engineering, materials science, optics, and biomedical engineering. No prior research experience is required. Throughout the summer, educators investigate real scientific and engineering problems, gaining hands-on exposure to modern research tools and methods. These experiences are designed to inform and enrich classroom instruction while giving teachers a deeper understanding of how STEM research translates into real-world technologies and career pathways. |
Curriculum Development and Classroom Impact
| A core component of the RET Site is translating research into classroom curriculum. Each participant develops an original instructional module based on their summer research and implements it during the following academic year. Participants receive structured guidance from the RET curriculum mentor, East Boston High School physics teacher Shereen Mejia, who previously completed laboratory research in the program before taking on her current leadership role. Many of the lessons developed by RET teachers are published through the TeachEngineering Digital Library, providing standards-aligned, design-rich curricula that reach classrooms well beyond Boston. |
Program Support and Benefits
| RET participants receive a stipend for their six-week summer research experience as well as support for classroom implementation during the academic year. Additional benefits include funding for classroom supplies, professional development points from the BU College of Education, and transportation support in the form of parking or public transit passes. During the summer, participants attend research seminars, technical trainings, curriculum workshops, and networking events, and present their work at the program’s final Summer Research Poster Session. |
Eligibility and Selection
| The RET Site is open to certified public high school teachers and community college faculty in STEM fields who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Participants must live in the Boston area and be able to commute to BU during the summer program. Teachers from underrepresented groups and high-needs school districts are strongly encouraged to apply. Selection is based on teaching experience, interest in research, alignment with program focus areas, and the potential to translate research experiences into meaningful classroom learning. |
Research Group Matching
| Participants are placed into research laboratories based on their disciplinary background, interests, and teaching focus. For example, physics educators may be matched with mechanical engineering or optics groups, biology teachers with biomedical engineering labs, and chemistry instructors with materials science and nanomanufacturing projects. The goal is to create a meaningful alignment between each educator’s expertise and the scientific focus of the host laboratory. |
Program Structure and Expectations
| The RET program is a full-time, in-person experience running Monday through Friday, typically from approximately 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some flexibility for community college teaching schedules. Housing is not provided, as the program is designed for educators from the Boston area who commute to campus. Participants are expected to complete a research project, develop an original curriculum module, and implement it during the following academic year. Enrollment in other summer coursework is not permitted during the program. |
Getting Around and Logistics
| Participants may choose to commute by car or public transportation. Parking passes are provided for those who drive, and MBTA transit passes are available for those who use public transportation. Boston University’s central location and excellent transit access make it easy for educators across the greater Boston area to participate. |