Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Principal Investigator: Professor Xin Zhang
co-Principal Investigator: Professor Thomas Bifano

Description

Students in the Integrated Nanomanufacturing REU will work in the vital research area involving nanoscale structures, devices, and systems. Integrated nanomanufacturing research supports a wide range of applications in biotechnology and healthcare, robotics, electronics, computing, artificial intelligence, and energy. Participants engage in mentored research and discovery, exploring nanoscale systems, fabricating novel devices, and engineering new materials. In addition to independent research projects, participants receive training and access to state-of-the-art equipment through the Site’s group training sessions in photolithography, 3D printing, and electron microscopy.

The INM REU also engages innovative nanotech companies located in BU’s Business Innovation Center to serve as research mentors for a select group of REU participants who express a preference for work involving translation.

The BU Photonics Center has been administering the Integrated Nanomanufacturing REU program since 2015 and has successfully hosted more than 100 INM students over 10 summers.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. (This is an NSF requirement.)
• All STEM majors from 2- and 4-year institutions are welcome.
• Participants must be currently enrolled undergraduates who will not graduate before December of the program year.
• Must be able to commit to the full 10-week summer program in person. 

Principal Investigator: Professor Darren Roblyer
co-Principal Investigator: Professor Irving Bigio

Description

Students in the Translational Biophotonics REU will conduct fruitful research in the development of biophotonic technologies – optical technologies to sense properties of biological molecules, cells, and tissues that reflect disease conditions. Biophotonics technologies include lab- and clinical-based systems as well as portable, at-home, and wearables technologies that can reduce burdens on patients by reducing cost and hospital visits. REU participants will gain an appreciation for how these technologies can affect the real world, in terms of basic science and clinical care. Participants will also be trained in the process of translation, including the identification of unmet needs, regulatory pathways, market analysis, entrepreneurship, and commercialization. Students will conduct customer discovery interviews for their own projects to evaluate whether they are working towards solving a true unmet need. They will also learn from successful entrepreneurs and clinicians who are translating biophotonic technologies in real time. Further goals of this REU are to develop written and oral communications skills and the ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. Students will also be taught principles of biomedical and engineering ethics.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. (This is an NSF requirement.)
• All STEM majors from 2- and 4-year institutions are welcome.
• Participants must be currently enrolled undergraduates who will not graduate before December of the program year.
• Must be able to commit to the full 10-week summer program in person. 

Program Director: Professor David Bishop
co-Principal Investigator: Professor Chris Chen

Description

BU is the lead institution for the NSF Engineering Research Center in Cellular Metamaterials (CELL-MET) which aims to transform cardiovascular care by combining breakthroughs in nanotechnology and manufacturing with tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Participants in the CELL-MET REU will conduct research in support of cardiac tissue engineering. Projects may involve the latest multiscale 3D printing technologies to engineer cell scaffolds, constructing actuators to foster desired activity of cells and tissue, and advanced imaging to monitor and control cellular activity. The ultimate goal of this research is to fabricate personalized heart tissue that could replace diseased or damaged muscle after a heart attack

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. (This is an NSF requirement.)
• All STEM majors from 2- and 4-year institutions are welcome.
• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate who will not graduate before December of the program year.
• Must be able to commit to the full 10-week summer program in person.
• BU Students and students from CELL-MET partner institutions UM and FIU are not eligible for CELL-MET REU positions.

Project information will be updated as it is received.

Our projects involve and integrate multiple disciplines, and all STEM majors from 2- and 4-year colleges are invited to apply. No prior research experience is required. First generation college students and students from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. Preference is given to highly motivated applicants who lack access to comparable opportunities at their home institutions.

Eligible participants are:

• U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Unfortunately, in 2026 we are unable to fund students who are not US citizens or US permanent residents.
• Undergraduate students who have completed at least their freshman year and will not be graduating before December of the program year.
• Pursuing a STEM degree at a 2- or 4-year college.
• Able to commit to the full 10-week summer program in person. 

BU undergraduates are not eligible for these REU programs. Opportunities for BU undergraduates are described here.

Program Directors: Professors Thomas Bifano and Ji-Xin Cheng

Description

The Photonics Undergraduate Research Summer Experience (PURSuE) program is for rising seniors with photonics research experience who are interested in pursuing doctoral research related to photonics at Boston University. Participants engage in active research at a BU Photonics Center lab in research areas including but not limited to biophotonics, nanophotonics, photonic materials and devices, neurophotonics, and lasers, nonlinear optics, and quantum photonics. PURSuE participants are asked to identify faculty they are interested in working with and will be placed in one of their top choice labs for the summer. This is a BU-funded REU program, open to US citizens and to international students studying at a US college.

Program Director: Professor David Bishop

Description

The Materials Science REU is for students interested in materials science and engineering.  Students conduct research with faculty affiliated with BU’s MSE Division. This is a BU-funded REU program, open to US citizens and to international students studying at a US college.

We encourage you to review our FAQ page for answers to frequently asked questions.

For further inquiries about the program, please email us at phoreu@bu.edu or fill out our contact form. Please allow a few days for a response.