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REU Program Dates: June 5 – Aug 11, 2023.  Applications are due March 15.

Research opportunities for undergraduates:

Nanotechnology * Biomedical Engineering * Mechanical Engineering * Materials Science * Optics and Photonics * Electrical and Computer Engineering

The 2023 joint APPLICATION for summer Research Experience for Undergraduates programs administered by BU Photonics Center includes four REU programs offered at Boston University in Engineering, Materials Science, and Photonics research topics. Applicants may opt to be considered for any or all of these REU programs.

Before starting the application process, applicants should please review Boston University’s COVID-19 guidelines and acknowledge that in order to participate in summer research programs at BU, you must be in compliance.

The DEADLINE for REU applications is midnight on March 15, 2023. The program start date is Monday, June 5, 2023. Move in dates are Friday – Sunday June 2-4. Participants will need to vacate BU dormitories by Saturday, August 12, 2023. Those invited to participate should NOT procure their own travel (airline, bus, or train tickets) but wait for program staff to work with you on travel arrangements.

We offer four REU programs, with requirements outlined below.

For all our REU programs:

  • Undergraduate students currently enrolled at Boston University are not eligible to apply
  • Women and students from underrepresented groups in STEM are strongly encouraged to apply
  • U.S. military veterans are strongly encouraged to apply
  • Participants must be at least 18 years of age as of June 2023

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site in Integrated Nanomanufacturing (NSF REU INM)

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
  • Must be a current freshman, sophomore, or junior at a four-year college, or a full-time community college student
  • Previous research experience is not required

National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program through Engineering Research Center CELL-MET (NSF REU CELL-MET)

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident
  • Undergraduate students currently enrolled at Boston University, Florida International University, Fort Valley State University, and University of Michigan are not eligible to apply
  • Applicants to the CELL-MET REU program must be willing to participate at any of the partner institutions and cannot pre-select the institution where they will conduct research
  • Must be a current freshman, sophomore, or junior at a four-year college, or a full-time community college student
  • Previous research experience is not required

Photonics Undergraduate Research Summer Experience (PURSuE)

  • International and domestic students are eligible to apply
  • Must be currently engaged in photonics-related research as an undergraduate student at a four year institution
  • Must be a current junior interested in optics and photonics and planning to apply for graduate study at Boston University

    Materials Science Research Experiences for Undergraduates (MSE REU)

    • International and domestic students are eligible to apply
    • Must be a current freshman, sophomore, or junior at a four-year college, or a full-time community college student
    • Previous research experience is not required

    Application documents

    • Please complete this online APPLICATION and be ready to upload a copy of your unofficial academic transcript (jpeg, PDF, or png format).
    • Please have one letter of recommendation emailed to phoreu@bu.edu by March 15. Please ask your recommender to include your last name in the filename.
    • All correspondence must be in English.

    More Research Information

    Check out research projects and hear from past participants about their summer experiences.