Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Illinois REUs

The Center for Autonomous Vehicles in Air Transportation Engineering (AVIATE)

Participate in research on the control and design of drones in this multidisciplinary center incorporating mechanical and electrical engineering with control systems and algorithms. 
Contact: Joe Muskin: jmuskin@illinois.edu | 217-265-6481
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Center for Digital Agriculture

Get a hands-on multidisciplinary research experience in technologies to address global agriculture challenges.
Contact: Christina Tucker: lyvers2@illinois.edu
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Center for Electric Machinery and Electromechanics (CEME)

Experience state-of-the-art energy research and get paid to lead innovative projects intended to bring revolutionary change to energy. 
ContactJoy Mast: jmast@illinois.edu | 217-265-5128
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The Future of Discovery: Training Students to Build and Apply Open SOurce Machine Learning Models and Tools (FoDOMMaT)

Hands-on experience in machine learning in which students will work on developing open source machine learning models and tools and applying them to solving real-world problems.
Contact: Olena Kindratenko: kindrat2@illinois.edu | 217-300-0247
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Illinois Developing Equity in Astrophysics Summer School (IDEAS)

Do cutting-edge astrophysical research directly with astronomers at the University of Illinois, and get paid doing it. IDEAS is a paid research program for undergraduates from historically underrepresented groups but all students may apply.
Contact: Decker French: deckerf@illinois.edu
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Microbial Interactions Create Research Opportunities for Community College Students (MICRO-CCS)

Designed to provide research opportunities, scientific training and mentoring for community college students interested in research about microbial interactions in food, agricultural and environmental sciences. 
Contact: Dr. Sarah R. Hind: srhind@illinois.edu | 217-300-5981
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Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (I-MRSEC)

Solve a challenging, meaningful scientific question by taking part in the interdisciplinary innovative materials research.
Contact: Dr. Pamela Pena Martin: pmartin9@illinois.edu | 217-300-6699
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Physics at Illinois

Work on challenging, meaningful research projects in a wide variety of physics subfields including astrophysics, quantum information, condensed matter, high energy, nuclear and biophysics.
Contact: Irene Lira-Andsager: andsagr2@illinois.edu | 217-300-333-6186 
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The Center for Power Optimization of Electro-Thermal Systems (POETS)

Participate in research at the intersection of electrical, mechanical and material engineering to increase the power density of electrified cars, construction equipment, boats and airplanes.
Contact: Joe Muskin: jmuskin@illinois.edu | 217-265-6481 or Phil Krein: krein@illinois.edu | 217-333-4732
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Carle Illinois College of Medicine Research and Education for the Advancement of Compassionate Healthcare (REACH) Program

Participate in an intensive clinical and research immersion summer experience in the field of medicine.
Contact: Dr. Dana Gillon: dgillon@illinois.edu | 217-333-7452
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Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) Research Internship in Sustainable Biology (RISE) Program

Participate in bioenergy research opportunities in a multidisciplinary center incorporating plant biology, agronomy, synthetic biology, genetics, environmental sciences, chemical engineering, and civil & environmental engineering.
Contact: Mary Albrecht: maryalbr@illinois.edu | 217-300-9576
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Summer Research Opportunities @ Illinois (SROP)

Work on a research project in various fields of study and learn more about graduate school.
Contact: I-SROP@illinois.edu
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Summer Undergraduate Research Experience in Toxicology (SURE Tox)

Train and perform research in the field of toxicology.
Contact: Prof. Jodi Flaws: jflaws@illinois.edu | 217-333-7933 or Prof. Romana Nowak: ranowak@illinois.edu | 217-244-3902
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Illinois Space Grant Consortium – Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Participate in NASA-related research projects across the STEM (science, technology, engineering and  math) disciplines.
Contact: Heidi Bjerke: hbjerke2@illinois.edu | 217-300-0151
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National Science Foundation REU

The National Science Foundation (NSF) REU provides indirect funding for undergraduate students to participate in research. The NSF REU program sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department or may offer interdisciplinary or multi-departmental research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. An NSF REU site may be located in the United States or different country. Students participating in REUs are generally provided a stipend, housing, and transportation to and from the site.

Summer Research through the International Programs in Engineering (IPENG)

IPENG provides international engineering research abroad opportunities to engineering students within The Grainger College of Engineering at Urbana-Champaign. These opportunities are offered in the summer, fall, or spring semesters. All research is reviewed by the respective chief department advisors upon return to campus to determine if a student will receive technical credit. Applications deadlines vary. 

Global Research Scholars (GRS) is a unique, research-intensive study abroad program designed for talented undergraduate students of all engineering majors. The program combines a study abroad experience with the opportunity to join a research team abroad at an IPENG partner school. GRS participants receive a scholarship and present their research findings in the fall at the International Research Symposium that is part of the Engineering Research Fair.

You can choose a research project in the IREP project database or suggest your own project for the summer, fall, or spring semester. Under the supervision of an international research group and your individual IREP supervisor, you will learn the newest research methods and how to apply these state-of-the-art research skills to real-life scientific problems while improving your ability to communicate and team-work. Your IREP supervisor will support and guide you throughout your research project. At the end of the research project, you are required to compile your results and solutions in a scientific paper and give a final presentation to fellow researchers. To foster a better understanding of Germany and help you to navigate through everyday life, you will be introduced to German language and culture by means of the orientation program at the beginning of the program. An inter-cultural workshop, guided tours, and an excursion to Heidelberg will round up this exciting program. If you participate in research in the fall or spring term, courses can be taken in social sciences, humanities, and technical areas. School begins in October and runs through July with a two month break. Students usually arrive in Darmstadt around the first part of September to participate in an intensive language session.

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This is a summer research internship where you participate in two workshop-based “courses” in science and engineering. CityU will direct you to the appropriate laboratory according to your background information provided in the application and CV. In addition to research, you will participate in outside cultural activities and industrial visits to gain a brief understanding of industrial establishments in Hong Kong and a better understanding of Chinese culture. Possible research areas are:

  • Civil, Structural Geotechnical and Architectural Engineering
  • Coastal Pollution and Conservation
  • Software Engineering
  • Electronic packaging
  • Communication Engineering
  • Applied Mathematics and Computational Mathematics
  • Manufacturing and Quality Engineering
  • Mechatronics and Automation
  • Physics and Materials Science

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The x-FU(s)ION international research internship is a two-month (mid-June to mid-August) paid undergraduate research internship in Kyushu University, Japan. Interns will work with faculty, students, and postdocs on experimental and computational projects focusing on the use of solid oxide electrolysis cells to transform renewable energy into chemical energy and store it for later use.

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Spend 8 weeks conducting research at one of the top universities in the world. The National University of Singapore (NUS) is internationally respected for its high-quality research in science, technology and the humanities — and, increasingly, at the interfaces between these areas.

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You may choose to only do research during the summer study program at POSTECH or you may do research and participate in the POSTECH English Only Dormitory Program (PENDP). This program can be extended through fall semester.

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You will spend 8 weeks from mid-May to mid-July taking language and culture classes and performing research in UPCo labs under the technical guidance and supervision of skilled professors with a good command of the English language.

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Laboratory Research starts on the second day of the program and is held six hours daily Monday thru Friday. Language and Culture classes are held 1 day per week for 2 hours and there are some field trips during the program.

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Undergraduate Research Contacts

Natasha Mamaril, PhD
Associate Director for Undergraduate Research

3278 Digital Computer Lab
1304 W Springfield Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

Email: engr-ugr@illinois.edu